As the Governor travels back from China, and spends the Thanksgiving Holiday with his family, I am sure that he will do a lot of reflecting on the Special Election results and what they mean for California — and for his own policy and political goals.

In light of this, I have penned an open letter to Governor Schwarzenegger which appears in Capitol Weekly today. The basic premise is this: Empower the GOP caucuses to assist you in dealing with the Democrat-controlled legislature. How would he do this? By announcing that he will not sign any bill that comes across his desk unless it got their with at least a majority vote of the Republicans in both the State Senate and the State Assembly. This would immediate provide relevance to our Republican legislators who have been seemingly relegated to ‘bystander status’ as Perata, Nunes and the Dems have preferred to do work without meaningful input from the Republicans in the legislature.

Here is the beginning of my column:… Read More

Diane Harkey just announced her endorsement by Orange County Supervisor Jim Silva. As readers know, Harkey is a Dana Point Councilwoman running to succeed John Campbell in the anticipated 35th Senate District special election. Also running is Assemblyman Tom Harman.

This is second endorsement of Harkey this week by an elected official who had previosuly considered running in this special election. On Monday, she was endorsed by Assemblyman Chuck DeVore.

As a relative unknown, it’s important for Harkey to show this kind of early momentum. Endorsements by prominent electeds like Jim Silva and Chuck DeVore send a signal to donors and activists that she’s a candidate of substance who deserves their support. It’s equally telling signal that they’ve endorsed her over a sitting Assemblyman.

The Silva endorsement isn’t especially surprising, given his history with the Harmans. Jim’s primary opponent is Dianne Harman (Tom’s wife). Furthermore, when Tom Harman was a Huntington Beach councilman, he supported liberal-enviro Republican Dave Sullivan against Jim Silva during Jim’s 1998 re-election campaign [full disclosure… Read More

If you watched the “O’Reilly Factor” last night, then you saw House Minority Nancy Pelsoi get into it with the show’s host over his recent comment that San Francisco’s Coit Tower is now fair game for terrorists in the aftermath of last week’s citywide vote denouncing military recruitment.

My question: where’s Mayor Newsom in all of this?

He harbors statewide (some say national) aspirations. This is a chance not only for some free exposure, but to better position himself with voters beyond the 415 area code.

Three suggestions:

1) Newsom should go on either or both of O’Reilly’s shows (there’s both a tv and radio “Factor”). Though O’Reilly was trying to be facetious, it wasn’t funny. Terrorism jokes just don’t work. So stand up for your city, such as it is.

2) That said, play along with O’Reilly. Invite him to The City for a live broadcast — use the flap to promote SF tourism, which is your town’s bread and butter (ironically, thanks in part to a vanished military presence).

3) Take a tough, no-uncertain… Read More

Pretty funny that when I arrived at LAX United gate 85 to hot on a 20 passenger puddle jumper plane to Monterey (where I am participating in a state Boating and Waterways Commission meeting), one of the other passengers is none other than fellow Orange Countian and Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher.

She immediately asked me how I enjoyed the Maona Kea Hotel on Hawai’i, bolstering my confidence that those thousands of website hits aren’t all Adam Probolsky hitting "refresh" all day long on his computer. (Actually, ‘hits’ are measured in unique visitors anyways).

Lynn and I had a brief chat about the specializations of attorneys, leading to her telling me about her legislation to create a "water court" (at no additional taxpayer expense) where around the state, the various districts would have a judge who specializes in water policy. Right now, these cases end up in front of well-meaning, smart judges who just are not water-policy experts. So, these judges have to retain court "experts" who in turn hire others.

The idea sounds like a good one. Alas, the likely resting spot for a good idea from a Republican… Read More

In today’s news links on the main page, there is an article (in red ink) from The Hill which talks about U.S. Representate Darrell Issa endorsing moderate GOP businessman Ulan Uke in the race to succeed neighboring Rep. Duke Cunningham.

THIS IS NOT THE CASE. ISSA HAS NOT ENDORSED UKE says Dale Neugebauer, Issa’s Chief of Staff.

We will attept to bring you more information on the developing controversy…… Read More

It’s funny, but those with whom I have been close have heard me saying that Tom Feeney has been my favorite Republican Member of Congress since before he was even elected in 2002. Trust me, it is a total (and very cool) coincidence that Congressman Feeney hired my good friend Jason Roe to be his Chief of Staff! Of course, now Jason is the Washington, D.C., correspondent for the FlashReport, very funny. Anyways, back to Tom Feeney. Back in 1994, Jeb Bush, then the GOP nominee for Governor of Florida, tapped Orlando area attorney Tom Feeney to be his Lieutenant Governor running mate. (In Florida, like at the national level, the candidates for the top two executive positions run as a slate – a great idea which, like with so many other things, needs to be fixed here in California where the Governor and LG can be, often are, and currently are political adversaries instead of… Read More

Congressman Dreier has many talents. As Chair of the powerful Rules committee and frequent TV and radio guest, heis well known in political circles. Some don’t know that he frequently has courted Hollywood. There was a rumor a couple years ago thathe was a candidate to become head of theMPAA. It went to former Congressman Glickman instead.

Roll Call has a fascinating look at the night two years ago, whenRepublicans in DCsold out taxpayers by passing a Medicare Prescription drug bill that will cost us billions upon billions of dollars. You can read it here. It is a good read by the way.

One tidbit focuses on Dreier’s attempts toget Rep. Nick Smith to vote "yes".

"A Republican staffer told the ethics panel that Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier (R-Calif.) offered to find Smith’s daughter a job as an actress in Hollywood. Dreier denied making such a promise."

Nothing came from the accusation. Dreier denied it and Smith later wouldn’t talk about… Read More

The Fresno Zoo, once a treasure in the community, is now leading the news on a daily basis around here. Talk shows are overheated with opinions, local TV news is leading with the story, and tempers are flaring. You see, for years and years and years the Fresno Zoo (known as the Chafee Zoo locally), has been run by the City of Fresno. As such, and in common with most enterprises run by government, this has resulted in millions of dollars in deferred maintenance, an institutional culture of mediocrity, financial problems and finally, a very poor Zoo.

In 2004 a local measure was qualified for the ballot, Measure Z, which would increase sales taxes in the County and direct the money to the Zoo, under a new organizational structure. Expected to provide over $100 million in funding over eight years, the Zoo would presumably be upgraded and operated more efficiently, thus becoming a centerpiece of learning and entertainment in the region. Measure Z passed overwhelmingly, facing no real opposition (the Lincoln Club quietly recommended a "No"… Read More