Today I am truly thankful for my wife and family; for my friends; for God’s blessings in my life; and to live in a great, free country that offers me and all people opportunity, civil rights, and the right to speak my mind.

Other things I am thankful for today are that: my parents didn’t name me Lester Lacy; that the Angels made it to the American League championship series and that baseball is just a few months away; that I was able to get rid of low profile tires on my car, which explode too much; that my German-born and titled 121 pound German Shepherd, Ibo Vom Steigerhof, BH, hasn’t been able to figure out how to start my car, yet; that my lemon tree hasn’t died; and that our publisher has only permanently deleted one of my posts herein in the last year. Happy Thanksgiving everybody!… Read More

The nomination by Governor Schwarzenegger of State Senator Abel Maldonado really comes as no surprise, I suppose. Oh, there were plenty of theories about potential picks of people outside of the State Legislature, but if the Governor was going to pick a sitting legislator, Maldonado is a natural. The reason for this is that this Governor is so erratic and inconsistent that it is safe to say that he has no over-arching political ideology that is guiding him through his time as the state’s Chief Executive. Instead, everyone – even those closest to him – have stopped trying to predict his behavior, knowing that to try is folly. The only areas in which the Governor has maintained some consistency is his vetoing of those few bills each year that the CalChamber identifies as “job killers” (while signing vastly more bills that cost jobs but didn’t make the list) – and he has been “channeling” Al Gore on global warming for quite a few years now. Abel Maldonado is similarly erratic and unpredictable. Both Schwarzenegger and Maldonado seem to relish in the attention that they garner – “Oh, what will they do?”

This dynamic duo of inconsistency… Read More

The nomination by Governor Schwarzenegger of State Senator Abel Maldonado really comes as no surprise, I suppose. Oh, there were plenty of theories about potential picks of people outside of the State Legislature, but if the Governor was going to pick a sitting legislator, Maldonado is a natural. The reason for this is that this Governor is so erratic and inconsistent that it is safe to say that he has no over-arching political ideology that is guiding him through his time as the state’s Chief Executive. Instead, everyone – even those closest to him – have stopped trying to predict his behavior, knowing that to try is folly. The only areas in which the Governor has maintained some consistency is his vetoing of those few bills each year that the CalChamber identifies as “job killers” (while signing vastly more bills that cost jobs but didn’t make the list) – and he has been “channeling” Al Gore on global warming for quite a few years now. Abel Maldonado is similarly erratic and unpredictable. Both Schwarzenegger and Maldonado seem to relish in the attention that they garner – “Oh, what will they do?”

This dynamic duo of inconsistency… Read More

Last Tuesday voters in Orange County went to the polls to pick their next Assembly member. This was a hotly contested race on the Republican side, and while the race sometimes turned ugly, I was pleased to see the final results.

I endorsed Chris Norby because I believe he does what he says and he says what he means. As Floor Leader I need members like Chris by my side to help us push the Republican vision. I am confident that Supervisor Norby (and now, presumably, Assemblyman Norby) will make the voters of his district proud and will be a valuable asset to our caucus.

While this was a special election and Chris will still have to face a run-off, I have no doubt that he will be working with us in the Capitol come next year. Congratulations Assemblyman Norby, and welcome to Sacramento.… Read More

It is extremely annoying to have Governor Schwarzenegger (among others) attacking his fellow Republicans for being ‘partisan’.

I don’t want to speak for all of those elected Republicans in the State Capitol — but I will speak for myself. I am not a conservative because I am a Republican, I am a Republican because I am conservative.

The reason why conservatives in the legislature seem to

I think what Schwarzenegger is trying to say is that he doesn’t believe that there should be ideologues in Sacramento — individuals who are committed to a certain set of principles and ideas. Never mind the fact that it was a group of committed ideologues who founded the very republic in which we all enjoy our freedom.

Conservatives believe that practical solutions to solving problems facing our state should be looked to, first, beyond government. To individuals, to families, and communities. Ultimately, where government involvement is required or desired, it must be done mindful of the fact that the first most important calling of government officials should and must be to ensure that they do not set into motion actions by… Read More

I tried to think of something special for my friend Richard Costigan to commemorate this, his birthday. I went to his FB page, and realized that he’s got plenty of people there wishing him well on his big day (FR friends John Bovee and Nancy Bennett among many others).

So, Richard, for you — a birthday cake right here on the FlashReport blog.

Hope you have a great one!

(Also, on behalf of all of your friends, we "get it" that you are disappointed that the Governor tapped Maldonado and not you to be Lt. Governor. Better luck next time — get over it!)… Read More

Much will be said about the appointment of moderate State Senator Abel Maldonado to be California’s next Lt. Governor. His appointment was not a surprise. I didn’t read one article or column that pondered the Governor’s potential LG picks that didn’t prominently mention Maldonado.

That said, I only read one commentary that looked at the Governor’s LG pick that 100% "nailed it" as to the timing of the appointment.

In his November 5 column, And The Next Lt. Governor Is… (Envelope Please), Fleischman said, "One thing is certain, Arnold Schwarzenegger will make his selection soon. How soon? Doesn’t he have a scheduled appearance coming soon with Jay Leno?"

Very precient, Flash!… Read More

From today’s Wall Street Journal Political Diary…

Arnold’s Heir Transplant?

Arnold Schwarzenegger likes to drop big political news on Jay Leno’s TV show. In 2003, he announced his campaign for governor there. Last night, he followed that tradition by announcing his pick to be California’s next lieutenant governor — State Senator Abel Maldonado, an Hispanic Republican who’s the closest thing the governor has to an ideological ally in the legislature.

The job became vacant three weeks ago after Democratic Lt. Governor John Garamendi won a seat in Congress. Mr. Maldonado is a 42-year-old moderate whose family emigrated from Mexico to start their own farm. But… Read More