Last weekend, the annual Pollie Awards were handed out by the American Association of Political Consultants – the “campaign world’s version of the Oscars” as FR advertiser SchubertFlint Public Affairs put it.

Despite almost 3,000 entries in 80 categories, the FlashReport’s stable of contributors and advertisers took home (by my count) 20 Pollies.

FR Contributor Tom Ross’ firm, Meridian Pacific, grabbed two.

FR Contributor Duane Dichiara’s firm, Coronado Communications,won one.

Your humble author took homeone as well.

FR advertisers Bieber Communications, JohnsonClark Associates, SchubertFlint Public Relations, and Visteva each also were award winners.… Read More

ANALOGY WARNING: I have been told by those closest to me that when I try to wind up a lengthy analogy, sometimes I miss the mark. That said, I am going to try to equate the Governor’s behavior with California Democrats to a football game. Wish me luck:

ANALOGY WARNING: I have been told by those closest to me that when I try to wind up a lengthy analogy, sometimes I miss the mark. That said, I am going to try to equate the Governor’s behavior with California Democrats to a football game. Wish me luck:

If Los Angeles County we sliced off, California would be bright red. LA, by producing over 25% of the total vote regularly hemorrhages huge democrat votes each election.

So why are 4 republicans running for the Los Angeles Community College District? The District is over 55% of the LA population, in the most democrat sections, with republicans not even ascending to 20%.

Jerry Brown, his sister, Kathleen Brown both started their careers with LACCD. LACCD is the largest community school district in the nation with over 9 full time campuses. The colleges are a crucial step for many to get into 4 year colleges or learn a career skill. One could argue that these community colleges are more socially usefulthan the traditional 4 year liberalarts college.

Last fall Pat Owens, a former Trustee himself and the last Republican whose term ended in the 1980’s, gathered four quality candidates to run for each of 4 Trustee positions this March 6 in Los Angeles and adjoining cities. About 15% of the people are expected to vote.

But this is Union territory. They recruited, bought and paid for their Board Trustees for the last 20 years. With the… Read More

When the Transportation Bond was being "sold" to the voters last year two projects were mentioned time and again as priorities by the Governor – the 405 in LA, and the 91 through Riverside. What a surprise to find out last week that only $2.8 of the first $4.5 Billion was to be allocated, and that both those projects missed the first cut.

The irony is that the process of allocation was to be "nonpolitical" and handled by CTC staff in an objective manner. Well, it stunk, and it took the politicians about a second to wind up and speak out. Last week there was a hearing in Sacramento packed to the walls with local and state electeds. End result? Miraculously the entire $4.5 will be allocated. And know what else? The 405 and 91 will be included after all. Read more here…

Two Inland transportation projects that were shunned by state officials last week as they proposed spending billions in bond money were suddenly in favor Monday following a week of lobbying by everyone from local officials to Gov. Schwarzenegger. But another project that initially had been included for funding was dropped.… Read More

I just received the following obviously-quickly-written missive from MoveAmericaForward.org, and had to laugh.

BIG BIG NEWS!!!

Dr. Laura Schlesinger, the 4th highest radio talk show host in the nation, is urging her listeners to support Move America Forward’s "THESE COLORS DON’T RUN" national pro-troop/patriotic caravan (heading across the nation from Thursday March 8th – Saturday, March 17th) and the "Gathering of Eagles" event that takes place at the culmination of the national caravan.

See her "Call to Action" here: http://www.drlaura.com/action/index.html?mode=view&tile=1&id=13528

Find out where you can join the caravan or attend one of the 2 DOZEN pro-troop/patriotic rallies that will take place along the caravan route here:http://www.MoveAmericaForward.org

OK, I know that Rush has… Read More

Today’s San Francisco Chronicle reports that local Chinese media was barred from Sen. Clinton’s fundraiser at the Sheraton Palace on Friday. They were not included on Clinton’s media list for a press release on the event, and when reporter, Portia Li, arrived to cover the event, she was told that no “foreign press” was allowed. The incident was considered quite a snub, and though the Clinton camp apologized, the Chronicle reports that tension remains.

The first thing that went through my mind when I read this article was.doesn’t the Clinton campaign have someone knowledgeable on the ground in San Francisco who can help them avoid such a provincial faux pas?

And then it hit me: this is Nancy Pelosi’s home turf.

Can we infer anything about the relationship between Pelosi and Clinton if the former allows the latter to make such a blunder? San Francisco is no small media market for Democrats in a presidential primary. This could get very interesting.… Read More

Incumbent Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo has announced her intentions to seek a third term.

She’s going to have a difficult time making a case to voters for another 4 years. The city of Sacramento has grown despite her lack of vision for the city. She will be running for reelection with big time development projects going belly up downtown (high rise condos and redevelopment of the K Street Mall) and following the arena fiasco (the tax increase to build a new arena for the Kings failed miserably) hanging over her head.

No doubt about it, the The mayor is tough. Fargo recently announced that she has been living with multiple sclerosis for the past 10 years and is the veteran of a few nasty political campaigns (against Roger Dickinson and Rob Kerth for Mayor 2000).

Their are some potential challengers in the wings:

Grantland Johnson – former County Supervisor, veteran of the Davis administration, currently working for labor locally (opponent of Arena… Read More