"There’s some things you don’t want to answer to give ammunition to the other side."

This gem of a quote was given to veteran Stockton Record political reporter Hank Shaw when he spoke with Jerry McNerney, the Democrat nominee for Congress against incumbent Republican Richard Pombo in California’s 11th District (pictured to the far left), which is largely based in the Stockton area, and in the East Bay Area.

McNerney besides being candid in his belief that you should hide your positions on the issues if they are unpopular, has got to be one the dumbest candidates for office – EVER.

**There is more – click the link**

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Some opportunities you just can’t pass up. Being a gearhead of the Mustang persuasion, when offered a chance to "deliver"a 2006 Hertz Shelby GT-H Mustang to NorCal, it didn’t take much arm twisting.

The 2006 model is the reincarnation of the ’66 Shelby Mustang GT350H that you could rent from a participating Hertz location in 1966 for $17 a day and 17 cents a mile. Carroll Shelby persuaded the Hertz folk back then they needed to liven it up a bit so they took delivery of a total of 936 special edition GT350’s in Hertz company colors of black with gold stripes. This was the Mustang fastback which in its Ford incarnation came with the 271 horsepower Hi Performance 289. Shelby’s magic brought it up to 306 h.p. via a big 715 cfm carburator, Cobra high rise intake, Tri-Y headers and improved exhaust. Plus enhanced suspension bits, stiffer springs and shocks tostraighten curves and brake upgradesto bring some more "whoa" with the go. And of course,… Read More

Following up on our top story today, attached is a .pdf file that shows the 55 changes that Democrat McNerney has made on the Project VoteSmart website as he ‘reinvents himself’ for the General Election. Let me add that he may have changed all of these positions again since this was compiled. He’s quite the moving target.… Read More

Oakland residents woke up this morning to find out that three more homicides occured over the weekend, bringing the total to 81. Last year, Oakland saw 94 homicides for the entire year. If the killing occurs at the rate thus far for the year, the city will see its homicide rate almost double.

One of the killings was particularly tragic. According to the SF Chronicle, 18-year-old Anthony Butler, a Skyline High School student, was shot on Saturday afternoon. Apparently, two years ago, Butler’s older brother, Harold Butler Jr., was shot and killed at age 17 at an East Oakland liquor store in a neighborhood feud.

So, where’s Jerry Brown as the killings continue in his city? Will Californians promote the mayor of one of the state’s most dangerous cities to the job of the state’s top cop? One can only hope that Brown’s current job performance actually matters to the voter’s of this state.… Read More

As an advocate of full disclosure and no other restrictions on campaign finance I am posting my major donor report that will be filed with the Secretary of State today.

For those people who find money in politics to be distasteful or corrupting I say too bad. Free speech is our right and I literally put my money where my mouth is.

No longer can you simply stand in the park and recite your grievances with the government and have an impact. Supporting good candidates and issue is the way we do it today–don’t villanize me for speaking my mind.

People who have problems with money in politics don’t understand why some people give to politics. My motivation is often times helping friends. For instance, my good friend Steve Vargas is running for city council in Brea. He was on the council several years ago and now he is ready to serve another round for the residents there. I have given him $2500 so far and fully expect… Read More

It may be noted on the main FlashReport page this morning, but it’s worth mentioning here as well…the lead SDUT editorial skewers the Escondido City Council over its disdain for private property rights, givingus all another reason to hate the Kelo decision andto support theProtect Our Homes initiative this November. An excerpt:

The busy stretch along Mission Avenue in western Escondido near Quince Street must be a pretty good place for a restaurant. After all, Oliverio and Rosa Ruedas, owners of the El Mexicano Taco Shop, have earned a living there for 21 years. Then again, maybe hard work and good food explain the couple’s ability to survive economic challenges that include the recent shuttering of Kmart, their giant neighbor.

But the Ruedas family is no match for Escondido’s city government. In a troubling abuse of power, the City Council has voted 3-2 to seize the property beneath their business and sell it to a developer whose clients will pay more in local taxes. The Taco… Read More

[This is a ‘weekend commentary’ – so it will be up both Saturday and Sunday.]

In some ways I feel very bad for California Republican Congressman Jerry Lewis, and in some ways I don’t. Let me start with the caveat that, to my recollection, I have never met the man. Which is at least a modest statement about his level of engagement in Republican politics in California given that I am a former Executive Director of the State GOP, and have been a fixture at conventions going back twenty years. Then again this is a big state, and I admit that I don’t hang out in Redlands all that often.

I have heard from a number of mutual friends that on a personal level, Jerry Lewis is a nice guy. And on a personal level, I am empathetic about what the Congressman must be going through. Right now, his professional (and personal) life is under and intense scrutiny with investigations taking place by the federal… Read More

In some ways I feel very bad for California Republican Congressman Jerry Lewis, and in some ways I don’t. Let me start with the caveat that, to my recollection, I have never met the man. Which is at least a modest statement about his level of engagement in Republican politics in California given that I am a former Executive Director of the State GOP, and have been a fixture at conventions going back twenty years. Then again this is a big state, and I admit that I don’t hang out in Redlands all that often.

I have heard from a number of mutual friends that on a personal level, Jerry Lewis is a nice guy. And on a personal level, I am empathetic about what the Congressman must be going through. Right now, his professional (and personal) life is under and intense scrutiny with investigations taking place by the federal government into allegations that Lewis may have used his extremely influential position as Chairman of the House Appropriations (i.e… "spending) Committee to… Read More