Throughout the day, I’d been hearing rumors that there may be a new chief strategist coming to Schwarzenegger-land — that the venerable Mike Murphy was out, and that Matthew Dowd was in. I have my little "Rule of 6" that I use, where if I can’t get something on the record, I wait or seek out six sources that can at least tell me that they have heard what I have heard. Well, if I was really interested in ‘breaking’ news, I should have a "Rule of 5" — in this instance, my 6th source was none other than columnist Bill Bradley, who posted on his blog about the Dowd rumor ("Chief Strategist Dowd?" he writes, with the question mark.).

Who is Matthew Dowd, you might ask? Here is the first couple of paragraphs of his biography from a speaker’s bureau website (if you want him to talk to you personally about his background, a $10,000… Read More

The Governor has officially denied the clemency request of convicted murderer Clarence Ray Allen. Allen was sentenced to life in prison for commissioning the murder of his son’s girlfriend in 1974. Then, in 1980, he was convicted and sentenced to death for ordering the murders of eight witnesses of the first murder from his cell. While killing the first of these targets, his hit man also killed two unconnected teenagers on the scene.

Somehow it is notable that Clarence Allen is the oldest inmate on death row, and is quite ill. I am not sure why either of these things would be reasons to commute a death sentence. If anything, his age is a living mockery of what the court system has done to the ability for justice to be carried out in anything remotely close to swiftness.

Pity not Allen, but the innocent victims of his cruel and calculated actions. To quote the Governor:… Read More

Arizona Rep. John Shadegg, former chairman of the Republican Study Committee and currently chairman of the House Policy Committee, announced today that he will be seeking the post of Majority Leader. A product of the class of ’94, Shadegg has been an effective and respected conservative voice within the GOP Conference and his entry will certainly shake things up immediately.

Shadegg will pull together an interesting coalition that can make him very viable in the contest, even with the late entry. As an active and trusted conservative, he will get significant support from the RSC but since he has been an honest broker with the moderates, he can appeal to them without compromising on principle. Further, many members have refrained from endorsing either Roy Blunt or John Boehner waiting for a "clean break" or "fresh face" candidate. Amazingly, given the impact of the class of ’94 on the Congress, no ’94 member sits in the leadership. Shadegg might also appeal to his colleagues… Read More

The follwing appears in Roll Call Magazine today. Writer David Drucker has been writing on California politics for a long time, and recently joined RC as their West Coast Reporter:

By David M. Drucker

Roll Call Staff

January 9, 2006

With enough Republicans to fill a passenger van running in California’s 50th district open primary, Democrat Francine Busby is likely to emerge from the April 11 contest on top, though well short of the 50 percent-plus one needed to win the seat outright.The special election to replace disgraced former Rep. Duke Cunningham (R) in the heavily Republican, northern San Diego County-area district has attracted at least eight Republicans. They are almost certain to divide the GOP vote and open the door… Read More

San Diego Congressman Darrell Issa, will be announcing later today his intention to seek the position of House Policy Chairman in wake of John Shadegg’s announcement that he will resign as he seeks the Majority Leader post.

The Policy Committee chairman is responsible for formulating the majority’s policy directives and works directly with the GOP leadership.

Letter from Issa to the GOP Conference:

January 13, 2006

Dear Republican Colleague:

Today, I am announcing my candidacy for Policy Chairman and I ask for your support.

I have served as a member of the Policy Committee since my election in 2000. I believe in the need for this very important committee and I want to continue to make it relevant in the policy discussions that our conference will have in the 2nd Session of Congress; specifically, in the issues of Immigration, Health Care, Telecommunications and Tax Reform. These and many other issues of importance to our Conference need to be outlined and discussed, because our constituents demand… Read More

San Francisco‘s top officials thumbed their noses at the federal drug enforcement officials yesterday as they endorsed a marijuana giveaway at a Civic Center rally. Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi helped hand out bags of marijuana cigarettes and candy laced with the drug yesterday, while representatives of Mayor Gavin Newsom, Assemblyman Mark Leno, state Sen. Carole Migden, and District Attorney Kamala Harris read statements reaffirming the officials’ support for medical marijuana. Supervisor Chris Daley was also on hand to endorse the efforts of Cathy and Steve Smith, the couple who runs HopeNet, a medical marijuana "club." In December, the feds raided HopeNet, seizing plants, equipment and records. The full Chronicle story is… Read More

"ICEBERG, DEAD AHEAD!" Editing and publishing this website, I read a lot of news stories and columns. So I find it fascinating that so many of our Republican legislators, who have year after year voted against putting massive bond measures on the ballot, are now flocking to support a collection of bond measures that would represent the most borrowing – ever – for the Golden State. As a matter of fact, a number of the bond packages are being authored by Republican legislators, and we’ll be talking about that in the coming days. There is a saying that goes like this, "No one has the ability to grow government more than a Republican Chief Executive." Is that what this is all about? Massive borrowing, when proposed by Democrats, is wasteful and irresponsible. But when it is proposed by a Republican, then it is okay? What should be resolute and total opposition to ANY borrowing unless it… Read More

"ICEBERG, DEAD AHEAD!" Editing and publishing this website, I read a lot of news stories and columns. So I find it fascinating that so many of our Republican legislators, who have year after year voted against putting massive bond measures on the ballot, are now flocking to support a collection of bond measures that would represent the most borrowing – ever – for the Golden State. As a matter of fact, a number of the bond packages are being authored by Republican legislators, and we’ll be talking about that in the coming days. There is a saying that goes like this, "No one has the ability to grow government more than a Republican Chief Executive." Is that what this is all about? Massive borrowing, when proposed by Democrats, is wasteful and irresponsible. But when it is proposed by a Republican, then it is okay. What should be resolute and total opposition to ANY borrowed unless it… Read More