How far will unions go to enusre that citizens of California never enter a Wal-Mart? Citizens there are about to find out.

When unions in San Diego failed to convince the San Diego City Council and San Diego residents that a ban on big box retail was necessary to “protect” that municipality from the horrors of low-priced consumer goods and hundred of jobs, union leaders decided to take their crusade statewide in an effort to ban Wal-Mart completely from the West Coast.

Less than 24 hours after the San Diego City Council rescinded a law requiring costly economic impact reports from developers of big-box superstores, a South Bay lawmaker says he wants some restrictions in a bill he plans to introduce at the state level.

Sen. Juan Vargas, D-San Diego, said his bill, like the local measure, will target proposed stores 90,000 square feet and larger that dedicate 10 percent of floor space to groceries.

Vargas couches his opposition in the traditional rhetoric that banning Wal-Mart is a boon to the surrounding community, preventing harm to a local economy and small businesses. It’s clear from surrounding evidence, though, that the effort to ban Wal-Mart from San Diego, and subsequently the the state of California, is a smokescreen for isolationist – and arrogant – union policies meant to preserve and protect union jobs at all costs to the communities they claim to serve.

In the case of San Diego, the ban on big box retail was against the wishes of the community itself, and against the recommendations of the City Attorney, the city’s planning commission, San Diego’s Developmental Services Department, the code monitoring team and an independent budget analyst who warned the “overly restrictive” ban would lead to dramatic economic consequences. The city council originally adopted the ordinance only to have the mayor veto the measure. Faced with the death of the bill, union leaders waged an eleventh-hour effort with the city council to over-ride the mayor’s veto just before new city council members – who supported the mayor – were sworn in.

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A few months back I wrote a story about Veterans for Congress, focusing in particular on Marine Gunnery Sgt. Nick Popaditch, who is running for Congress in San Diego’s 51^st district. “Gunny Pop” as he was affectionately known in the Corps, was grievously wounded in the first battle for Fallujah, Iraq, when he was hit in the head by an enemy RPG. Medically retired, he lost one eye and retains 8 percent use in his second eye, only because of the medical staff’s heroic efforts and Nick’s indomitable spirit.

Nick earned the Silver Star for his battlefield bravery and innovation. Nick is also widely recognized as the Cigar Marine, who sat atop his M-1 Abrahams tank triumphantly smoking a cigar while members of his unit helped topple Saddam’s statute when the Marines liberated Baghdad in 2003. He wrote a book about his experiences, Once A Marine, which made the Commandant of the Marine Corps recommended professional reading list for all ranks, won The Military-Writers Book of the Year for 2009, and was a national book club selection.

Contrast this with his Democrat opponent, Bob Filner. One of the most radical leftists in the House of Representatives, Filner is spawn of Joe Filner, one time head of the Pittsburg, PA, Communist Party. (NOTE: thanks go to Trevor Loudon for the Filner profiles, among thousands of entries Loudon has put together for his seminal encyclopedia of the Left, KeyWiki. Check it out!)

The nuts don’t fall far from the tree. A longtime member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Filner has close ties the Democratic Socialists of America. He has been staining the halls of Congress since 1992, and has been foursquare behind the Obama deliberate trainwreck agenda since his fellow socialist was elected President.

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With 70 miles of stunning beaches and picture-perfect weather all year round, having fun during the summer in San Diego doesn’t require a lot of money.

The city combines old-fashioned Mexican charm with a modern edge. In a city where the sun is always shining, it’s the perfect place to get away for a bit of relaxation or stimulation.

If you’re looking for trendy boutique hotels, an exploding culinary scene, or visiting the local ACORN to get your underage prostitutes smuggled across the Mexican border, you’re in the right place.

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