This is probably not a surprise to anyone, but Senate President Don Perata, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (pictured to the right on the campaign trail with Phil Angelides), and the rest of the Democratic legislators who hold majorities in both houses of the legislature do not want a Republican Governor — specifically, they would like to see Arnold Schwarzenegger lose in November, and fail dismally in his leadership of California between now and then. Why? Because as partisan Democrats, they would like to see one of their own party members occupy the highest public office in the state. This becomes important because in this election year, there is simply no way to avoid the reality that the partisan elections that are underway have already and will continue to ensure that the legislative Democrats will do anything and everything to see Governor Schwarzenegger embarrassed and do poorly — after all, you need only look at the endorsements lists on the websites of … Read More

I know what I’m about to publish is petty. I know I should be above it. But I’m a weak, weak man.

Check this out.

This is the funniest thing I’ve seen in a while. And yes, apparently it’s for real. I don’t know how he managed it, but Republican candidate and former Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian has managed to make enemies with many if not most of the state political operatives and pranksters (sometimes they are one in the same, sometimes not) who amuse themselves with this type of thing. Is this gonna win or lose the election? No. Is someone going to make some good money off it? Probably. Note to the inspired businessman… the coffee mug would have been more entertaining if there was a picture of Howard’s noggin on it near the top so the drinker could see the steam coming off his head.… Read More

I can’t help but hope that the Governor took the opportunity today during his time with Secretary Chertoff to discuss substantive measures to protect our borders.

If he did, why no message from the Governor to the people of California on the discussion?

Mr. Governor?… Read More

Tonight, along with conservative Mission Viejo Councilman Frank Ury, I spoke to the monthly meeting of the Saddleback Republican Assembly here in Orange County. The SRA is the local chapter of the venerable California Republican Assembly.

It was great to come and speak to this great group of energized conservative activists. I talked to the members about the very important role that the CRA plays as the conscience of the Republican Party. I reminded the members there that the role of the Republican Party isn’t just to elect Republicans to office, but to hold the feet of those GOP officeholders to the fire. Literally, being their conscience.

I recalled back to my term as State President of the CRA from 1995-1997, and the great team we had in place. I remembered the great legislative scorecard we put together (John Stoos stood this up for us back then), which embodies the idea that the relationship between the activists and the candidates last long beyond the election day.

Anyways, we had a fun evening – talking about the latest on the bond plan, goings-on in far-away Ventura County, and the special election for the 35th Senate… Read More

There will be no infrastructure bonds on the June ballot. This is a certainty. But what does that mean?

There are a host of articles linked on the main page today where you can read the ‘spin’ out there from over a dozen different political reporters (or in some cases "teams" of political reporters). I will take a few minutes here and put in my ten cents. Let me first talk about the Governor. Arnold Schwarzenegger has certainly won the debate — there is no question from any corner about the need for California to invest in significant infrastructure needs for the state. The Governor laid out a bold plan last January, and has spent months making a case for this. It’s not too hard a case to make when you spend hours on clogged highways, or see the state of disrepair of many of California’s levees.

So why, with the need so great, and a ‘superstar’ Republican Governor making a very passionate and persuasive case to the people of California about a need for strategic infrastructure growth, did the legislature fail to place anything on the June ballot? After… Read More

There will be no infrastructure bonds on the June ballot. This is a certainty. But what does that mean?

There are a host of articles linked on the main page today where you can read the ‘spin’ out there from over a dozen different political reporters (or in some cases "teams" of political reporters). I will take a few minutes here and put in my ten cents. Let me first talk about the Governor. Arnold Schwarzenegger has certainly won the debate — there is no question from any corner about the need for California to invest in significant infrastructure needs for the state. The Governor laid out a bold plan last January, and has spent months making a case for this. It’s not too hard a case to make when you spend hours on clogged highways, or see the state of disrepair of many of California’s levees.

So why, with the need so great, and a ‘superstar’ Republican Governor making a very passionate and persuasive case to the people of California about a need for strategic infrastructure growth, did the legislature fail to place anything on the June ballot? After… Read More

Perhaps to brag, but I’m just about on my way to SDSU’s Cox Arena for Round One of March Madness, FOUR basketball games between 11:40 this morning and 9:00 tonite, so just wanted to get a quickie posted on the 50th before seeing Marquette, UCLA, Illinois and Washington take on their equally impressive opponents. Life’s rough, but at least a defense contractor didn’t buy me my tickets.

Politics can be like the ups and downs of basketball, and the missives and rumors are flying in the Cunningham Replacement Thing. The SD Politics Blog has Alan Uke considering hanging it up, based on the big money spending by Eric Roach and Bill Hauf. If you saw Duane’s post two days ago on the Competitive Edge poll, you know that Uke’s half a mil is only translating into 3.6%, so you understand the Uke concern, if it’s true.

On the other… Read More

From time to time, FR friend Dan Weintraub, over at the Sacramento Bee, links to something featured on this blog. So, it seems only fair that we return the favor on occasion. Weintraub, considered to be keen thinker on the capitol polical scene, and its juncture with the world of public policy, has taken a stab at why he thinks that no infrastructure plan is on the June ballot. He says:

What went wrong?

By Dan Weintraub from his blog:

With the bond deal dead for June and in danger of not happening at all, Schwarzenegger now risks looking like a hapless governor who can’t get along with Democrats but also can’t depend on his own Republican allies for votes when… Read More