I was expecting a quiet Sunday as I spent time this morning surfing over fifty websites compiling the main page. Not so much. There’s a lot going on out in news-land today. Lots of great reading for those who like to do that with their Sunday. Let’s start first with recommending four great columns for you to read: Congressman Richard Pombo penned a piece for the Contra Costa Times on why the Endangered Species Act needs a serious facelift. This is accompanied on the main page by an article from the Sacramento Bee on this same subject. Also featured, from the Bee, are a pair of articles from the ‘dynamic duo’ of Walters and Weintraub. Both pieces take a really hard look at Governor Schwarzenegger and the kind of Governor into which he has evolved. I think you will enjoy them both. Finally, LA Weekly columnist (and prolific writer) Bill Bradley has a piece on his site today that illustrates a big challenge for Phil Angelides — if you want to raise taxes on everyone, eventually you need to get into specifics – or do you? On the ‘hard news’ side of things — the top story today is an… Read More

There is no commentary today. The main page has been updated with today’s California political news. I am getting ready to revamp the links to blogs on California politics on the site, so send along any suggestions of places that you visit that you think should be linked on our Blog Roll. Have a great day! Jon

Care to read comments, or make your own about today’s Daily Commentary?

Just click here to go to the FR Weblog, where this Commentary has its own blog post, and where you can read and make comments.… Read More

Paperwork has been filed with the Oceanside City Clerk to recall Councilwoman Esther Sanchez, no surprise to anyone watching the divided city council and the brazenness of the council majority the last few years. Read the North County Times story here.

Calling Sanchez the "power behind the throne," Lawson Chadwick is leading the recall charge, to the dismay of the San Diego Democratic Party, which is considering removing him from his seat on that body as a result. So much for the First Amendment.

Some other folks signing the initial recall paperwork include political consulting partners Jack Orr and Mary Azevedo. Last Sunday, I noted Jack’s lack of fear in challenging the Oceanside troika of Sanchez, Mayor Jim Wood, and Councilwoman Shari Mackin. He proves it here.

The recallers will need to collect at least 10,680 signatures in 160 days.

Attached below is the intent to circulate petition.… Read More

Sept 19 was the date set for the recall of two of three remaing pro- Wal-Mart council members in Rosemead. See last post on Rosemead here.However, there is an outstanding court case that may screech this to a haly again. See here. This kind of election bring out all kinds of wackiness. The targets of the recall voted to ban all outdoor smoking and ant- Wal-Mart types are looking at everything Wal-Mart is doing on the building site. See here.

Of course for me the ironic part is that the election will take place after theGrand Opening of the Wal-Mart which, could put an anti- Wal-Mart council in charge of spending the tax revenue Wal-Mart produces. Only in California.… Read More

You can blame Tony Strickland for Controller Campaign Manager Paul Hegyi for the brief commentary this morning. Paul, who hails from Sacramento was down in Sacramento (he is also Assemblyman Van Tran’s Chief of Staff). FR Managing Editor Nicholas Romero and I took Paul to see Bill Cosby perform at the Orange County Fair, and the evening went quite late from there. Paul was excited to share that early polling shows Strickland ahead of his opponent — which is a great place to start given the significant voter-registration advantage that Democrats enjoy over Republicans here in the Golden State. We’ll be spending a lot of time between now and November talking about the real potential in the State Controller’s race for a GOP win. FR friend Martyn Hopper is the State Director of the National Federation of Independent Business for… Read More

You can blame Tony Strickland for Controller Campaign Manager Paul Hegyi for the brief commentary this morning. Paul, who hails from Sacramento was down in Sacramento (he is also Assemblyman Van Tran’s Chief of Staff). FR Managing Editor Nicholas Romero and I took Paul to see Bill Cosby perform at the Orange County Fair, and the evening went quite late from there. Paul was excited to share that early polling shows Strickland ahead of his opponent — which is a great place to start given the significant voter-registration advantage that Democrats enjoy over Republicans here in the Golden State. We’ll be spending a lot of time between now and November talking about the real potential in the State Controller’s race for a GOP win. FR friend Martyn Hopper is the State Director of the National Federation of Independent Business for… Read More

The FlashReport congratulates Congressman Richard Pombo (R-Tracy) on the apparent decision by national Democrats to drop their nominee, Jerry McNerney, in Congressional District 11.

This intel comes from ace political reporter Hank Shaw at the Stockton Record on his blog (which doesn’t have its own URL but try this linkthen click on Hank’s blog).

Of course, credit for this has to be split three ways. Pombo gets credit for running hard. Then there is the unlucky Dems whose ideal candidate lost the primary. Finally you can’t leave out the smart people who created a Congressional District boundary that was made to elect and keep electing a Republican…… Read More

It appears Angelides had enough out of Mulholland after last week’s comments comparing the Governor to Kim Jong-Il. So, now Mulholland’s been benched for long-time Democratic Party operatives Roger Salazar and Steve Maviglio.

Roger Salazar has already been popping up with quotes and press releases attacking the Governor. Steve Maviglio, who now works for Speaker Fabian Nunez, has been brought on temporarily to help Brian Brokaw set up a "rapid response" system for Angelides’ communications shop. I can think of no worse job than defending $10 billion in tax increases…rapidly.

It’s only July but Angelides is already reaching deep into the veteran bag of Democratic Party operatives to help his struggling campaign staff.

Salazar is fresh off of the Rocky "did anyone see who was driving the freight train who ran us over" Delgadillo campaign and Maviglio… Read More