I am a fan of C-Span and all it’s sister television and radio off-shoots. There is just something mesmerizing about watching the author of a biography on David Rowland Francis, Secretary of the Interior under President Grove Cleveland (from his second stint in the WH) that I can’t turn off.

So when I saw this job opening I had to share it with all of you in the hopes that someone I know would get the job and give "a shout out’ to me every once in while on the air.

C-SPAN is seeking a full time Announcer/Producer to write and voice transitions between programs. (see the full listing here).

I once met Brian Lamb (president and CEO of C-Span) on tour of the C-Span studio in DC. Women are always impressed when I tell them this.… Read More

I’d like to mine to collective expertise and experience of FR Blog readers to answer the question: what is "absentee ballot harvesting."

The reason I ask is the OC Democratic Party is having an "absentee ballot harvesting precinct walk" this Saturday to boost former Democratic Assemblyman Tom Umberg‘s candidacy for the Feb. 6 OC Board of Supervisors special election.

As I wrote on Red County/OC Blog, I’m not sure what an "absentee ballot harvesting precinct walk" is, but it sounds like Democratic Party volunteers and operatives going to the homes of absentee voters and asking them for their completed absentee ballots, i.e. "harvesting" their absentee ballots.

If that is what "absentee ballot harvesting" is, it would violate the California Election… Read More

If it looks like a tax, and sounds like a tax, well, then it must be a tax, right? Check out this new commercial going up on the airwaves today from our friends at the Consumer Alliance for a Strong Economy: … Read More

As the debate takes place in Sacramento about whether to move the California Presidential primary to the first Tuesday in February, there seems to be widespread consensus amongst the Sacramento-Insider crowd that the legislative primaries should stay in June. As is being reported in the San Francisco Chronicle, the cost for holding an additional statewide election is somewhere in the neighborhood of $90 million smackers. So why not move the legislative primaries to February as well? I can think of a practical consideration — which is that it would cause folks to have to decide pretty early if they want to run for office. But, heck, everyone seems to decide awfully early right now! But moving off of that logistical challenge for potential candidates, I think that it is obvious that many politicians in Sacramento see a statewide Presidential primary in February of ’08 as one last opportunity to place a measure on the ballot to somehow loosen term limits. What is $90 million bucks compared to the opportunity to keep such amazing legislators in office for a few more years! (Not!) I look at the legislation that passed before we… Read More

As the debate takes place in Sacramento about whether to move the California Presidential primary to the first Tuesday in February, there seems to be widespread consensus amongst the Sacramento-Insider crowd that the legislative primaries should stay in June. As is being reported in the San Francisco Chronicle, the cost for holding an additional statewide election is somewhere in the neighborhood of $90 million smackers. So why not move the legislative primaries to February as well? I can think of a practical consideration — which is that it would cause folks to have to decide pretty early if they want to run for office. But, heck, everyone seems to decide awfully early right now! But moving off of that logistical challenge for potential candidates, I think that it is obvious that many politicians in Sacramento see a statewide Presidential primary in February of ’08 as one last opportunity to place a measure on the ballot to somehow loosen term limits. What is $90 million bucks compared to the opportunity to keep such amazing legislators in office for a few more years! (Not!) I look at the legislation that passed before we… Read More

On Monday I featured a letter from Assemblyman Chuck DeVore advocating Tom Bordonaro for Vice Chairman of the California Republican Party. Below, Tony Strickland weighs in on behalf of another candidate, Tom Del Becarro…

Dear California Republican Party Member, As you know, CRP elections are approaching. Please join me as well as seven past CRP Chairs, over forty past and present County Chairs and more than 1000 party activists around the State in endorsing Tom Del Beccaro for CRP Vice Chair. … Read More

Much of what was in the President’s SOU speech tonight we’ve heard before – there wasn’t a groundbreaking idea anywhere to be found. But the tone, always the tone, was one of magnanimity. Contrast this with Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats constant pounding of the President, and its a wonder to me why average citizens follow the left, as it is akin of following hatred.

The President is dead RIGHT on on the War on Terror. He must be supported. Arguing with the left on this is like taking candy from a baby – and conservatives don’t engage them nearly enough. If we don’t engage this enemy our cities will be burning within this decade. Jim Webb’s rebuttal was the usual classless claptrap.

It’s no wonder most Americans have tuned out.… Read More

25th district Assemblyman Tom Berryhill took office in January. Come January 2008 there could be two Berryhills taking the oath of office on the Assembly floor.

With 26th district incumbent Greg Aghazarian term limited, Ceres Unified School Board Member Bill Berryhill (Full disclosure, he’s a client) has filed a committee to seek his seat. With a solid base in Stanslaus County, ability to raise money and contacts from a political family that goes back to his father’s previous service in the Assembly and Senate and as state Secretary of Agriculture, Bill Berryhill has a head start on what could be a large field of Republican candidates.

His tenure on the Ceres School Board will be a strong selling point and gives him a solid background on educational issues to go along with his career as a successful farmer. The real question in this race will be if San Joaquin can find a credible candidate who can counter Berryhill’s solid support in Stanislaus County. With a majority of voters residing in San Joaquin County it will be one of the few advantages an opponent will have to compete effectively.… Read More