Without electric power the FlashReport just does not work. In fact without electric power most of our modern society does not work. We in California need more power and with power comes power lines, the big ones. Why the Mr.Science lesson you say? Well in my beat, Riverside County, there is a proposed power project that has become increasing controversial. It is called LEAPS (Lake Elsinore Advanced Pumped Storage). Last night FERC (Federal Energy Regular Commission) held a hearing in Lake Elsinore that was attended by 300 plus people, most opposed to the project. It was a vocal crowd that brought the usual signs, stickers and flyers. It was great citizen participation in our democracy and I commend all that were there for being part of the public process. However for the 300 people that showed up at a public meeting there were 300,000+ local citizens that enjoyed the evening at home, or in the mall, or at a restaurant that had one thing in common; they were all using electric power to enjoy themselves.

I wonder how many people would show at a meeting if it were announced that electric power was going to be banned one day a week. I would speculate… Read More

Remember those protests of last week, where hundreds of thousands turned out to demonstrate against immigration reform proposals that include making it a felon to be in the U.S. illegally? Well, if you have forgotten them AND you live in the 35 State Senate District, Diane Harkey has sent you a reminder.

Click on the link below to view a .pdf of an exceptionally hard-hitting mailer that just dropped where voters are asked to thank Assemblyman Tom Harman for these protests. The connection? The piece highlights a Harman vote on legislation that apparently allowed illegal aliens the ability to get in-state tuition at California colleges…

Anyways, I found the piece to be notable less because of Harkey/Harman, and more because of the example of how current events can quickly find their way to into mail pieces.… Read More

Only a straight-laced, buttoned-down Republican…would be up at 5:45 a.m putting together the FlashReport, hair nicely coiffed, attired in a freshly-pressed white shirt and conservative necktie.

Congratulations to Jon Fleischman and the FlashReport for the terrific spread in the SDUT this morning, which Jon obviously has already hi-lited.

I couldn’t help noticing, however, a discrepancy between perception and reality, heightened by the photo of Jon, caption reading: "Jon Fleischman begins compiling his FlashReport blog at his Irvine condo every morning at about 5:45 before heading to his job…"

OK, I know the photo wasn’t actually taken at 5:45 a.m., but the average reader is left with the stereotypical view of the GOP. Come on, Jon, didn’t you see… Read More

My commentary is very abbreviated today. There is a great profile on the FlashReport today in the San Diego Union Tribune. It is a main feature in an article penned by ace U-T political reporter John Marelius on the rising influence of political websites and blogs on politics. I’ve already gotten a dozen phone calls and even more e-mails this morning ‘letting me know’ about the piece. Needless to say, I have taken the liberty of making it the ‘top story’ today on the main page.

**There is more – click the link**

View Full Commentary… Read More

My commentary is very abbreviated today. There is a great profile on the FlashReport today in the San Diego Union Tribune. It is a main feature in an article penned by ace U-T political reporter John Marelius on the rising influence of political websites and blogs on politics. I’ve already gotten a dozen phone calls and even more e-mails this morning ‘letting me know’ about the piece. Needless to say, I have taken the liberty of making it the ‘top story’ today on the main page.

The article starts out:

Web sites’ influence on the rise statewide By John Marelius San Diego Union Tribube… Read More

Slate meister Brian Park has launched a new slate: National Guard Association of California PAC Voter Guide.

It’s a good idea and that is saying a lot from me. I have opined in the past that slates are a form of legalized extortion–if you don’t buy from them, they will just sell the spot to your opponent, maybe even for less just to mess with you.

There are some stand-up slate makers like Tim Carey, Scott Hart and Tom Kaptain. But some others are pretty shady characters. The utility of slates are big in countywide races and they are pretty much the only play for Board of Equalization campaigns. However, down ticket candidates like city council candidates often get lost in the mix.

This new National Guard slate is a good idea and will stand out in the slate world that relies heavily on old-school campaign style mail that often amounts to nothing more substantive than a picture of an American flag or a red white and blue donkey.

Fellow FR… Read More

OC Register editorialist Steve Greenhut has penned an excellent column in the Wall Street Journal on Anaheim’s freedom-friendly revolution inspired and led by Mayor Curt Pringle [full disclosure: I do some consulting work for Anaheim].

Greenhut’s column in a leading national publication focuses much-deserved attention on what Curt and his city council allies have accomplishes simply by embracing the free market, rather than trying to control and direct it. As Greenhut points out, most cities employ the latter approach — and their record of failure underscores the bankruptcy of that approach. However, city bureaucracies can become so addicted to the command-and-control approach to redevelopment that, like the classic definition of insanity, they keep trying the same thing over and over again and hoping for a different result.

The power of what is happening in Anaheim is it provides a concrete example of how quickly the free market can revitalize a city — and without the abuse, heavy-handedness and political alienation that follow in the wake of traditional… Read More

My blogmate Barry Jantz has written a few times about the antics of the ‘Republican’ majority on the San Diego County School Board. There are three Republicans on the County Board – Sue Hartley, John Witt, and Bob Watkins. Two of the three Republican members recently voted to appoint Democrat Sharon Jones to a vacant largely Republican east county based seat. Hartley and Witt joined the sole sitting Democrat member of the board in appointing the Democrat. Hartley was particularly smug about the appointment. Whether or not that Democrat will survive election is anyone’s guess… but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.

But the story isn’t over. Liberal Republican Boardmember Sue Hartley represents a heavily Republican North County San Diego district. Four years ago, Hartley defeated a more conservative candidate in a fairly hot race. Whatever her merits on the policy issues the conservative had a shrill style that alienated much of the Republican and donor community. Time and time again the incumbent ignored issues that would have united her base, and focused on issues which divided them. Many if not most of the partisan officials,… Read More