…It Can Work Here! For anyone who is doubting whether Proposition 75, the Paycheck Protection Initiative on the Special Election Ballot can have on the political coffers of public employee unions, we need look no further than Utah!

In Utah, the Republican-controlled legislature passed Paycheck Protection legislation. The impact on two major union PACs has been significant. The PAC for the Utah Public Employees Association basically went out of business, having zeroed out their PAC balance. And the large (for Utah standards) 16,000 member Utah Education Association (our "CTA") has seen its PAC funds redeced by over 50% in three years.

Don’t take my word for it, you can read it here in this article sent to me by FR Friend Ron Nehring. Jon… Read More

For at least a decade, the San Diego Board of Supervisors has been an exclusive club – Republican registration "required" for membership. The process of appointing mid-term vacancies rather than electing them has given appointed Republicans enormous electoral advantages in majority Democrat districts. Thus there is much speculation and interest in the fact that Supervisor Ron Roberts has interviewed for the executive position at the Centre City Development Corporation. Roberts’ seat includes much of the heart of the City of San Diego, including most of the African American, Filipino, gay, and working class white neighborhoods. Registration stands at 119,000 Democrat, 76,000 Republican, 61,000 DTS, and 14,000 other. Widespread rumor has Democrat Acting-Mayor Tony Atkins (essentially the Mayor after the resignation of Republican Mayor Dick Murphy until the new Mayor is elected in the November Special Election) exploring the possibility of appointment or election to the seat if Roberts resigns to accept the CCDC position. Atkins, a lesbian… Read More

It is no secret that Congressman David Dreier has been on the hot seat concerning Illegal Immigration. From John and Ken and other talk show hosts to Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley’s anger over his most recent bill. (See my last blog entry) David Dreier has just sent a letter to registered Republicans asking for signatureson the California Border Police Initiative authored by Assemblyman Ray Haynes. I like the "We must stop illegal immigration." part.See it here.

Of course Dreier could use his influence in Congress to pass bills restricting illegal immigration, especially the ones he introduces or spend a small portion of his over $2 million dollars in campaign… Read More

The late Lee Atwater used to say that a candidate must be the Ulysses of his own campaign. “Tie me to my mast,” Lee imagined the politician saying to his crew. “Help me avoid those sirens.”

Lee’s point wasn’t that candidates aren’t smart and/or politically savvy. Rather, he believed that no matter how talented many candidates might be, they lack the perspective to effectively oversee their own campaign. It’s too easy to get too emotionally involved when it’s your own name on the bumper sticker, so having a person or persons around with slightly more emotional distance is almost always a good idea. But the key is picking the right people.

Which brings us to Steve Poizner. Steve is a smart, talented individual with a genuine commitment to public service. He is also worth about five zillion dollars and has demonstrated a willingness to spend his money on behalf of political causes that are important to him. He may be more centrist than many of the readers of this website (then again, so am I). But he’s definitely the type of person who we need more of in politics.

Poizner’s first… Read More

FlashReport Weblog’s Bay Area Correspondent has a great column in today’s Weekly Standard. It begins:

IF THERE IS A CONSTANT in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s overlapping careers as film and political star, it would be his ability to choose the right foil to play the bad guy.

On the big screen, Schwarzenegger… Read More

The Big Winner Is… As is my tradition, in the weeks after a State Republican Party Convention, I publish a column on who I think "won" and who "lost" at the convention. There is no doubt who the BIG WINNER was at this year’s convention. Come on… You can guess…. Alright, tired of guessing? Read it here: Winners & Losers.

Whalen in the Standard FR Bay Area Blogger Bill Whalen has penned an excellent column in the Weekly Standard today, called "The Governator V" — you should definately check it out here if you haven’t read it already. Easy Call For Local Government – YES on 76 The Governor made his pitch to the California League of Cities yesterday, as to why they… Read More

I find it hard to muster up sympathy for the big wigs in the entertainment business when the are hit with ‘labor actions’ by their unions. After all, how many millions upon millions have been donated by the Hollywood ‘elite’ towards the liberal candidates and causes that have empowered these unions? Somehow there is some sort of justice in the Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 16, being the subject of a complaint by San Francisco’s LucasFilm. While you are busy crying for poor George Lucas, you can read about it here.… Read More

Orange County is in the midst of a Special Election frenzy that started with this Tuesday’s 48th CD ‘primary’.

On Nov. 8th we will vote on the statewide initiatives with the rest of you, as well as a slew of local county initiatives that mostly are about funding for the sheriff, DA and firefighters.

On Dec. 6th the run-off for the 48th CD will pit State Senator John Campbell against Minute Man Founder Jim Gilchrist and some Democrat that doesn’t really matter.

Then sometime early next year we can expect ANOTHER Special Election for state senate to replace then Congressman John Campbell.

I am not sure if this is any kind of record but it certainly creates opportunity for political consultants and observers.… Read More