For our political junkie readers: 4 PM Pacific time, the polls close in the Georgia primaries. 5 PM Pacific time, the polls close in the Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Tennessee primaries. 5:30 PM Pacific time, the polls close in the Arkansas primaries. 6 PM Pacific time, the polls close in the Kansas Democratic caucuses and the New Mexico Democratic primary, as well as the Colorado caucuses for both parties and the primaries for both parties in Arizona, Minnesota, and New York. … Read More

Going into Super Tuesday, everyone (including our own analyst, John Lewis), hadWest Virginia favoring Mitt Romney. I knew that McCain had a strong force there, but not quite at Romney’s level. So I just about came out of my chair when I read that Mike Huckabee won the state’s delegates.

Get this – it’s a "convention" state, so the GOP delegates are elected in a very political environment. On the first ballot, Romney fell shy of what he needed to clinch the delegates. Behind him. But not too far, was McCain. Huckabee got only a handful of votes.

So what happened? Apparenlty, in order to deprive Romney of an eventual win, the McCain folks through their support, en masse, to the Huckster.

Now THAT is hardball politics.… Read More

Just in from Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman on a very important issue…

Completion of the Orange County Toll-Road — a Statewide Benefit that Needs to Move Forward Now

By Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman (R-Tustin)

With the State in a Fiscal Emergency, California Can Lead by Taking Advantage of this Public-Private Partnership California faces a golden opportunity. With worn down roads, congested traffic and a $14 billion budget deficit, we need alternatives to fund critical infrastructure projects. Our golden opportunity? We can take advantage of a public private partnership by supporting the completion of State Route 241 and Orange County’s system of Toll Roads. The Transportation Corridors Agencies are offering California two smart solutions to our statewide challenges of relieving traffic congestion and building costly infrastructure. They would build State Route 241 at no cost to California taxpayers, and give $100 million to improve California State Parks. This equals one-fourth of the State Parks Department annual operating budget, and given the State Parks… Read More

I know – it’s a dire blog title – but I absolutely mean it.

And almostevery Republican political strategiest I know thinks so too (and I’ve heard from a lot since my original post).

Also, it appears the progressive Democrats agree with me as well – they’re opposing Prop 93 on their blogs.

The Democrat’sreason? If Prop 93 passes and the termed out Republican incumbents in their targeted seats run for reelection, it will be harder for the Democrats to pick up those seats.And they don’t like that at all.

Liberal Democrat, David Dayen, over on Calticsmakes the argument that Prop 93 passing stands in the way… Read More

With shiny expensive TV production values, slick mail and award winning ads are the norm for first class political consultants. But sometimes you can move public opinion with simple ideas. JohnsonClark’s Trojan Horse is making a publicity killing. This morning"s Capitol Morning Reports lead story features the Trojan Horse ‘truth hour" press conference in front of the state building in San Jose—opposing the dying Prop 93 term limits expansion.

Who would figure that such a simple, old school idea, having Brandon Powers tow the giant Trojan Horse around the state to stage press conferences in 30 media markets would be so effective ?

… Read More

TO: Reporters Attending The Governor’s Yes on 93 Presser Today FROM: Jon Fleischman RE: The Big Lie — A Tale Of Three Mail Pieces Today, Governor Schwarzenegger along with a number of other politicians will hold a press conference in Los Angeles — their last effort to push Proposition 93 to severely weaken California’s legislative term limits, and allow dozens of legislators that would have to retire at the end of this year to serve years longer in office (in the case of Fabian Nunez, he would be able to serve for six more years, until the end of the first term of the Governor to follow Schwarzenegger!). Central to the campaign is what we call "The Big Lie" — which is simply this. Instead of presenting voters with an honest campaign, Fabian Nunez (and now Arnold… Read More

TO: Reporters Attending The Governor’s Yes on 93 Presser Today FROM: Jon Fleischman RE: The Big Lie — A Tale Of Three Mail Pieces Today, Governor Schwarzenegger along with a number of other politicians will hold a press conference in Los Angeles — their last effort to push Proposition 93 to severely weaken California’s legislative term limits, and allow dozens of legislators that would have to retire at the end of this year to serve years longer in office (in the case of Fabian Nunez, he would be able to serve for six more years, until the end of the first term of the Governor to follow Schwarzenegger!). Central to the campaign is what we call "The Big Lie" — which is simply this. Instead of presenting voters with an honest campaign, Fabian Nunez (and now Arnold… Read More

Congressman Darrell Issa sent over this brief piece on his support for Senator John McCain’s campaign for President: