For better or worse, political dynasties do exist, even here. And while we like to think that at least some modicum of ability is required for political offspring to sustain a tradition (the Kennedys and Bushes come to mind), that clearly isn’t always the case. You can still find incompetence in government — from big cities to burgs and backwaters — born of apathy, cronyism, ignorance, corruption, racial politics, and even simple "name-identification." Such incompetence often results in under-representation of people who desperately need representation.

Welcome to San Bernardino County, home of U.S. Rep. Joe Baca, D-43rd Dist., and Assemblyman Joe Baca Jr., D-62nd Dist. While Congressman Baca is running for a fourth term, Assemblyman Joe Baca Jr. is gearing up to challenge Assemblywoman Gloria Negrete-McLeod for the 32nd State Senate Seat currently held by Nell Soto. Meanwhile, while Soto is planning to run for one more term in the Assembly, replacing McLeod in the 61st A.D., here comes another Baca… Read More

…It Can Work Here! For anyone who is doubting whether Proposition 75, the Paycheck Protection Initiative on the Special Election Ballot can have on the political coffers of public employee unions, we need look no further than Utah!

In Utah, the Republican-controlled legislature passed Paycheck Protection legislation. The impact on two major union PACs has been significant. The PAC for the Utah Public Employees Association basically went out of business, having zeroed out their PAC balance. And the large (for Utah standards) 16,000 member Utah Education Association (our "CTA") has seen its PAC funds redeced by over 50% in three years.

Don’t take my word for it, you can read it here in this article sent to me by FR Friend Ron Nehring. Jon… Read More

THE MAN WHO WROTE A $4 MILLION CHECK TO STOP FAIR DISTRICTS… How did Hollywood Producer Stephen Bing make his money? Well, you might assume that he spent decades working to climb the Hollywood ladder, working as a waiter or a deliver boy as he struggled to learn the craft of producing movies. Alas, poor Stephen made his money the old fashioned way — he inherited it! When his grandfather, Leo Bing, an accomplished New York real estate mogul, passed away, all of the Bings were able to share in the divvying up of his reputed $600 million fortune. He has certainly parleyed that and now, according to Forbes, is personally worth upwards of three-quarters of a billion dollars.

Bing has a history of generosity for liberal causes – he was a key financier for former President Clinton and his schemes. Bing wrote a check for a million bucks to help finance a Democrat National Convention, and he ponied up another cool million to fight a tax repeal… Read More

I am here at the Eagles concert at Staples Center with CRP Vice Chairman (South) Keith Carlson and his better half, Amy. Somewhere around here is OC GOP Chairman Scott Baugh.

So far, the Eagles have been been great, playing all of their great tunes – thus far to include “One of these Nights”, “Witchy Woman”, “Boys of Summer”, “Take it Easy”, “Lyin’ Eyes” and more.

Besides showing off being able to blog from a rock concert – we do need a political tie in – thus we report that, according to Don Henley, Joe Walsh is running for President (again).

Great stuff – I think they are almost done with the “We’re sixty+ and we need a break” break. So we’ll sign off.

Your from Staples Center.

Flash

P.S. Hopefully that will be the LAST commentary from Don Henley.… Read More

The late Lee Atwater used to say that a candidate must be the Ulysses of his own campaign. “Tie me to my mast,” Lee imagined the politician saying to his crew. “Help me avoid those sirens.”

Lee’s point wasn’t that candidates aren’t smart and/or politically savvy. Rather, he believed that no matter how talented many candidates might be, they lack the perspective to effectively oversee their own campaign. It’s too easy to get too emotionally involved when it’s your own name on the bumper sticker, so having a person or persons around with slightly more emotional distance is almost always a good idea. But the key is picking the right people.

Which brings us to Steve Poizner. Steve is a smart, talented individual with a genuine commitment to public service. He is also worth about five zillion dollars and has demonstrated a willingness to spend his money on behalf of political causes that are important to him. He may be more centrist than many of the readers of this website (then again, so am I). But he’s definitely the type of person who we need more of in politics.

Poizner’s first… Read More

For at least a decade, the San Diego Board of Supervisors has been an exclusive club – Republican registration "required" for membership. The process of appointing mid-term vacancies rather than electing them has given appointed Republicans enormous electoral advantages in majority Democrat districts. Thus there is much speculation and interest in the fact that Supervisor Ron Roberts has interviewed for the executive position at the Centre City Development Corporation. Roberts’ seat includes much of the heart of the City of San Diego, including most of the African American, Filipino, gay, and working class white neighborhoods. Registration stands at 119,000 Democrat, 76,000 Republican, 61,000 DTS, and 14,000 other. Widespread rumor has Democrat Acting-Mayor Tony Atkins (essentially the Mayor after the resignation of Republican Mayor Dick Murphy until the new Mayor is elected in the November Special Election) exploring the possibility of appointment or election to the seat if Roberts resigns to accept the CCDC position. Atkins, a lesbian… Read More

The Big Winner Is… As is my tradition, in the weeks after a State Republican Party Convention, I publish a column on who I think "won" and who "lost" at the convention. There is no doubt who the BIG WINNER was at this year’s convention. Come on… You can guess…. Alright, tired of guessing? Read it here: Winners & Losers.

Whalen in the Standard FR Bay Area Blogger Bill Whalen has penned an excellent column in the Weekly Standard today, called "The Governator V" — you should definately check it out here if you haven’t read it already. Easy Call For Local Government – YES on 76 The Governor made his pitch to the California League of Cities yesterday, as to why they… Read More

It is no secret that Congressman David Dreier has been on the hot seat concerning Illegal Immigration. From John and Ken and other talk show hosts to Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley’s anger over his most recent bill. (See my last blog entry) David Dreier has just sent a letter to registered Republicans asking for signatureson the California Border Police Initiative authored by Assemblyman Ray Haynes. I like the "We must stop illegal immigration." part.See it here.

Of course Dreier could use his influence in Congress to pass bills restricting illegal immigration, especially the ones he introduces or spend a small portion of his over $2 million dollars in campaign… Read More