This morning I spoke with Eric Roach, the top-vote getting conservative in last month’s special election in the 50th Congressional District. So let me be the first to share some unfortunate news (unless you are a big-spending Republican).

It is with great sadness that I share with you the news that after much consideration, Eric Roach has decided not to actively campaign for Congress in the regular GOP primary in the 50th Congressional District. Eric would have been an outstanding candidate who I personally think could have cleaned liberal/moderate GOPer Brian Bilbray’s clock in that GOP only primary and gone on to win election to the full two-year term in November. (Bilbray was the top GOP vote-getting in the special election to fulfill the rest of Duke Cunningham’s term, but his margin of victory was so slight that it is a foregone conclusion that he won with the votes of non-Republicans).

I believe that Eric Roach knew he could win that primary, which is what makes it that much more frustrating and unfortunate that he has decided not to run.

In addition to having a private conversation with Roach this morning, I also spoke to Roach’s… Read More

For many years now, I have had the pleasure of working with Karen Hanretty. For years, Hanretty was Communications Director and spokesperson for the California Republican Party. So the two of us share a bond – alumnus of the State GOP (I served as Executive Director of the State GOP during the President’s first election campaign in the 2000 election cycle). After leaving the GOP earlier this year, Karen struck out on her own, forming a consulting practice to bring her public relations expertise to various clients. Karen has really started to make a name for herself because of her willingness to call things as she seems them – something that I admire a lot. Hanretty will be joining Dan Schnur as a State Capitol Correspondent, ensuring that we have the center-right to right spectrum covered!

Please join me in welcoming Karen to the FlashReport team! BIPARTISAN BIG BONDS I know that everyone is expecting me to come out of the chute decrying the BIG BONDS coming down the pike for the November ballot. Fear not, you will hear a lot… Read More

For many years now, I have had the pleasure of working with Karen Hanretty. For years, Hanretty was Communications Director and spokesperson for the California Republican Party. So the two of us share a bond – alumnus of the State GOP (I served as Executive Director of the State GOP during the President’s first election campaign in the 2000 election cycle). After leaving the GOP earlier this year, Karen struck out on her own, forming a consulting practice to bring her public relations expertise to various clients. Karen has really started to make a name for herself because of her willingness to call things as she seems them – something that I admire a lot. Hanretty will be joining Dan Schnur as a State Capitol Correspondent, ensuring that we have the center-right to right spectrum covered!

Please join me in welcoming Karen to the FlashReport team! BIPARTISAN BIG BONDS I know that everyone is expecting me to come out of the chute decrying the BIG BONDS coming down the pike for the November ballot. Fear not, you will hear a lot… Read More

Let me just say from the get-go that I will try very hard to keep my posts shorter than the one you’re about to read today. Those of you who know me know that my rants can get rather lengthy. In fact, I’ve had more than one person hang up the phone on me mid-rant. Today’s rant, however,about the San Francisco Chronicle Editorial Board and Jerry Brown deserves more than a few paragraphs. Many thanks to Jon Fleishman for providing me with a regular venue to say what I believe needs to be said about the state of politics in California and for adding me to the ranks of the impressive FlashReport lineup.

And now, ladies and gentleman, Jerry Brown… This past Sunday, the San Francisco Chronicle Editorial Board (SFCEB) gave candidate for Attorney General Jerry Brown – yes, THAT Jerry Brown – a fairly unconvincing endorsement in a weak attempt to convince us that the man best known as Gov. Moonbeam has changed.

Just a cursory glance at Brown’s record, however, evidences the fact that he’s the same old spotlight-grabbing bleeding heart of the past 30 years who should in no way be the…

While absentee voters are starting to cast ballots today, the race to replace termed-out Assemblyman Russ Bogh in the 65th Assembly District GOP Primary is turning out to be one of the hottest in the state.

As of Friday, Hemet Mayor Robin Lowe had raked in the most in late contributions with $66,000. However, Lowe was lagging as of the March 17th 460 Form filing with $96,000 cash-on-hand, behind San Jacinto Councilman Jim Ayers with $346,000 and Banning Councilwoman Brenda Salas with $180,000. Salas is currently in second place in the late contributions race with $46,000, while Yucca Valley Mayor Paul Cook has taken in $36,000, adding to his $78,000 C-O-H from the last 460 filing. Ayers shows only $25,000 in late contributions, but probably isn’t losing sleep because of his superior war chest. Since the March 17 filing, each candidate also has added whatever contributions under $1,000 may have come in minus whatever they’ve spent since then. The next reports come out May 25th.

Here’s someperspective oneach majorcandidate in this race:

Jim Ayers, notwithstanding a lot of steady… Read More

Two of my favorite words. A couple days ago it was revealed that four city council members, the city manager and the attorney from my city of West Covina had an after meeting-eating excursion in Pico Rivera. See the my first review here. They met at a popluar politico steak house in Pico Rivera, the Dal Rae. You can see a story about the place here.

If anyone wished to buy me lunch there, please let me know. I won’t eat that much honest, but I need to send a press release out.… Read More

It was good to see Governor Arnold get it right in today’s LA times, on the subject of immigration. Congress has had five years since 911 to build an administrative infrastructure to support a guest worker program with a realistic deportation feature, and has done nothing.

We cannot deport illegals until wehave a rational system of entering the country. The technology exists to cut the wait time from years to weeks, yet the federal government doesn’t have it. If we don’t build the required technological infrastructure to accomodate a guest worker program, nothing the Congress might pass in the way of legislation will work. Nothing. And deportation is only a good tactic if wait times to enter legally are dramatically reduced.

Maybe the Governor’s people are paying attention to my blogs finally. OK, I don’t have anywhere near the ego to believe that. But make no mistake of this: assigning blame… Read More

On this very quiet Sunday, Jon is taking the day off (after setting up the main page for Sunday news-junkies).

I always recommend a glance at the FR Weblog, and at the Featured Columns Library, or the Jon’s Commentary Library.

We were pleased to announce last week the additions of State Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa as our ‘North California’ correspondent, who will be bringing you tidbits from the other side of Sacramento (there is something north of the Sacramento airport), and Congressman John Campbell, who is our new D.C. "Inside the Beltway" correspondent, bringing us the latest out of our nation’s capitol!

**There is more – click the link**

View Full Commentary… Read More