Already flagging in every legitimate poll, San Diego Democrat Mayoral candidate Donna Frye recently advanced a bold new policy proposal that probably put the finishing touches on her campaign: raise sales taxes $1.1 billion over the next ten years to pay for the pensions of city employees. Increasing taxes to pay for the pensions of city workers or make up for the other grotesque overspending, wasteful habits of City Hall have been polled time and time again as the touch of death.

To steal amusing quotes from a recent Union Tribune editorial that excoriated Frye Pontius Pilate style:

"Would you vote to raise your taxes by a whopping $1.1 billion over the next 10 years to pay for the bloated pensions of city workers?"

"Mayoral contender Donna Frye not only thinks you should, but that you will"

"This is precisely the measure demanded by the city’s politically powerful public employee unions"

"Councilwoman Frye’s proposal to raise taxes on a massive scale as a first resort is fiscally imprudent and… Read More

When I lived in Sacramento and needed a laugh, I sat down and watched Bill Murray’s “Stripes.” Now living in the Bay Area, all I need to do for a good laugh is to watch San Francisco local politics.

Sometimes the board of supervisors is passing loony resolutions, like advocating that the federal government allow a San Francisco group to trademark the name “Dykes on Bikes.” Other times, the craziness comes from the many different (and often freaky) groups in San Francisco, the high church of group politics.

The latest example is the tension in the Polk Gulch neighborhood. Once dominated by drug dealers, prostitutes and the homeless, the neighborhood now is enjoying gentrification.… Read More

On the front page of today’s Flash Report you’ll find a piece by me, just published by the Capitol Weekly, defending Steve Poizner, chairman of the Prop 77 effort, a Republican Insurance Commissioner candidate and, last fall, a contender for the open seat in the 21st Assembly District (a campaign I took part in).

Actually, the column is more of a clarification. I fear that some Sacramentans see Poizner as a spoiled rich kid obsessed with political vainglory, no matter the cost. I thought it was time to set the record straight.

I’ve worked for the man and can personally attest: he’s in this game for the right reasons. He shares Arnold’s reform vision; he believes in a better brand of politics that’s based on intellect and reason. Yes, he invested a considerable sum of his own money running for the Assembly, as he now has on behalf of Prop 77. But spend some time down here on the Peninsula and you’ll appreciate why. He was running in a district that’s serious… Read More

No one has taken the time to write anything substantive about Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante lately and that must make him sad.

Don’t get me wrong, there was Yamamura’s mention in the SacBee of Cruz going to Thailand for a quickie (trade mission) and of course yesterday SF Chronicle’s John Wildermuth’s mention of an old FPPC fine the Lt. Gov. had to pay back in 2004.

But my absolute favorable ink Cruz has gotten lately is, his EXCLUSIVE OpEd about who cares what in Tehama County’s own: Red Bluff Daily News!!!

I am not sure, but I think I am breaking news here, Cruz Bustamante may be… Read More

I mentioned earlier this week that I spoke in support of Proposition 76 at an Irvine’s Schools forum — well you can read the Irvine World News’ take on the event below (it is an attachment). I was not as eloquent as Tom Campbell is in today’s San Francisco Chronicle — but I took it to the educrats!

Today’s news is packed with a lot of stuff — every Thursday is the publishing day for Capitol Weekly magazine, which is the "Roll Call" of the state capitol. Clearly this is a superior publication as they have asked me to be a regular contributor! Just kidding. Actually, it is a great newspaper — and so every Thursday, the FlashReport News Links include a number of stories/column from the paper. Today’s include a piece from yours’ truly that focuses on a sad phenomenon – that in a house dominated by liberals, even our best conservative legislators are reduced to authoring some poor legislation… FlashReport Weblog Author Bill Whalen pens a defense of controversial Steve Poizner,… Read More

I just left the Ben & Jerry’s factory in Waterbury, VT, so please understand if I seem a little annoyed… "Ben & Jerry’s is committed to working in support of social justice and equality, eliminating our negative impact on the environment…" … and contributing to the epidemics of obesity and diabetes through the manufacture and sale of frozen bovine mammary secretions… (I made up that last part). Guess who’s not in charge of this part of the vacation.

I started this entry this morning near Lebanon, N.H., heading west on Highway 4. Since Mr. Fleischman advised me to post shorter, more frequent blog entries whenever and wherever things occur to me, I’m taking his advice to the extreme by posting this from my BlackBerry while in a moving vehicle. Don’t worry, I’m not driving this time. Before I almost submitted to Ben & Jerry’s corporate/Marxist re-education (I wouldn’t give them three bucks for theirice cream, which I hear is good, much less a tour)… Read More

I spent the weekend in Los Angeles. One of the most notable differences: the presence of Schwarzenegger ads on local television.

Here in the Bay Area, local Republicans complain about the barrage of anti-Arnold ads, and very little in the way of response. But here’s the reality of the special election:

1) Schwarzenegger’s side is playing with less money; they can’t spend willy-nilly in the Bay Area as Team Arnold did during recall, when he had a considerably larger bankroll and could afford to blanket the state;

2) Arnold has been active in the Bay Area — only, it’s “earned” media (speeches and campaign appearances that covered by the local media) vs. paid media. He’s not ducking the region, just better marshalling his resources;

3) The unions’ round-the-clock spending in the Bay Area could backfire. Let’s assume that the purpose of the blitz is to increase turnout for next month. Maybe that works. But too many negative ads run the risk of crossing the line from inflicting damage to bouncing rubble — i.e., overkill. And there’s the collateral damage of… Read More

On the FR weblog today, Jason Roe, our Beltway correspondent, laments that the Prop. 77 strategy in California may backfire and, due to a ripple-effect of other redistricting measures that may pass in a number of other states where the GOP has the favorable lines, we may lose the GOP majority in the house. Jason and I disagree on Prop. 77, but that’s okay. I’m right and he’s wrong! ;) THE BIGGEST DANGER TO A GOP LOSS IN THE HOUSE If we want to look to why Republicans might lose their majority in the House, one need look no further than an article from The Hill today, and look to California’s own Duncan Hunter. Hunter is Chairman of the esteemed House Armed Services Committee, and a very senior player in the… Read More