This just in from California Republican Party Vice Chairman Tom Del Becarro…

At the risk of sounding a bit cliché – I must say that it’s not often in politics that you get to be a part of a near-spontaneous combustion of inspiration. Indeed, often political events are orchestrated efforts designed to deliver a crafted message. The Tea Parties of April 2009 were not orchestrated, not crafted, but instead, a true demonstration of grassroots power. I attended the event in Pleasanton, California yesterday. I was just a guest and neither myself nor any Party official played a role in putting it together.… Read More

I have been getting tons of emails since yesterday's TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Rallies around the state, all asking where GOP legislators stand on 1A.

I am pleased to report that the vast majority of Republicans in the State Capitol have staked out positions in opposition to 1A. So many so that it is easier (especially since I am blogging via Blackberry) to list out Republicans who support 1A, or have “no public position” – and there is one that this far has opted not to respond to inquiry. SO IF YOU DO NOT SEE A GOP LEGISLATOR listed below, they OPPOSE 1A (and it's trigger to enact $16 billion in taxes).

Supporting 1A: Senators Ashburn, Cogdill, Huff, and Maldonado. Assemblymembers Adams, Niello, and Villines.

No Public Position on 1A: Bill Berryhill, Tom Berryhill, Blakeslee, Cook, Emmerson, Fletcher.

No response to inquiry: Gilmore

If any legislator has changed their position from what we have listed above, please let us know so we can update readers!… Read More

Yesterday, residents from the Sacramento region gathered at the Capitol to express their outrage at wasteful government spending and higher taxes. The speakers came from all walks of life, including elected officials, Neil Cavuto of Fox News and conservative writer Michelle Malkin, and most important, ordinary citizens who sacrificed their time and efforts to make their voices heard in Sacramento.

And they have every reason to be angry. Even as hardworking families struggle to make ends meet, stretching each dollar further and further, government is looking to take away even more through higher taxes. But beyond the taxes and the issues of the day, people are fed up with a government that they perceive as distant and out of touch.

The Obama administration ignored the hundreds of protests across the country, and those in power accuse this movement as being a right wing partisan dog and pony show. While the chattering class who populate our airwaves and occupy the seats of power… Read More

In my (too) frequent trips to the capitol building, I often see large crowds gathered outside for some protest or rally. Usually these groups consist of various union members angrily demanding increased government funding for their particular interest. One can only imagine my excitement and delight to see the massive crowd assembled on the West Steps of the Capitol this morning—and they were all there to demand lower taxes and smaller government!

While hard working Americans are usually out earning a living to pay taxes, unions and other special interests spend their time at the capitol lobbying to confiscate more of our money. So it was probably an odd sight to see so many of those hard working Americans assembled at the Capitol at noon on a workday. But this day merited using a … Read More

I told Michael Reagan it was the best political event I have ever attended.

At least 5,000 and maybe 10,000 anti-tax grass roots advocates descended on our State Capitol West Steps today mid-day for three hours with one simple message: enough is enough! No more taxes!

Jon Coupal of Howard Jarvis Taxpayers and Peter Foy of Americans for Prosperity were the key people that made this hugely successful rally happen near the lore of the liberal Democrats!

Earlier, I joined with Reagan in his private meeting in the Capitol with the truest of our conservative true believers: Assemblymembers Miller, Logue, Duvall, Silva, Hagman, Conway, and Knight; and State Senator Jim Neilsen. Michael gave these great local leaders the Reagan fix and they loved it: no more taxes; no more out of control spending! Thank you Assemblyman Jeff Miller for bringing the Reagan message to the Capitol halls!

I am reminded of the Reagan revolution of 1980. There is a great sentiment of support for our conservative values brewing out there. Let us seize the initiative!… Read More

We’ll be bringing you extensive Tea Party coverage (including the big event outside the State Capitol today)… But here are a couple of photos (couresty of FR’s Jim Lacy) to "wet your whistle"…

The first is of HJTA’s Jon Coupal and Neil Cavuto of FoxNews. The other is a photo of Congressman Tom McClintock and radio talk show host Michael Reagan, son of former President Ronald Reagan.

… Read More

According to FR sources, House Republican Leader John Boehner and close political ally Rep. Kevin McCarthy were schedule to speak at a Tea Party Rally in McCarthy’s home town of Bakersfield today — but no longer will be appearing after a considered decision by rally sponsors that they did not want to have any elected politicians of either party appearing in the rally.

This is a trend that is happening at Tea Rallies all across the country. The largest California Tea Rally today, which is scheduled to take place on the steps of the State Capitol in Sacramento, will not feature any State Legislators (save one, Senator George Runner who obtained the groups rally permit) — this despite requests from many to speak.

In talking to various rally organizers, the general opinion is that these rallies are "citizen rallies" designed to send a message to legislators of both political parties that, "enough is enough!"

In talking to one organizer of the Sacramento rally, the dynamics of the big budget/big taxes/open primary deal that took place last February, with six Republican legislators voting for tax increases, even more voting… Read More

Yesterday I had the special treat of taking my wife and law partner, Janice Lacy (a formidable former Deputy Chief Counsel to the Republican National Committee in Washington, D.C. under Lee Atwater) to the season opener of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who creamed the San Francisco Giants, 11-1.

It was a great day! It was a day game, and we got to Dodger stadium early and saw the work-outs of the teams and all the introductions. A little girl from the Phillipines lip-sinked the National Anthem sounding like Kathy Lee Gifford. Marines and Naval personnel unveiled a huge American flag on the field. Tommy Lasorta was there. A B-2 Bomber did a fly-over. Vin Scully threw out the opening ball to Joe Torre, pretending to be a catcher again. We had Dodger Dogs and drank some light beer. Fireworks, dovesand confetti! What a time!

While someof the opening day fans looked a little threatening,like gang members,they were very noble to Janice as she mustarded our dogs, and I settled in to have a good time quickly. It was one of those special Los Angeles days that require just a little bit of applied imagination to enjoy.… Read More