Sometimes when we look for impediments to freedom and liberty, we need only look in the mirror.

That would certainly be the case-in-point with the situation concerning Amy Thoma, my Central Coast FlashReport correspondent. You may recall that Amy came onto the FlashReport scene in January of this year. A talented writer with a lot of opinions, Amy was at the time serving at Executive Director of the Monterey County Republican Party. Her posts varied from praise of the efforts of local GOP legislators, critical newsanaysis from a conservative slant, and of course taking on the environmental eco-whackos in her home county. Not only did Amy have the support of her employers at the Monterey GOP, several of them even penned notes to me praising her work, and thanking me for giving… Read More

There is absolutely nothing I can add to this "MUST READ":

May 15, 2006

President George W. Bush The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington, DC 20500

Subject: Petition to Make Mt. Soledad a Federal Veteran’s Memorial

Dear Mr. President:

My wife and I would like to express our support for the effort initiated by Representative Duncan Hunter of California and the Mayor of San Diego to save the cross at Mt Soledad wherein theFederal Government would take the property by eminent domain as a veteran’s memorial.

Our son Captain Michael D. Martino, USMC, was killed in action in Iraq on November 2, 2005, when his Cobra Helicopter was shot down by a SA 16. This past week our son’s Camp Pendleton unit, which had just recently returned from Iraq, dedicated plaques at Mt. Soledad to honor him and his fellow pilot Major Gerry Bloomfield for their heroic service. There is no better place to honor our fallen heroes than under that… Read More

There is absolutely nothing I can add to this "MUST READ":

May 15, 2006

President George W. Bush The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington, DC 20500

Subject: Petition to Make Mt. Soledad a Federal Veteran’s Memorial

Dear Mr. President:

My wife and I would like to express our support for the effort initiated by Representative Duncan Hunter of California and the Mayor of San Diego to save the cross at Mt Soledad wherein the Federal Government would take the property by eminent domain as a veteran’s memorial.

Our son Captain Michael D. Martino, USMC, was killed in action in Iraq on November 2, 2005, when his Cobra Helicopter was shot down by a SA 16. This past week our son’s Camp Pendleton unit, which had just recently returned from Iraq, dedicated plaques at Mt. Soledad to honor him and his fellow pilot Major Gerry Bloomfield for their heroic service. There is no better place to honor our fallen heroes than… Read More

The Institute for Justice in Washington, DC is one of the best non-profit organizations in the nation. With a motto “litigating for liberty,” this public interest law firm has taken on some of the most interest legal fights ever, including defending school choice, economic liberties and private property rights. Wal-Mart should be calling the Institute for Justice today.

Tomorrow, the Hercules city council will consider a proposal to use the city’s eminent domain powers to take private property owned by Wal-Mart as a way to stop the retail giant from developing the land. Hercules is in the East Bay and, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, city leaders envision it becoming the East… Read More

As an eight term elected central committee member, I know how important these committees are. This is the place where activists conspire to help the party. I’m sure many of you are wondering why Milton Friedman or George Shultz wants to be on the Central Committee?

Well, they don’t. James Bognet is using that ballot designation in his bid to become a member of the Los Angeles County Central Committee representing the 53rd District. James is the former Chief Deputyin Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Office of the Special Advisor for Jobs and Economic Growth. Which goes way beyond the three word limit for ballot designations.

He is now on the Re-elect campaign. James is a pretty decent guy having worked for Santorum and getting his MBA at UCLA.

Central Committee elections are funny things. Ballot titles, ballot placement, slates and name all make a difference. There are eleven candidates for seven slots, so look for an interesting outcome. Does this become a referendum on the Gov. in the 53rd?… Read More

Interesting development in the 66th Assembly District. Riverside Councilman Steve Adams and another minor Republican candidate both claim on their signs and mail that they are the choice of firefighters, as opposed to real firefighter, former Riverside County GOP Chairman Kevin Jeffries ( who I am supporting). The thing that is interesting is that the California State Fire Fighters Association (CSFA) has voted no endorsement of anyone in the 66th.… Read More

There is much that I love about living in the Bay Area. On a warm September day, I don’t think there is any place that is more beautiful than the San Francisco Bay. If you consider yourself a “foodie” there is no area that offers quite as many eating and shopping options. Those who count people by race and ethnicity love to point to the area’s diversity as a bonus feature of the region. But diversity stops at political thought. As a Republican, I’m a fish out of water in the Bay Area. Take the race for Assembly District 16 that the San Francisco Chronicle profiles today. I live in AD16, but but my vote really doesn’t matter at all in this district. The race for this open seat is between four liberal Democrats and one Peace and Freedom candidate. Three of the Democrats have said that they want to raise taxes on businesses to help send more money to…you… Read More

California Representative John Doolittle was ‘called out’ by the Wall Street Journal for his vote against the Republican Study Committee’s proposed alternative budget, which had it been adopted, would have called for a modest 5% cut in discretionary spending in Washington, D.C. I’m playing phone tag with Congressman Doolittle, and am also waiting to hear from Congressman Richard Pombo (who also voted no) before I pen my own piece on this. But I am amazed that any amount of ‘politics’ would have placed the conservative Doolittle (a founder of the RSC) and the equally conservative Pombo on the wrong side of this vote, upon which their credentials as budget-hawks will be judged. I was sorely disappointed.

This is from today’s WSJ Political Diary:

Fiscal Conservatives: AWOL, As Usual

… Read More