Except for this brief mention, you probably couldn’t tell from reading today’s FlashReport that today is the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America five years ago. As I often say, you probably couldn’t tell we were engaged in a war in the Middle East if you just read the FR. We maintain a very sharp focus here on California politics, and so you really need to look elsewhere for news about – anything else. I bring up 9-11 for two reasons… The first is by way of explanation for the sparseness of MSM stories on the main page. Every newspaper has devoted the bulk of their prime coverage to the somber anniversary, and this has caused there to be less coverage on politics. I would also like to take an opportunity to ask all FR readers to pause and join me in a silent moment of prayer for the victims of 9-11, the families and friends of those who were killed, and for the soldiers who have fought, and for those who have died, defending the liberty and freedom we enjoy here in America. … Read More

September 11 is here. The MSM continue to ask if we are safer than fiver years earlier. The answer is of course yes. Until then many didn’t know we faced an enemy. Today most Americans do, while some still hide.

One issue facing us is port security. There is no doubt port security needs to be addressed. Long Beach Democratic State Senator Alan Lowenthal managed to get SB 927 passed. This bill puts a a tax (fee) on users of the port to pay for port security.

The blog LBReport reports that the Long Beach Chamber opposes the bill because of the $500 million in extra taxes passed on to consumers. LB Report discusses the hisory of the idea and the federal role in it. Good info.

The Chamber of course really isn’t in a place to lecture about the costs. My solution would be simple. Lets use the interest payments that will be used for the massive bond debt the chamber wants us to approve. How about that instead.… Read More

Tax, Spend, and Make Way for Speaker Pelosi

If serving up a platter of pork is how Republicans expect to win back their voters in the weeks ahead, they might as well hand over the gavel to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid right now. The half-trillion dollar budget bloat of the last five years is precisely what has placed the GOP majorities in the House and Senate in mortal danger. Tom Feeney, the second-term Republican House member from Florida, recently told us: "Sometimes I think we’d be better off with those old headlines reading ‘Republicans Attempt to Cut Federal Programs for Widows, Orphans and Grandmothers.’"

He was only half joking. Republicans are at risk of losing the House and Senate in no small part because of the untrammeled spending spree. Since 2001 the federal budget has risen by $750 billion. The increase over the… Read More

If yesterday’s post wasn’t enough…

I received an email from a reader as follows:

I’m not yet decided on the airport issue, but it is persuasive that all of the region’s delegation is against the proposal.I really wonder if the argument that somehow not having the Marine Air Station here weakens national defense is really sound. The presupposition is that to relocate the base would therefore weaken us as a country, and I just find that a "stretch" of logic. Arguments that it might be expensive to relocate the base, or that we might be negatively impacted by the loss of this government facility may be sound, but that our national defense posture would suffer is just not convincing.

It just seems to me that the real issue is who needs the location the most, assuming that the existing airport will not meet our needs indefinitely. It’s a very complex matter with lots of considerations that "cut both ways." I just sincerely question the national defense argument.… Read More

We met last week to consider local races, candidates and issues, as well as the Propositions scheduled for November.

The most significant news from our meeting is the strident opposition to all of the bond measures appearing on the Statewide ballot. The votes weren’t even close. Review our ballot endorsements here. And we will actively campaign against the bonds. I plan on actively mentioning my opposition at every public opportunity.… Read More

As everyone who reads this site undoubtedly knows, a few weeks ago a few of my ‘friends’ on the left-wing side of the political spectrum launched their new website, the California Majority Report. Actually, I spoke on several occasions with the Democrat activists who were putting this site together, giving them some general input on a collegial level. They invited me to come up to Sacramento last month to their big, glitzy "launch party" which was attended by a couple hundred members of the Sacramento liberal elite, including many socialist-policy-embracing officeholders like State Senate President Don Perata, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and many others. This group was so left-wing that former Gray Davis/Steve Westly advisor Garry South stuck out as the reasonable one of the bunch. One cannot help but try to make a comparison between this new website and the FlashReport.… Read More

As everyone who reads this site undoubtedly knows, a few weeks ago a few of my ‘friends’ on the left-wing side of the political spectrum launched their new website, the California Majority Report. Actually, I spoke on several occasions with the Democrat activists who were putting this site together, giving them some general input on a collegial level. They invited me to come up to Sacramento last month to their big, glitzy "launch party" which was attended by a couple hundred members of the Sacramento liberal elite, including many socialist-policy-embracing officeholders like State Senate President Don Perata, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and many others. This group was so left-wing that former Gray Davis/Steve Westly advisor Garry South stuck out as the reasonable one of the bunch. One cannot help but try to make a comparison between this new website and the FlashReport.… Read More

California voters are better off when there is a vigorous debate among the leaders who serve us. The race for governor is no exception. The California Broadcasters Association has offered to host the one and only televised (played on the radio too) debate between the Governor and Phil Angelides. It is scheduled for October 7th.

Unfortunately, Angelides doesn’t seem to like the style of the debate the broadcasters have chosen. The Broadcasters who who probably give up a lot of advertising revenue to show and play the hour-long event say having the two candidates sitting at a table with the moderator is the most conducive.

But Team Angelides is holding out for some other format like a formal podium style or stool in the middle/walk around style debate.

It sounds a little petty to me. And besides the podiums are too old school and the stool version was never good. I want my politician thinking of the answer to the question or responding to the other guy, not worrying about if the camera caught him looking at the hot chick in the audience.

Mr.… Read More