I decided to take a few minutes this morning and search on the internet for "Crop Insurance" — a search that virtually every FlashReport reader is sure to never have done before. You will see that the there are a ton of headlines in California papers today talking about the negative impact of the really, really cold weather on a lot of California agriculture — especially the citrus crop. There have been local states of emergency declared by cities and counties, and even Governor Schwarzenegger has declared emergencies in many parts of California, opening the doors for President Bush to make similar declarations at the federal level. Of course, these ’emergencies’ are not life or death crisis situations — no American will live or die without their fresh glass of orange juice — these are states of economic emergency. Farmers are losing their crops, their livelihood, and are seeking aid during a very challenging time. Which brings me back to why I… Read More

One of the three candidates for Vice Chairman of the California Republican Party, Tom Del Beccaro, is an attorney who is currently a plaintiff in a lawsuit against Jerry Brown. While that case, and the merits of it, have been discussed on this page quite a bit, the nickel tour is that Del Beccaro and several others who joined with him in filing the suit alledge that Brown was not qualified to run for Attorney General because his license to practice law in California went dormant during his time as Mayor of Oakland. A judge will decide this matter.

But I find it ironic that the judge in the case has scheduled a hearing for 1:30 p.m. on February 9th. This, of course, is the beginning of the California Republican Party’s convention, where Del Beccaro is running, along with Jalene Forbis and Tom Bordonaro, for Vice Chairman. Given that Del Beccaro has gone ‘point’ on this matter, one cannot imagine that he will not be at the hearing (which, conveniently, is in Sacramento). But the timing it interesting. There is no substitute for being on-hand at these conventions as a candidate,… Read More

Monrovia is the San Gabriel Valley is one of those cities having a March Election. Turns out that the candidate running against incumbent Mayor has been convicted of grand theft. Finally, a politician with that has admitted what most of them really end up doing. Of course he attacks the Mayor, a good guy named Rob Hammond, for being a pawnbroker. Maybe Hammond wouldn’t fence his stuff?See article here.… Read More

OCGOP COOL TO MCCAIN If last night was any indicator, Senator John McCain has a long way to go in endearing himself to California Republicans. The Orange County Republican Party had its biennial organizational meeting last night at the Hyatt Hotel in Irvine, where former Assembly Scott Baugh was re-elected to another term as Chairman with hearty applause and no opposition. Also elected were a slate of officers that included myself as Second Vice-Chairman — also uncontested. That said, Chairman Baugh ended up holding an impromptu popularity poll of the roughly 200 party leaders in attendance for the 2008 GOP Presidential primary. The context was Baugh asking which Presidential contenders those present would like to see speak at the GOP’s big annual Flag Day Gala. Baugh cycled through all of the most talked-about candidates — where Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich received the most applause. There was what I will characterize as a polite applause for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. But probably the most noteworthy response from the room came when Baugh… Read More

OCGOP COOL TO MCCAIN If last night was any indicator, Senator John McCain has a long way to go in endearing himself to California Republicans. The Orange County Republican Party had its biennial organizational meeting last night at the Hyatt Hotel in Irvine, where former Assembly Scott Baugh was re-elected to another term as Chairman with hearty applause and no opposition. Also elected were a slate of officers that included myself as Second Vice-Chairman — also uncontested. That said, Chairman Baugh ended up holding an impromptu popularity poll of the roughly 200 party leaders in attendance for the 2008 GOP Presidential primary. The context was Baugh asking which Presidential contenders those present would like to see speak at the GOP’s big annual Flag Day Gala. Baugh cycled through all of the most talked-about candidates — where Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich received the most applause. There was what I will characterize as a polite applause for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. But probably the most noteworthy response from the room came when Baugh… Read More

I tried to think of a more creative title for this post but this one just worked.

I have never liked Senator John McCain and when he made it his priority to cut and run with my constitutional rights with his so-called campaign finance reform, I realized that it was my mission to dislike him even more.

He has some (albeit likely short lived) ability to connect with the American People. That may be one for the reasons why people like Irvine Company billionaire Donald Bren and Schwarzenegger campaign manager Steve Schmidt have signed on with the mal-tempered senator from Arizona to try to make him president.

But I am a big believer in understanding people’s motivations. For Schmidt its a money play. He is hot coming off a huge win for the Governor and can command big $$s. So he went with whomever was willing pay him the big money. For Bren, sure it would nice to pick the next president two years out. But if McCain doesn’t become president, he will be in the U. S. Senate for life or Secretary of the Interior?, Bren knows having 100% of a U. S. Senator or cabinet secretary is better than a maybe president.

So as you see people… Read More

Many members of the California Republican Party are asking, "What happened to the Party’s expensive 2006 GOTV program?"

Since the CRP’s biennial reorganizational convention is coming up soon (February 9-11 at the Capitol Hyatt in Sacramento), important questions need clear and honest answers. I will try to do so based on the facts I have learned…

The CRP’s Operating Account in 2005 spent a total of $9,100,000. Combining all CRP accounts (19 in all), including Assembly and Senate Republicans and Team California, the total expenses was $18,700,000 in all of 2005. Not bad for a Party out of power.

At the beginning of 2006 the members of the CRP Board of Directors were faced with poor political prospects, which generally became fact, including the Governor’s race. Remember — at that point Arnold was still suffering from the $164 million government-union-sponsored anti-Arnold hesteria.

The CRP has a committee, designated Cal Plan which provides a specifric political budget for each election cycle. It’s a powerful committee. Membership of the Cal Plan Committee is restricted to a few members of… Read More

Am I the only one that finds irony in the fact that the Governor today is praising the introduction of a Senate Resolution for the United States to cozy up to a global table at the United Nations to discuss global warming — when it is so cold here? It was almost hard to find the Governor’s release praising this resolution amidst all of the others declaring emergencies around the state due to the severe frost conditions.

I just found it a bit ironic.… Read More