Over the next two days, we will be presenting to FlashReport readers our “Winners & Losers of the May 19 Special Election” feature… Today we will be presenting the winners – those people or groups who, from our perspective, increased their stature, standing and reputation as a result of the outcome of yesterday’s vote. Let me say that you will not find on the list below any of the labor groups (and there were some) who opposed Proposition 1A. Our position is that, given the ineffectiveness of the alleged “spending cap” in 1A, these groups have actually done themselves harm – though we are okay with that.

So, without further commentary, and in no particular order, our Winners…

FR’S WINNERS OF THE MAY 19 SPECIAL ELECTION

**There… Read More

From today’s Wall Street Journal Political Diary E-mail…

Voters to California Pols: Drop Dead

… Read More

Get a "sneak peak" — in full color — by opening the attachment below!… Read More

Governor Arnold has made history. Since 2005, he’s been repudiated by almost every political coalition in California. Its a great illustration for all aspiring "GOP moderates" – stay in the middle of the road and EVERYONE runs over you.

Even with yesterday’s thorough beating, it will soon be obvious that California’s Democrat leadership and the Governor will prove to be too stupid to understand thatCalifornia voters have a limit to what they will put up with from Sacramento. Across the State, we knew from the day the budget deal was inked in February that it was a failure, that it was going to fail, and that higher taxes would drive stake into the heart of the economy. Apparently, those that voted yesterday agreed.

The Republican Party should not now "let a good crisis" go to waste. We need to show up with alternatives – NOW, and the first alternative we need to suggest are tax rate reductions, across the board, on small business and families. There is NO other strategy to jump start this economy than tax relief. Revenues to the State will increase if such a bold move is made, but when I observe… Read More

I’m not sure who won on Dancing On The Idle American Star Search last night but I do know thatall taxpayingCalifornians got a win with the election results of last night. If the legislature hasn’t "gottenit" yet with dismal poll ratings,the No On Prop 93 to term limit extensions result, the Tea Parties that have and will continue to happen all over the US andCalifornia, then maybe the Prop 1F resultwill send themessage. See that gesture legislators?Basically, theF in1F stands for finger, as in the middle fingerlegislators have just beengiven by many Californians.Don’t tax us more, get it right, don’t trick us with baddeals made at midnight.

With the state’sconditions as they are, there isn’t really muchcause to celebrate but a sense of relief that patchwork fixes did not get passed, aspending cap was not encased in the Constitution that doesn’t cap anything [which would’ve thereby ended the debate for good] that the debate must continue and a sober re-evaluation of what and how the state operates must occur. Indeed it is a 2nd chance to get it right.… Read More

10:20am UPDATE: The Governor’s office has clarified that the first item I mentioned is on his agenda — getting a waiver for the stimulus bucks. But the other stuff is not… (At least today, eh?)

As part of his "Get As Far Away From California When My Ballot Props Flame Out Tour, " Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today will meet with California’s entire Congressional Delegation – Republicans and Democrats. I found this out when talking to Congressman and FR blogger John Campbell last night.

Undoubtedly he will be talking about a waiver to allow California to get stimulus dollars despite the SEIU’s so-far successful lobbying to get the Obama Administration to condition those funds on undoing cuts to pay for unionized home-care workers that took place last February. That’s a good idea.

He’ll undoubtedly have some bad ideas on his agenda too — like asking Uncle Sam to guarantee California’s bonds (dumb) and asking for more federal bailouts for California government (dumber) — and maybe he will… Read More

This column was submitted by FR reader Eric Wickland. Wickland is a recently retired urban planner and building official. He is a former director of the California Association of Professional Employees, CAPE, AFL-CIO. Wickland serves on the Executive Committee of the California Republican Party, and is a member of the Lincoln Clubs of Los Angeles County.

The Case For Taxation With Representation by Eric Wickland Tomorrow morning, after California voters’ rejection of budget balancing propositions 1A-1F, Governor… Read More

Courtesy of the Republican National Committee.… Read More