Since I have been writing about the goings-on in the State Capitol, I have had a policy of NOT writing about the internal politics of our legislative caucuses. It just tends to be a loser all around.

This is significant now because I have received a good number of e-mails from readers asking me to handicap the race to succeed Dick Ackerman as Senate Republican Leader. I got even more of them with Senator George Runner’s announcement that he was not going to pursue the post any longer.

That said, I wanted to share with you that my absence of coverage on this is actually on purpose.

Of course, there are many other bloggers on this site, any perhaps they might weigh in.

I will only say that it is clear that a change will take place well before the budget debate comes to a head.

We look forward to working with the next Senate Republican Leader, as we currently do with Dick Ackerman (and Assembly GOP Leader Mike Villines), towards the advancement of a limited government agenda.… Read More

We thought we would bring you this piece from the WSJ Poltiical Diary E-mail because our own Dan Schnur, FR State Capitol Correspondent, is quoted (or is that re-quoted)?

Why is Mike Huckabee staying in the Republican race even though it is now mathematically impossible to win the nomination?

The answer is: Why not? His base among evangelicals is such that he can do surprisingly well in states like Virginia, where he only lost to John McCain by nine points last night. He builds up more media credibility as a possible running mate for Mr. McCain, who might not want to risk alienating Mr. Huckabee’s socially conservative followers. And the former Arkansas governor clearly enjoys campaigning.

Republicans would be wise not to pressure Mr. Huckabee to leave the race.… Read More

Donald Trump is not exactly a conservative icon. He ran for the Reform Party presidential nomination not too long ago; a party with very confused ideals. He has an odd haircut. He is very successful. Hemarries and divorces "crazy" women. He is an ultramega-successful version of someone who hangs out at the Islands Hotel Bar in Newport Beach late on a Friday night.

But Donald Trump has done something VERY RIGHT. He has taken on the California Coastal Commission. The issue? Having to get approval from the government to display an American flag on private property.

Trump did southern California a favor by purchasing the moribund Rancho Palos Verdes golf course a few years ago with intention of building it into a national course. In the process of redevelopment, he decided to erect a 70-foot flagpole and display a large American flag. The winds offer a great waiving flag, backgrounded by a spectacular view of sea and sky.

But the local environmentalists complained that the flag "blighted" the ocean views. After a great debate, the Palos Verdes City Council gave Trump a retroactive approval, by a… Read More

Rock-star conservative Republican Congressional candidate Dean Andal has put together his first YouTube video of the campaign. Andal will be carrying the GOP banner against liberal Democrat Jerry McNerney in the Central Valley/East Bay Congressional District (11) that Richard Pombo represented for so many years. Check out the video: … Read More

President Calderon of Mexico is about to address the California State Legislature. The Office of Speaker Fabian Nunez has just sent out notification that President Calderon will give his speech in Spanish (non-Spanish speaking legislators will be able to listen, U.N. style, with headsets and the use of a traslator).

I would totally understand and appreciate this if President Calderon did not speak English. But he speaks perfect English (see the video below).

So exactly what point is it that he is making today with this decision?

It would be great if somone could explain it to me. I have no doubt that if Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke Spanish fluently, and he were giving an address to Mexican government officials, in Mexico, he would give it in Spanish.

His predecessor, Vincente Fox, spoke in English when he addressed the California Legislature…

… Read More

State Senator Abel Maldonado is a pleasant man. I don’t speak with him to frequently — as he is from the Central Coast and I am from Orange County, and he works in the State Capitol, a place that I admit I do not frequent as often as I should — but when I do talk to him there, I walk away saying to myself, "He’s a nice guy."

Well, last Summer, in the budget stand-off between Democrats and Republicans, he wasn’t so nice.

While all of his GOP colleagues were in a fox-hole, trying to defend California against an unrealistic budget that clearly spent way too much money, Abel abandoned his colleagues, and then started firing shots back at them.

**There is more – click the link**

View Full Commentary… Read More

UPDATE: 7am – I just got off of the phone with State Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman, who wanted to make sure that it was clear that his priorities in terms of State Senate races are (1) Defend Jeff Denham in the recall, (2) Re-elect Abel Maldonado, (3) Elect Tony Strickland, (4) Elect Greg Aghazarian. I agree with #1 above although my commentary below is about priorities for the Fall (after the recall is resolved). Obviously I am advocating that Ackerman and his successor change their order of priority – Flash.

State Senator Abel Maldonado is a pleasant man. I don’t speak with him to frequently — as he is from the Central Coast and I am from Orange County, and he works in the State Capitol, a place that I admit I do not frequent as often as I should — but when I do talk to him there, I walk away saying to myself, "He’s a nice guy."

Well, last Summer, in the budget stand-off… Read More

I love drama. This was sent in from GOP Uber-Consultant Tim Clark. Assemblyman candidate Neil Blais is his client:

Miller Smokescreen Continues Submitted by Tim Clark of JohnsonClark Consulting I read the recent post by Senator Battin – a respected GOP legislator and a tough partisan when he’s supporting a candidate or cause. That’s why I’m not surprised to see the Jeff Miller campaign use the Senator to repeat smokescreen arguments about Miller’s recent and surprising financial weakness. … Read More