FLASHREPORT

There isn't a normal Republican out there who wouldn't be upset and concerned by many of the pieces of legislation that Governor Schwarzenegger signed on Sunday night.  Just the number of bills that he signed that went to his desk without a single Republican vote in either the Senate or Assembly should be of grave concern.

Today we're giving a FlashReport Patriot Award to Assembly Republican Leader Sam Blakeslee who, being a normal Republican, reacted pretty strongly and directly to the Governor's bill signings in an e-mail that he, according to Capitol Weekly, sent to his 28 Assembly Republican Colleagues.  I'll reprint the first part of the e-mail below, and provide a link to the Capitol Weekly story where you can see the entire thing.

While I would imagine it was not Blakeslee's intention for this email to be out in the public eye, I can assure that the Assemblyman has put into writing what a great many Republicans were and are thinking about Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The e-mail begins...

From: "Blakeslee, Sam"
To: "Assembly Republican Caucus"
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:57:45 -0700
Subject: Governor's Signatures

Members:

Yesterday we all witnessed the public policy disaster perpetrated by the Governor's hand.

His decision to sign into law some of the most noxious legislative proposals brought before us this year is both disheartening and revealing.

Most of us have read in today's papers accounts of the Governor's shocking reversal of position on the issues about which we care most deeply: taxes, second amendment rights, family values, over-regulation, etc.

This sudden realignment of his position reminds us to remain vigilant as defenders of Republican principles: limited government, individual freedom and opportunity, the sanctity of the family, and public safety.

We as a Caucus must remain united if we are to prevail in protecting the California taxpayer, business and family from any further onslaught of taxes, regulation, wasteful spending, and encroachment upon individual liberty.

Where we can find common ground with the Governor -- and indeed with momentary coalitions of Democratic legislators -- on issues which support our own legislative policy and philosophical goals, good.

But we should be under absolutely no illusions that the Governor will stand firm with our Caucus on any given issue.

As Benjamin Franklin once wryly noted, "We must hang together, or we most assuredly shall all hang separately."

Below find a list of what are perhaps the top ten worst bills signed by the Governor.

Click here to see the entire e-mail over at Capitol Weekly.