Jon nails it in his commentary today.

When I see that someone has been married three times and has a chilly relationship with the kids, I have to ask if too much time caught up in a self-indulgent, ego-gratifying political life — and not enough time at home — caused any of the rifts with the family.

If one doesn’t care about ever patching up those rifts with the kids, it follows that one would spend two years of a life pursuing something that would make them too busy to do so anyway.

On the other hand, if there are too many guilty regrets and personal demons from a life soured by the choices which led to a poor relationship with one’s children, it can certainly be made up in other ways. Perhaps by pursuing something such as an even larger crown to place on top of the self-indulgent, ego-gratifying political life.

Folks like that I’m sure will likely be very dedicated, marriedto their political job. The best representatives, however, may be those dedicated to the job, while also finding the time to know… Read More

According to a column by the Fresno Bee’s Lew Griswald, Assemblyman (and FR friend) Bill Maze was supposedly surprised in reading on the FlashReport that one of his aides, Bob Smith, is running to succeed Maze in the legislature (term limits will cause Maze to retire.

I don’t buy that for a minute — given the depth of support that Smith has already put together, it is not plausible that his boss would not have heard about it.

That said, while Maze has been a solid conservative legislator, it is disappointing to see him drink the Anthony Adams kool-aid on term-limits. Guess what, Bill, were it not for term-limits, you probably never would have had a chance to serve. Now it’s time for others to have their opportunity.

Here’s the… Read More

John Pesching, a principal with the consulting firm Meridian Pacific, will be officially announced tomorrow as a senior advisor to the John McCain for President campaign, assisting with their efforts in the important Golden State. In this capacity, John has told me he will be volunteering his time. I’ve known John for a long, long time and I he will be strong go-to person in California for McCain’s campaign. John has a long, storied career in Republican politics, going all of the way back to beginnings when he worked in the Reagan White House (his photo helping then President Reagan with a weekly radio address is among the thousands on the walls at the Reagan Library). John spent several years as Executive Director of the California Republican Party before going on to serve seven years as the Western Regional Political Director of the Republican National Committee, giving him a lot of experience to lend to McCain’s effort not only here, but in a host of other states on this end of the country. I worked closely with John during the 2000 election cycle when he worked for the RNC, and I was… Read More

It is all in the wrist. Temple City Councilman Dan Arrighi lost his seat on the council after losing a coin flip. Over a decade ago, there was a tie for a seat on the West Covina School Board. I tossed the coin that decided a winner until a recount changed the victor by 4 votes. I always said that close elections are the worst to lose. A lot of would have and should haves enter a candidate’s thought. To lose big, no problem. You couldn’t do anything about it! See the story here. … Read More

* On Monday, we will be featuring columns advocating the leading candidates for President penned by some of their prominent California supporters. The candidate campaigns to whom we reached out for columns were that of John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, and our own Californian in the race, Duncan Hunter. I am pleased that all four campaign chose to participate, and so you can look forward to that treat on Monday! Also, John McCain and Mitt Romney will be in California next week and I will be attending events for both – so we’ll be bringing you that scoop as well! * In Sacramento County, longtime Republican Party Chairman Donna Schalansky abruptly resigned after being convincingly re-elected to another two-year term earlier this month. Donna has been a longtime friend, and we wish her well in her future endeavors. According to insiders involved with the County GOP, First Vice Chairman Craig MacGlashan is heavily favored to be elected to replace her at a meeting on April the 12th. MacGlashan is the husband of Sacramento County Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan. * We continue to toodle around with our newest feature – being… Read More

* On Monday, we will be featuring columns advocating the leading candidates for President penned by some of their prominent California supporters. The candidate campaigns to whom we reached out for columns were that of John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, and our own Californian in the race, Duncan Hunter. I am pleased that all four campaign chose to participate, and so you can look forward to that treat on Monday! Also, John McCain and Mitt Romney will be in California next week and I will be attending events for both – so we’ll be bringing you that scoop as well! * In Sacramento County, longtime Republican Party Chairman Donna Schalansky abruptly resigned after being convincingly re-elected to another two-year term earlier this month. Donna has been a longtime friend, and we wish her well in her future endeavors. According to insiders involved with the County GOP, First Vice Chairman Craig MacGlashan is heavily favored to be elected to replace her at a meeting on April the 12th. MacGlashan is the husband of Sacramento County Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan. * We continue to toodle around with our newest feature – being… Read More

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Imagine walking into Best Buy, strolling over to the television department, and grabbing a brand new Tivo unit. You then take this big, rather obvious box, and go right past the checkout stand, and out the door. On the way out, the guys who check to make sure you have paid for things start to approach you, and like Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Jedi Mind Trick in the original Star Wars, you tell the guy, "I don’t have a Tivo in my hand" — and they look at you funny, but are forced into silence as you stroll out with your stolen merchandise. I know, you are wondering how this little parable is going to somehow translate to something going on in politics. Well, it does! I was reading a story from The Hill newspaper this morning, and apparently under the leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the House of Representatives has adopted a new twist on their House rules that is so unbelievable that, even when reading it, you don’t believe it! Apparently if you bring forth an earmark… Read More