I’m probably too close to this thing for my own good. So be it.

I was on the ground with Steve Baldwin in 1988 in a spirited attempt against Steve Peace (old 80th AD), then when Willie Brown clean-clocked Baldwin in ’92, electing Democrat and future felon Tom Connolly in a four point GOP seat. In 1994, against the best sentiments of Rob Hurtt and others, Baldwin ran again and knocked off Connolly, with a bit of help via Tom’s penchant for 14-year-old prostitutes. We felt vindicated. We were vindicated. Heck, Steve even got to chair Assembly Education for about … what was it, six months?

Six years later Steve and I (and many from the Baldwin team) worked hard for Jay La Suer, a conservative stalwart that I am proud to have served alongside for 10 years as a La Mesa councilman. Although others ran in that 2000 GOP primary, no one could match Jay’s law enforcement and military background. With Joe Justin consulting, and Steve and Duncan Hunter raising money for Jay, the general… Read More

FEC Filings in 50th… The SDPolitics blog first posted them here. Below is the roundup as noted in the post:

Francine Busby (Democrat): She’s raised over $1.3 million. Owes debts of just $9,000 and has about $363,000 cash on hand.

Brian Bilbray (Republican): Raised $328,349 so far in the campaign. Has $107,704 left. (Bilbray had also transferred over about $195,000 from his previous congressional account which has helped his campaign financing).

Eric Roach (Republican): He’s spent over $1.8 million. He had cash on hand of $96,748 but debts of $1,917,388. Of course he can always write another check to his campaign.

Alan Uke (Republican): He reports just $58,056 with debts of $234,667. (This explains the reports that Uke was considering withdrawing from the race. He can write himself a check at any point but he has already spent over $1 million in the race and still has debts of over $200,000).

Bill Morrow (Republican): He has raised $391,000 but now has just… Read More

No April Fools joke here. Seller johnnypie has a Dick Mountjoycampaign button for sale on EBAY. (Quick you have one day left.) You can see it here.The funny part is the former state senator from LA County and Immigration Control Consultant (His ballot title) never made any. Funnier yet is the part about it being"union made".Everyone knows that hadDick made buttonsthey would say "Made in Mexico".… Read More

April 1, 2006

I have thought long and hard about this, but today April 1st 2006 I announce that I endorse Howard Kaloogian for the 50th Congressional District. Sure Howard has had some difficulties with endorsements lately, but just because most of his are bogus, does not mean that my endorsement of April 1st, 2006 is. Howard please feel free to place my endorsement along side of those of Tom Tancredo, Bill Morrow and Tom McClintock.

… Read More

Today, Saturday and tomorrow, Sunday, there will be no commentary for the FlashReport as I am down in Cabo San Lucas for some rest and relaxation. In the meantime, a big TY to our Guest Editor Nicholas Romero for stepping up this weekend, as well as to all of our FR contributors would continue tomake the FR weblog a place to go to read breaking news and cutting-edge political analysis and commentary!

Have a great weekend!

Adios,

Jon Fleischman, Publisher

Care to read comments, or make your own about today’s Daily Commentary?

Just click here to go to the FR Weblog, where this Commentary has its own blog post, and where you can read and make comments.… Read More

If you read my Commentary today, you’d know that I am wondering aloud at the appointment by Arnold Schwarzenegger of the California Teachers Association’s chief political strategist Joe Nunez to the State Board of Education. Nunez was appointed previously by the now-disgraced and recalled Governor Gray Davis but his term is expiring. Nunez is also the Chairman of the Alliance for a Better California (ABC) , the umbrulla group formed by all people anti-Schwarzenegger. If you don’t believe me, check out their website.

FR friend Dan Weintraub, a great columnist at the Sacramento Bee, penned an entry on this in his weblog today. Most of his piece is actually about the fact that the ABC has filed an FPPC complaint against Schwarzenegger after an appeals court ruling came down that notifications were not made in a timely fashion by the Governor’s committees formed to advocate the passage of Propositions 74, 75, 76 and 77 last year. Here is an excerpt from the end of his post (… Read More

The Wall Street Journal has released a Zogby Survey of Gubernatorial and Senate matchups around the United States. In California, they surveyed voters from March 22 – March 27, and report back that Governor Schwarzenegger is behind both of his opponents were the election held today, with Angelides besting him 45.5% to 40.7% and Westly by 47.1% to 40.7%.

Of course, the entire dynamic of this race will change when the is a strong ‘contrasting’ campaign taking place throughout the fall. But the key to a successful campaign of showing California voters the two distinctly difference choices they have between Schwarzenegger and his eventual Democratic opponent, be it Westly or Angelides, will be a campaign where the Governor campaigns on fiscally conservative themes, and takes on issues such as illegal immigration and property-rights abuse.

You can check out the Zogby survey here, or just click on the attachment below.… Read More

I first met Mike Richman when we were both working on the LA Mayors campaign of Republican Steve Soboroff in 2001. He then went on to be the Executive Director for the Republican Jewish Coalition in West LA. That is a long way from his current position as the head ground game manager for Johnson Clark Associates. In my neck of the woods he is overseeing the operations of conservative Assembly candidates Kevin Jefferies and Jim Ayres. I ran into Mike at a Jefferies for Assembly campaign meeting Thursday night. Mike does an amazing job of connecting with the grassroots volunteers of Riverside County. He does not come into a campaign HQ and play the roll of Sacramento Big Shot telling the little people what to do. Richman fits right into the mix.

Richman is destined to be one of the great political operatives of the next 20 years in California politics. He is bright, very hard working and has a great attitude for this business. He deeply cares about the craft he practices. Mike has his hand in almost all the Johnson Clark clients operations including Steve Poizner and Michelle Park Steel. Tim Clark did himself and his firm a great service when he brought… Read More