Hats off to Capitol Weekly’s Anthony York for being first out of the gate with the news that Senate Republicans this morning re-elected Dick Ackerman as their leader. According to the story, it was a razor-close vote between Ackerman and challenger Jim Battin.

There were several votes, and that among other issues discussed, according to Battin, there was the relationship between Senate Republicans and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Specifically, Battin told York, "And we had a long discussion on how the leaders should act with the governor."

You can read Capitol Weekly’s piece here. Congratulations to Senator Ackerman.

(We understand that the ultimate ‘swing’ vote was an undecided Senator Abel Maldonado. Maldonado went with Ackerman, and sealed the deal for the Leader’s re-election. )… Read More

There is nothing more underwhelming than when the main stream media tries to get cute, and speedily pen an article that attacks the integrity of a conservative (under the ‘guise’ of objective reporting), conveniently timed to try and impact an election. Today’s award winner for gutter-journalism: the Sacramento Bee. They ran a front-page story today making it sound like State Senator Jim Battin has questionable ethical standards because of his policy beliefs. Someone forgot to tell the Bee that ideologues like Jim Battin have a lot of passionate beliefs, and that instead of looking to ‘personal gain’ as reasoning for someone’s positions on issues, how about looking to their core-beliefs?

Jim Battin is an advocate for rights for Indian Gaming tribes. Not too shocking — he is not alone, there are many who share his position. But for the Sacramento Bee to run a front-page smear job the morning that Battin is trying to put together votes to become the leader of Senate Republicans is shameful. While Battin lost his bid by one swing vote, I am pretty sure than none of his colleagues let that article impact their… Read More

Right now, 100 newly elected (or re-elected) legislators are being sworn into their terms in the State Legislature. This is a good opportunity to provide some "unspin" to counter what we have been reading lately about legislative Republicans and the upcoming session…

There have been several efforts in the last few weeks my the main stream media (including some of the more well read columnists) to frame the election of Mike Villines as Assembly Republican Leader as some sort of ‘lurch to the right’ by Republicans, and a rejection of any notion of bi-partisan cooperation in the State Capitol. Let us remember that the Republican Party’s major tenants are a commitment to limited government, local control and individual responsibility. It should not come as a shock to any political pundits that Republicans in the State Legislature are very concerned about the growth in the size and scope of state government. Despite the dismal performance of our Republican majorities in Congress where spending increasing steadily under their watch, the vast majority of Republicans, especially when time is taken to explain how their tax… Read More

Last Friday, at financier Doug Brown’s Manhattan Beach ocean view home, Sen. Sam Brownback announced that he would open his Presidential Exploratory Committee today. The Senator pointed out that in politics " anything " can happen. Given, that conservative Sen. George Allen is no longer, in less than a month, proves the point.

Explaining how he would succeed, Brownback (pictured to the right) pointed out the obvious. It’s all about Iowa. Kansas which shares a long geographical border also share common political instincts. The nature of that Primary demands intense retail politics. Brownback has nurtured his contacts there since he was elected to Congress in 1994. The Senator correctly believes that if he shows well in the Iowa primary his campaign could ignite nationally.

Sen. Rick Santorum help convert Sam Brownback into Roman Catholicism in 2002. As such it was no surprise seeing several prominent Catholic leaders.… Read More

I’m in Sacramento for the swearing in. The night before was a big dinner. A couple of interesting items. First, Freshman Assemblyman Joel Anderson invited everyone to a party after the dinner. It was attended by Assembly members Villines (the new GOP leader), Martin Garrick,Jean Fuller, Paul Cook and Senators Wyland and Battin. It was so popular the the Sheraton shut it down!

My big question is this. Jon Fleischman sends us bloggers an email explaining that he needs our help, because he is going on vacation for his B-day etc… Imagine my surprise when I run into his wife Maureen at the dinner. Turnout she is the new District Director for Assemblyman Mike Duvall. I guess someone has to pay the credit card bills from Hawaii.

[Publisher’s Statement: "I am very excited about Mike Duvall’s selection of Maureen for a prominent role on his staff. She will do a great job for… Read More

Mayor Sanders Not Into Camping… The SDUT story was linked from the FR yesterday, but it’s worth repeating. Jerry Sanders had about 30 protesters outside City Hall on Friday, knickers all in a twist over his appearance on KFMB’s Rick Roberts radio show a couple of weeks back. Rick was talking with the Mayor about the illegal encampments in McGonigle Canyon, and asked if Sanders would attendthe legal resident protest campout the next day. Jerry’s tongue-in-cheek answer: “I’m not into camping.”

Those upset with such an outrageous comment had this to share in the SDUT story:

“Shame on you, Mayor Sanders. You bring disgrace to San Diego by your racist remarks and calling down shame upon us,” said the Rev. Patricia Andrews Callori, a member of Justice Overcoming Boundaries. Puh-leaze. Manhattan… Read More

Back when the Clinton Administration was in it’s infancy…[I know, that was the entire 8 years, up to the last-day vandalism of the White House computer "W" keyboard keys and stealing all the china they could], the then new Sec of Interior, Bruce Babbitt vowed that he wanted to be the first secretary to "tear down a dam." That mentality ismoving here in California, the latest concerning the ongoing fight up here at the top of the state and south Oregon over the Klamath River and the allocation of its water. It came to a head in 2001 when Klamath Basin farmers found their tap shut off mid summer because of fish concerns.

The latest is a proposal that has been kicking around for some time of tearing out a series of dams for fish passage. Owned by PacifiCorp,they have been in place on the Klamathfor over 50 years, generating electricityfor, primarily, Californians use. At least 4 dams are in the target sights, They aren’t huge generators like Shasta Lake or Lake… Read More

Back when the Clinton Administration was in it’s infancy…[I know, that was the entire 8 years, up to the last-day vandalism of the White House computer "W" keyboard keys and stealing all the china they could], the then new Sec of Interior, Bruce Babbitt vowed that he wanted to be the first secretary to "tear down a dam." That mentality ismoving here in California, the latest concerning the ongoing fight up here at the top of the state and south Oregon over the Klamath River and the allocation of its water. It came to a head in 2001 when Klamath Basin farmers found their tap shut off mid summer because of fish concerns.

The latest is a proposal that has been kicking around for some time of tearing out a series of dams for fish passage. Owned by PacifiCorp,they have been in place on the Klamathfor over 50 years, generating electricityfor, primarily, Californians use. At least 4 dams are in the target sights, They aren’t huge generators like Shasta Lake or Lake Oroville,… Read More