Ten years after California passed Prop. 209, the California Civil Rights Initaitive, it appears that Michigan is following in California’s footsteps (10 years later) and passing the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (MCRI) tonight. Only 17 of Michigan’s 83 counties are reporting so far, so the numbers could change, but the early returns certainly make it seem that Ward Connerly, Jennifer Gratz and the proponents of MCRI are going to be victorious tonight.… Read More

Real low turnout in San Diego County… Read More

California politics makes the election-day issue of the Wall Street Journal’s Political Diary (it’s tied into a piece on both California and New York):

A Tale of Two Megastates

As two of the nation’s largest states, California and New York share reputations as bastions of liberalism and a congenial home to moderate Republicans such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and George Pataki.

But the two mega-states are likely to diverge dramatically when it comes to tonight’s election results. In California, private polls show Governor Schwarzenegger with a 15-point lead over his hapless Democratic challenger Phil Angelides. More importantly, Republicans are mounting strong… Read More

I know. I know. The Governor is going to win Tuesday. His campaign’s triangulation of California’s voters has been unbelievable. The Phil Angelides campaign wipes from memory the doomed Lungren debacle as worst campaign. So how can the Governor lose? Three ways. First: God Forbid McClintock, McPherson or Strickland loses by a little bit. People will ask how can the Governor be responsible for their campaigns? He isn’t, but at the top of the ticket for any party there is a responsibility to help those underneath. Sure, stomping Angelides and Victory 06 are good things. But when you up 15 points sharing a little love to those below is expected. Imagine the power of an Arnold bus tour with these down ticket folks during the last week. You’ll have to imagine it, because it didn’t happen. Contrast that with Bush whose … Read More

Over the next two days, the FR will be highlighting four more statewide campaign MVP’s, already having awarded "Arnold’s MVP" to Californians for Schwarzenegger Communications Director Katie Levinson. Not every campaign will be called out for this honor, but a few more will. Two today, and two tomorrow. Congratulations to Katie and to the other recipients. TOM’S MVP: STAN DEVEREUX, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR!

Tomorrow, Tom McClintock may become the next Liuetenant Governor of California. There is no doubt that some of the credit for McClintock being poised on the edge of victory goes to his campaign Comminucations Director, Stan DeVeraux, who gets the FlashReport "Tom’s MVP" Award… Read More

This weekend update was sent over from FR Friend Jeff Miller, Riverside County Republican Chairman.

I’m ad mad as anyone about the GOP and how they have governed. Immigration, Government spending and many other issues are not being addressed properly in DC and Sacramento.

CRA has launched a radio ad thorugh one of our committees to try to get those of us ticked off to the polls. You can hear it here.

It is okay to be mad. It is okay to makeyour views known. It is not okay not to vote for McClintock, Strickland, Prop 85 and all the things on the ballot.… Read More

Although Duncan Hunter’s late District Chief of Staff Wendell Cutting passed away in June (see FR tributes here and here), it isn’t lost on many in San Diego that — were he alive today — he would be having a very calming influenceon his own school board. TheGrossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District election fight has grown increasingly nasty in recent weeks. The filling of Wendell’s seat is being decided, and three other incumbents are being challenged by the district’s Faculty Association.

It seems Wendell didn’t miss a beat here, knowing full well he wouldn’t be around to weigh in. The following missive from his brother Larry says a lot:

October 24, 2006

It is campaign season and in some races dirty tricks have reached new lows. My late twin brother, Wendell Cutting, would be appalled at the unethical lengths the opposition to the current members… Read More