Jeremy Oberstein

Sen. John McCain, presumptive heir to the Republican throne, is scheduled to address Latinos later today in San Diego, part of a Californian itinerary that will once again not include Los Angeles. His campaign announced on Saturday that shortly before 1 p.m. today, McCain will address the National Council of La Raza Convention at the San Diego Convention Center, one day after Sen. Barack Obama addressed the group. On June 25, LAist first wondered why...

Hancock is a nearly great movie. I suppose that means it was only good, but that obscures the fact that, unlike other good movies, it could have been great. Will Smith's latest flick tells the story of an alcoholic superhero addled not so much by his addiction to hard liquor, as much as his plunging loneliness. As such, he is a depressed and lonely fuck who believes he is the only one in the world...

Obama (AP Photo/Brett Flashnick); Balboa Bay Club photo, via its website. Barack Obama, presumed Democratic presidential nomination and current holder of the "most liberal Senator" moniker, will hold a fundraiser from deep within enemy territory on July 13 in Newport Beach, the Daily Pilot reported today. Yes, that Obama. He who voted in 2007 to raise the tax rate for those making more than $1 million a year to increase funding for the Individuals...

"Family Affair Jump", by Lush.i.ous via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Schwarzenegger got smacked upside the head during this morning's Meet the Press. "If you were the CEO of a public company, the board would probably say, 'It is time to go,' " host Tom Brokaw said. "Are you always this positive?" Schwarzenegger retorted, before blaming it all on Washington, D.C. Are you always this short-sighted? Mayor Tony reflected on his first...

Photo by ~db~ via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr A sizable contingent of Malibu's finest patrolled the beaches there this morning, trying to head off an anticipated battle between paparazzo's and surfers after last weeks turf war between cameramen and Matthew McConaughey brethren. But all was quiet. Labor leaders met today in an attempt to hammer out a new three-year deal at the port of Los Angeles where a contract between the International...

On the heels of a whirlwind California journey that took him to Santa Barbara and Ventura Tuesday, presumptive Republican presidential candidate John McCain shuffled off to another campaign stop today, skipping out on the state's biggest city and one of the nation's largest metropolises. Why did John McCain avoid Los Angeles? Going to Santa Barbara and Ventura counties made sense. Santa Barbara, while not majority Democratic, does have a conservative streak and Republicans outnumber Democrats...

The LA Times and Bloomberg just released a poll at 2 p.m. on the presidential race. Obama now holds a 12 point lead over McCain. Perhaps the most interesting part of the poll is that among white voters, Obama and McCain are dead even at 39% each. Also, the Gallup Daily shows a much tighter margin with "Obama winning on key issues." Today, Obama is in Los Angeles at the Music Center fundraising with Hollywood....

"Celestial Offering," by rink rat via LAist Featured Photos Pool on Flickr Did you hear the news? The Saudis are going to open up their oil spigot for little ol' America. That could be good news, but it hasn't yet driven down gas prices, especially here in L.A., home to the country's highest priced gas. A gallonn of regular is now $4.59. From the suffering for your art department: A tagger was hurt Saturday...

Barack Obama is scheduled to ask Hollywood's most celestial bigwigs to open up its pocket books on Tuesday during a fundraiser in the Walt Disney Concert Hall. It will be Obama's first Los Angeles appearance after securing the Democratic presidential nomination said Variety's political blog Wilshire & Washington, who broke the story Friday: "Barack Obama's fund-raiser at the Los Angeles Music Center on Tuesday is expected to draw a sizable contingent of stars and Hollywood...

Pasadena Chalk Festival by Todd N. via LAist Featured Photos Pool on Flickr Heroin arrests are on the rise in La Crescenta, parents shocked. Scores of people went to beaches and pools to escape wretched heat for busy shores. California's war death tool has reached 500, people cried. Mayor Tony continues his anywhere but Los Angeles tour, Angelenos nonplussed. Citibank sues Ed McMahon, tries to pay off creditors with humongous check. Federal officials will...