A few observations concerning the Democratic State Party Convention — sent into the FlashReport by State GOP Communications Director Patrick Dorinson:

The good thing about the California Democratic Party Convention year after year is that if you miss one it doesn’t really matter. They keep bringing up the same, failed, tired old ideas that they have been preaching for the last 30 years.

A few observations:

Steve Westly’s ads tout him as a “different kind of Governor”, but when you listen to him he sounds like any other Democrat running for office. Lots of old repackaged ideas but no way to pay for it. He may try to fool California voters that he is different with his ads, but at heart he is a just another liberal Democrat. Just listen to his own words from his speech to the convention:

"Like all of you, I’ve been a Democratic activist most of my life. In fact, I got my start when you elected me party treasurer in this very building 25 years ago. And I’ve been working with you ever since to strengthen this party. It’s good to be home."

Here’s another passage I particularly liked:

"I’m proud… Read More

Today’s FlashReport has a story from the Los Angeles Times about the rescinding the mutli-language rule for recall petitions. Two of the three remaining pro Wal-Mart councilmembers have been under seige by union forces. They successfully sued to stop the recall election by using a ninth circuit ruling on the topic of recall petitions. Roles are reversed here with liberals wanting to excludemulti-language petitions and the Republican Jay Imperial arguing the other side. Politics is all local.See article here.

You can see background on the Rosemead recall and the original decision by clicking here and using the links there.… Read More

I do not like to drive. That being said, I am one of the few Republicans that I know who actually takes public transportation. For the last couple of days I have been taking the short hop from Mission Valley to Downtown San Diego. Maybe a 30 minute trip counting waiting time and one transfer.

Taking the train in San Diego is usually an interesting experience. Sometimes the trip is terrifying, particularly late into the night. Often there are bizarre and unsettling experiences. For example, late last night when I jumped onto my Old Town transfer train, a mob of visibly nervous police came storming in with dogs and searched the cars (20 minute delay… put up with with droll humor by everyone over 30 with the same rolled eyes I imagine one saw a lot of in the Soviet Union, and noted loudly by every young male under 30 every 10 seconds, loudly. One would think they would be the last ones to want to attract the cops, but there it is). The train is always a study in diversity. The one demographic rarely seen is the elite politicians and ascot wearing country-clubbers who love to spend our money subsidizing these dinosaurs.

Back to diversity. On my trip this… Read More

While Democrats are engaged in an 1500 delegate ‘food fight’ in Sacramento, as the forces and minions of Phil Angelides and Steve Westly wrestle over which (if either) Democrat will end up with an official State Democratic endorsement for Governor, California’s Republican ticket for statewide office couldn’t have been more unified.

Last evening, I attended the Orange County Lincoln Club’s annual membership dinner banquet at the gorgeous Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach. The guest of honor… EVERY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE ON THE PRIMARY BALLOT! That’s right, while the top-billing for this ‘Lincoln-Club Members Only’ (and invited guests) event of over 400 people were Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his running mate, State Senator Tom McClintock, every other candidate vying for the Republican nomination for a statewide office was at the dinner, working the room, and meeting the influential members of Orange County’s most prestigious Republican organization.

When I… Read More

While Democrats are engaged in an 1500 delegate ‘food fight’ in Sacramento, as the forces and minions of Phil Angelides and Steve Westly wrestle over which (if either) Democrat will end up with an official State Democratic endorsement for Governor, California’s Republican ticket for statewide office couldn’t have been more unified.

Last evening, I attended the Orange County Lincoln Club’s annual membership dinner banquet at the gorgeous Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach. The guest of honor… EVERY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE ON THE PRIMARY BALLOT! That’s right, while the top-billing for this ‘Lincoln-Club Members Only’ (and invited guests) event of over 400 people were Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his running mate, State Senator Tom McClintock, every other candidate vying for the Republican nomination for a statewide office was at the dinner, working the room, and meeting the influential members of Orange County’s most prestigious Republican… Read More

The FlashReport is pleased to present this short quiz, submitted to us by FR friend Karen Hanretty, a communications consultant who, until recently, served as Communications Director of the California Republican Party (pictured to the right). Any delegates to the CDP convention who are reading the FR today are encouraged to print out this post and distribute it at your convention!

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(Please note that this test is not part of the unfair, biased, mean-spirited high school exit exam. So pop a Ritalin or a Prozac, relax, and take your time. And please, use a No. 2 pencil.) 1. Who called President George W. Bush’s guest worker program to give illegal immigrants the… Read More

I just got back from a Ray Haynes for State Board of Equalization fundraiser at the Wilson Creek Winery, home of the delightful tasting almondchampagne, in Temecula (as way of disclosure, I… Read More

Yesterday I wrote about 36th Assembly District GOP challengerJames Ledford’s support for Deomcrats tripling the car tax. See it here.Now a Democratic activist is in trouble for supporting him for Mayor. But, that isn’t all. The article says he supported the Democratic activist for school board. "Corrales and Ledford are known to support each other…" reports the Antelope Valley Press. See the article here. Supporting the car tax AND supporting Democratic Partyactivists for office. Instead of challenging Runner in the GOP Primary, he should have been her Democratic opponent.… Read More