My friend Justin Sayfie runs the Sayfie Review Website on Florida Politics, over in the Sunshine State. (Our sites may look similar as we use the same development firm out of Orlando). Justin also has recently launched Sayfie News, a website focusing on national politics. Anyways, he took the time to interview U.S. Representative Connie Mack (R-Fl) about his recent endorsement of Mitt Romney for President. You can see that interview below if you would like. What is the nexus to California politics? Well, Connie Mack is engaged to marry California’s own Mary Bono, who represents Riverside County in the U.S. House. The fun "kicker" here is that Bono has endorsed Giuliani. I guess this vastly increases the likelyhood that someone will have access to the best parties at next year’s GOP National Convention! … Read More

My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you affected by the horrific fires today. I can’t turn the news off. Each time they mention another area ablaze, I can think of several of you that I know personally who live in those neighbors, and I’m really worried about you. Please take care, and check in when you can.

I saw Congressman Duncan Hunter on CNN today, announcing that he was able to get National Guard C-130’s dispatched to the state before the official State-to-White House request had even been processed. Now that’s what I call an advocate…way to go, Sir! (Of course, CNN praised him thoroughly…then swished him off the screen without ever mentioning that he is a Republican AND a Presidential candidate.) That’s alright, Congressman Hunter, you did a great job today, and I’m sure those air tankers are going to make a big difference; we’re proud of you!

Stay safe everyone. Many blessings.… Read More

Those liberal "wishful thinkers" out there who were quick to pronounce the proposed ballot measure to change the method of allocation of California Presidential Electors to a By-Congressional-District method will not be pleased with this news. I just got off of the phone with GOP strategist and consultant Dave Gilliard, and am pleased to tell you that as of today, the effort to place this initiative on the June, 2008 ballot is not only back, but is moving ahead at full speed. As a matter of fact, signature gatherers were out on the street all of last weekend, and will continue to collect signatures until the initiative qualifies! Here’s the scoop. As many of you may be aware, the initial effort on this effort was spearheaded by prominent political law attorney Tom Hiltachk. A couple of weeks ago, Hiltachk made a decision to pull the plug on his role with the qualification efforts — but made it clear that he was happy for someone to pick up the baton and keep on running with it. Well, the challenge has been met, and by quite a credible group of folks. Today the California Counts Committee was formed, and the… Read More

As I sit in my San Diego office this morning I look out over the normally busy intersection of Broadway and 5th. Today I see two people. The cars are usually jammed the length of Broadway. Today you could walk across the street without getting one horn jammed at you.With the suburbs on fire, and the many of the roads and freeways shut down, downtown is almost a ghost town…hazy and quiet.… Read More

Large segments of Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Escondido, San Marcos, Rancho Santa Fe, and Solano Beach have been evacuated. Maybe more. Some 250,000 (you read that right) people are on the move.My prediction is this number is going to grow. Power outages sound like they are picking up in the northern and eastern suburbs.

Maybe Barry knows more, he is much closer than I am.

I’ve been impressed with the evacuation. I’m talking about the kind of evacuation call you get at 4am in the morning from a reverse 911. The whole thing appears pretty ordered.No chaos that I can tell.

I just got a call that said that east Chula Vista is now being evacuated.… Read More

It’s our own Tab Berg and Steve Maviglio, Deputy Chief of Staff to Fabian Nunez. Perhaps Tab will let us know how this photo came to be! … Read More

Which of the four currently-announced GOP candidates is leading the money race in the open Duncan Hunter seat? Well, that depends on the author of the respective press release. Check out three of the contenders’ excerpted samplings from the last week…

Duncan D. Hunter Congressional Campaign Leads Race for FundsLa Mesa, CA – In spite of the fact that their candidate is serving his country 8000 miles away, the Duncan D. Hunter for Congress campaign announced today that they are leading all challengers in the race for campaign funds… The Hunter for Congress committee has raised $170,730 this year – all of it while Duncan D. Hunter, a Captain in the United States Marine Corps, has been serving in Afghanistan. Bob Watkins Delivers Strong Early Campaign Finance Report: Campaign Cash Tops All Others in Race(San Diego) – Although opening his congressional campaign committee just three weeks before the September 30, 2007 finance filing deadline, former San Diego County Lincoln Club Chairman – Republican Bob Watkins… Read More

Last Sunday I was delighted to fly to San Francisco and meet with Pepperdine Law School Dean, former Solicitor General of the United States, and Independent Counsel investigator of President Bill Clinton, Ken Starr, to talk about…..wine deregulation!

As a Pepperdine Law graduate myself and fellow Reagan Administration alumni, I had a couple of other reasons to really enjoy our 2 hour meeting, but the main purpose of our discussion had to do with a project that is close to Dean Starr’s heart (and also good for it), namely, working to oppose prohibitionist-style laws that still exist in many states that bar the direct shipment of wine to consumers. These regulatory barriers, including barriers to direct purchase and shipment of wine over the internet, exist in large states such as Texas and New Jersey, and are highly discriminatory against smaller family wineries in California that produce high quality products but cannot get access to these states for sales through theoutmoted "three tier"… Read More