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Mike Spence

Beverly Hills 90210 Voter Fraud

Think that voter fraud is ACORN signing up some poor kid 29 times for smokes? Apparently voter fraud is now for the rich and famous as well. Opponents of a Hilton condo and hotel projectare reporting 569 questionable voters in the election that approved the project by 129 votes.

George Runner should do a press conference there for his Vote Safe Initiative.No smokes needed.… Read More

Bill Leonard

I Agree with Susan Kennedy (Not a headline you see every day.)

Actually, Susan Kennedy, the Chief of Staff for this Governor and the last, is a good student of government. She knows that in crisis there is opportunity. In her speech to the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce she said, "There is a greater chance that we will achieve change this year than in the last 50 years.” And she added: "The single biggest danger is that in our urgency to solve our problem, we’re going to miss the opportunity for structural reform — which is critical.” She also called for a flat income tax and made the promise, "I guarantee you a lot of those obsolete boards and commissions will be eliminated." Thanks to Carla Marinucci of the San Francisco Chronicle for being the only reporter I can find who covered this important talk. As Kennedy said "our backs are against the wall’ and we have no other choice but to make changes that were not considered even a month ago.

Some of these changes should have happened decades ago as money was spent on programs that have marginal benefits.… Read More

Shawn Steel

American Indian Charter School—Libs need not apply

" We are looking for hard working people who believe in free market capitalism…Multicultural specialists, ultra liberal zealots and college tainted oppression liberations need not apply." This recruitment statement come from one of California’s best Middle Schools. The American Indian Public Charter School, Oakland ranks the 5 th highest of any Middle School from the thousands in operation. Unlike the other schools mostofthe children are exceptionally poor. Bay area liberals are aghast and want this school’s success buried. Betty Olsen-Jones the boss of the far left Oakland Education Assn, aka Teachers Union, isn’t happy with American Indian’s success, byteaching students with discipline, basics, respect, uniforms and homework.Read More

Jon Fleischman

FR Interviews Meg Whitman and House Minority Whip Eric Cantor

Last week, on Wednesday and Thursday, the number two ranked House GOPer, Republican Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia, was out in California where he announced that he was endorsing Meg Whitman in her campaign for the GOP nomination for Governor. Cantor appeared at two fundraising events for Whitman (one in the Bay Area, the other in Los Angeles) and sat for two interviews with Whitman. One with FR friend Joe Mathews (what Joe lacks in defining ideology he makes up for with his irrepressible sense of humor) and the other with the FlashReport.

Immediately below this introduction is a short 90 second video that I shot with the handy FlashCam right after the interview — the endorsements of the FlashReport are worth seeing it to its conclusion, despite the terrible lighting which makes it hard to see the subjects. Below that is the full text of the 35 minute interview. It is a bit lengthy but when I am able to give a full… Read More

Jon Fleischman

Today’s Commentary: FR Interviews Meg Whitman and House Minority Whip Eric Cantor

Last week, on Wednesday and Thursday, the number two ranked House GOPer, Republican Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia, was out in California where he announced that he was endorsing Meg Whitman in her campaign for the GOP nomination for Governor. Cantor appeared at two fundraising events for Whitman (one in the Bay Area, the other in Los Angeles) and sat for two interviews with Whitman. One with FR friend Joe Mathews (what Joe lacks in defining ideology he makes up for with his irrepressible sense of humor) and the other with the FlashReport.

Immediately below this introduction is a short 90 second video that I shot with the handy FlashCam right after the interview — the endorsements of the FlashReport are worth seeing it to its conclusion, despite the terrible lighting which makes it hard to see the subjects. Below that is the full text of the 35 minute interview. It is a bit lengthy but when I am able to give a full… Read More

Jon Fleischman

Republicans Blast Obama… For “Date Night” With The First Lady?

Give me a break. I was reading via a link on Drudge that President and Mrs. Obama went to New York City for dinner and a play on Broadway over the weekend. The President had apparently promised his wife that when the campaign was all over, he would take her on this trip.

I think its great. While the President of the United States is our nation’s top elected official, and our Commander-in-Chief, he is, first and foremost, a regular citizen of this country like the rest of us. So seeing him find time for the "regular" stuff is actually, I think, a positive think.

I have to admit that I rolled my eyes to see that the Republican National Committee took the President to task for this trip. As you know, when the President travels, it’s not like in that movie, Dave, where he sneaks out a secret exit of the White House and goes out as some regular guy, he… Read More

Mike Spence

June’s Tax Elections Are Upon Us

Had enough of elections? In Los Angeles County there will be four, count them four school districts that will try to pass a parcel tax.

Parcel taxes of course require a 2/3rds vote to pass. This is an important protection to property owners that actually pay the tax.

June 16th, South Pasadena Unified has a tax of $95/unit in multi-unit parcels and $288 for other parcels that will last four years.

June 23rd, Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District has a $165 per parcel for four years.

June 30th features two elections. La Canada Flintridge with a five year $150 a parcel tax and Rowland Unified with a five year $120 annual levy.

Will these pass? Probably, with the exception of Rowland Unified. May 5, 2009 San Marion residents approved a parcel tax just 14 days before San Marino voters rejected the tax extension measure 1A.

Local taxes usually pass in Los Angeles County.

One little secret is that everyone one of these measure exempt seniors from paying for the tax. Why only seniors? Some say it is because they don’t use the schools or they are on fixed income. Home school or private school parents or for the matter the… Read More

Bill Leonard

Not Much Stopping Government These Days

Idid my best to prevent the Board of Equalization from endorsing an incredibly bad bill on Wednesday. In the end, I lost 3-2 with Michelle Steel joining me in voting no. Elective democracy only works well when the citizens push back when the government goes too far. Sadly, this rarely happens. Nonetheless, every business owner in California should take a look at Assembly Bill 852 by Assemblyman Paul Fong (D-Mountain View), a bill that would allow county assessors to mandate that businesses file their property tax returns electronically. Not every business, just the ones the assessors pick. Those that are targeted by the assessors must file electronically or get hit by a ten percent penalty. This shows the total falsity of the assessors’ argument that this is good for business. If that were so, there would be no need to mandate it with the threat of a penalty. A reasonable person might think California is so eager for revenue they would allow people to pay their taxes in any way that results in the State getting the money on time. Nope. This bill is all about the assessors making things more convenient for themselves. Under my grilling, the assessors’ representative… Read More

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