“Christmas on the Prado” has for years been a tradition for thousands in San Diego.Held over two nights in a beautiful section of the city’s famed Balboa Park, for a quarter centurythe event exemplified the Christmas season for many – a way to fully get into the spirit, with carols, strolling minstrels, chestnuts-a-roastin’ and a nativity scene, all held in as “crisp” an environment as possible, given San Diego’s usually warm climate. It may still exemplify those things for some, as long as they don’t mind the new title:“December Nights.”

I attended an event for 5th District Board of Equalization candidate Michelle Steel this evening at Fats in the Little Italy district of downtown San Diego (that’s right, its down here too). The room was packed, and it looked like paying customers who were doubling down. Frankly, I thought that a BOE finance event would be a little more like a morgue, filled with staff looking for free shrimp, than what I found. It also sounded like she had a very aggressive finance schedule, which would not surprise me given the energy level and total commitment of her husband Shawn. I had never heard Michelle speak before, and I was impressed with her humor, poise, and grasp of political realities.

Perhaps more important – and this may have already been noted in the blog – I learned that Supervisor and San Bernardino County GOP Chairman Bill Postmus had endorsed Steel a couple weeks ago. Meaning: Postmus delivers, in spades, votes and campaign contributions. He’s on the short list of Southern California endorsements that actually matter.… Read More

Pat Bates (candidate for OC Supervisor v. Cassie DeYoung) is showing real leadership on the issue that matters most to 5th District voters–traffic. She doesn’t out-of-hand reject any alternative proposal. She is a real problem solver and not at all reactionary.

Click HERE to see Pat’s Perspectives on traffic.

I have still not seen any endorsements out of the DeYoung campaign…

Bates has a long list.… Read More

Earache. Earlier today, the Labor-HHS Appropriations Act, the spending bill that funds the Labor Department and Health & Human Services Department went down in a stunning defeat 224-209. The reason, Republican leaders stripped all "earmarks." Every Democrat and 22 Republicans voted NO…cause they want their pork. See the Roll Call and find out how your member of Congress voted.

Morrow. Senator Bill Morrow continues to staff up in preparation for his run for the 50th Congressional District seat currently held by Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Cynthia Determan, a native of Oceanside, has joined Morrow’s office to handle press and coalitions. Determan comes most immediately from Red Gate Communications, a Studio City-based public affairs firm founded by Fionna Hutton. Determan isa graduate of UCLA and handled press… Read More

In today’s news links on the main page, there is an article (in red ink) from The Hill which talks about U.S. Representate Darrell Issa endorsing moderate GOP businessman Ulan Uke in the race to succeed neighboring Rep. Duke Cunningham.

THIS IS NOT THE CASE. ISSA HAS NOT ENDORSED UKE says Dale Neugebauer, Issa’s Chief of Staff.

We will attept to bring you more information on the developing controversy…… Read More

Pretty funny that when I arrived at LAX United gate 85 to hot on a 20 passenger puddle jumper plane to Monterey (where I am participating in a state Boating and Waterways Commission meeting), one of the other passengers is none other than fellow Orange Countian and Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher.

She immediately asked me how I enjoyed the Maona Kea Hotel on Hawai’i, bolstering my confidence that those thousands of website hits aren’t all Adam Probolsky hitting "refresh" all day long on his computer. (Actually, ‘hits’ are measured in unique visitors anyways).

Lynn and I had a brief chat about the specializations of attorneys, leading to her telling me about her legislation to create a "water court" (at no additional taxpayer expense) where around the state, the various districts would have a judge who specializes in water policy. Right now, these cases end up in front of well-meaning, smart judges who just are not water-policy experts. So, these judges have to retain court "experts" who in turn hire others.

The idea sounds like a good one. Alas, the likely resting spot for a good idea from a Republican… Read More

As the Governor travels back from China, and spends the Thanksgiving Holiday with his family, I am sure that he will do a lot of reflecting on the Special Election results and what they mean for California — and for his own policy and political goals.

In light of this, I have penned an open letter to Governor Schwarzenegger which appears in Capitol Weekly today. The basic premise is this: Empower the GOP caucuses to assist you in dealing with the Democrat-controlled legislature. How would he do this? By announcing that he will not sign any bill that comes across his desk unless it got their with at least a majority vote of the Republicans in both the State Senate and the State Assembly. This would immediate provide relevance to our Republican legislators who have been seemingly relegated to ‘bystander status’ as Perata, Nunes and the Dems have preferred to do work without meaningful input from the Republicans in the legislature.

Here is the beginning of my column:… Read More

Issa for Congress

For Immediate Release Thursday, November 17, 2005 Contact: Frederick Hill Email: frederickrh@yahoo.com CONGRESSMAN ISSA CORRECTS FALSE NEWS REPORT ABOUT 50th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RACE WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Darrell Issa today made the following statement in response to a false and misleading report in the Washington, DC, publication ‘The Hill’ that he has thrown his support behind 50th Congressional District candidate Alan Uke: “I am not supporting or aiding Alan Uke,… Read More