Every once in a while, a column comes along that really moves you – or causes you to think about something in a totally different way. Today’s Golden Pen Award winner is famed economist Walter Williams. Williams really gets to the core of the problem in Washington, D.C. — and it is not the lobbyists. Yeah, what Jack Abramoff did was wrong, but the solution to stopping this problem does not lie with ‘reforms aimed at lobbyists’ – but rather an introspective look by Congress at itself.

Williams, in part, writes:

Chris Magnus just moved from Fargo, North Dakota to the East Bay city of Richmond. Magnus is not relocating for some cushy, high-tech executive job–he’s agreed to become the City of Richmond‘s new police chief. Richmond‘s new top cop, who started his first day on the job yesterday, jumps from the nation’s 12th safest city to California‘s most lethal city. (Last year, Richmond had 40 homicides, more per capita than any other city in the state.)

Magnus is taking on an enormous job.… Read More

I had the opportunity to sit down for lunch inPasadenawith a new face in California politics, Attorney General candidate Pierre Prosper.

I do need to point out that have not endorsed a candidate. I’m waiting for the results of the CRA Endorsing Convention and that I respect Prosper’s opponent Sen. Chuck Poochigian very much. But, I wouldn’t pass up this opportunity to see what Prosper was all about.

I won’t recount his entire bio. You can read it story of his family coming from Haiti (clearly a good move) and his rise from LA County Assistant District Attorney to War Crimes prosecutor and Ambassador at his website.

I did ask him about his role in the War on Terror and some of the controversial aspects of the Bush Administration policy. Prosper explained that the Bush Administration took steps based on "first Impressions". Meaning that this kind of war… Read More

Oakland will elect a new mayor this year as our current mayor, Jerry Brown, seeks to follow Bill Lockyer into the Attorney General’s office.

Brown gave a fairly boring State of the City speech yesterday which focused mostly on the new development in the city.

"There has been in the past six years a tremendous business investment in Oakland," Brown told the City Council. "There has been a tremendous vote of private capital in the future of Oakland."

Its true-there has been more business investment in the city while Brown was governor. In the past,… Read More

As if it wasn’t official before.

Here’s what the anonymous SD Politics Blog is posting about Morrow’s announcement:

On The Issues: “I promise you, I will never vote for a tax increase, and I will fight everyday for smaller government, and less regulation. And as a social conservative, I will also continue to fight for the rights of the unborn, and I will workto preserve and strengthen our Second Amendment rights.”

In The News: The North County Times gave a raspberry to Bill Morrow in Sunday’s Roses & Raspberries section for asking “anti-immigration extremist Mike Chase to join Morrow’s congressional campaign steering committee”. Apparently, anyone who isn’t open to full amnesty but does support secure borders is an extremist. Quite frankly, I’m not sure how a hard-line on… Read More

The 35th Senate District is set for a Special Election on April 11th. Diane Harkey is moving fast and hard toward a win.

You don’t have to take my word for it, Alicia Robinson is the political reporter at the Daily Pilot, the Newport Beach/Costa Mesa paper. She writes, "But while Dana Point City Councilwoman Diane Harkey has been showing her face at various city council meetings and racking up big-name endorsements, Huntington Beach Assemblyman Tom Harman’s campaign seems to be missing in action."

Harman’s response: "Right now I’d say it’s kind of the lull before the storm," With the election just 13 potentially unlucky weeks away, there is no lull. There is constant motion and non-stop fund raising.

Harkey, a Dana Point city councilwoman and super-successful businesswoman has already ponied up six-figures of her own money and pledged more as needed. She has also been … Read More

Adam Mendelsohn is a new dad. He and his family have just relocated from Washington, D.C., back home to California. You see, this new dad is now the new Communications Director for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. After years of valient service, Rob Stutzman has departed the post (though he will still be doing work with the Governor’s re-election campaign).

Adam is a friend, and I think that he will do a great job for the Governor. Adam consented to an interview that is featured in today’s issue of the FlashReport! Congratulations, Adam!

(P.S. – Rumor has it that Adam has pledged to bring his new baby with him to work each and every day! Somehow I think Mrs. Mendelsohn might not like that idea…!)

GOVERNOR IN SAN FRANCISCO Governor Schwarzenegger commemorated Martin Luthor King, Jr, day with an appearance in San Francisco, where he spoke at an event sponsored by labor… Read More

Adam Mendelsohn is a new dad. He and his family have just relocated from Washington, D.C., back home to California. You see, this new dad is now the new Communications Director for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. After years of valient service, Rob Stutzman has departed the post (though he will still be doing work with the Governor’s re-election campaign).

Adam is a friend, and I think that he will do a great job for the Governor. Adam consented to an interview that is featured in today’s issue of the FlashReport! Congratulations, Adam!

(P.S. – Rumor has it that Adam has pledged to bring his new baby with him to work each and every day! Somehow I think Mrs. Mendelsohn might not like that idea…!)

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