They counted another 11,000 or so ballots in Ventura County, and Strickland picked up a net 1100 or so votes, putting Strickland up about 1600 votes as of now. Estimates are that there are at least 30,000+ ballots left to count in Ventura County (good for Strickland), around 6,000+ ballots in Santa Barbara County (good for Jackson) and at least 1500+ more ballots left in the LA County portion of the district (it's Santa Clarita – and very good for Strickland). Bottom line — looking very good for Strickland. But as they say, it ain't over 'til its over…… Read More

The McClintock campaign hasvery good news today: Tom is now up 1,283 votes. The most encouraging news of the day is that McClintock’s lead is increasing even in counties considered unfriendly to Republicans. Although the 4th CD is a predominantly Republican area, there are pockets of Democrat infiltration. The counties of El Dorado, Nevada and parts of Sacramento are areas expected to decrease McClintock’s lead, but when those counties reported their vote tallies today, McClintock’s lead increased.

Campaign insiders are pleased with the trend in the vote counting and very optimistic that McClintock’s lead will continue to surge. The largest county in the district, Placer, is still counting (and will probably be the last to report final numbers) and is friendly territory for Tom McClintock. McClintock’s campaign is inching its way ever closer to certified victory…… Read More

For the past eight years or so, I have been on various e-mail lists at The White House, alerting me of the President's initiatives, speeches and the like. I just got one where W is calling on Congress to pass the U.S.-Columbia Free Trade Act. Right. The Democrats were in no hurry to pass that before McCain was thrattled by Obama last week. Why would they suddenly pass it now? W should enjoy a final round of holiday parties, and maybe a few more joy rides in AF1 — because there will be no more good policy items coming his way from Harry and Nancy. Live with it. It's just the facts of lame duck status in a transition to a new POTUS who dispises him…… Read More

Early last week the Dow Jones Industrial Average was above 9,200. It has declined over 1,000 points in the last week, after Obama’s election,and settled at a little over 8,200 today with over a 400 point loss. Are we paying attention? Since the LA Times and Time magazine are caught up in selling commemorative editions, I guess not.… Read More

It may not be quite as significant as, say, Chuck DeVore announcing for US Senate, but many GOPers wondered this morning if termed-out 75th AD Assemblyman George Plescia was truly thinking about a run for County Party chairman after receiving an anonymous email touting a recruitment effort. Kurt Bardella then posted the contents of the email at Red County SD.

Rumor is rumor and anonymous emails are just that. It may not be as fun as the alternative, but sometimes it’s best to operate on substance. So, I had a unique thought: Ask him. The resulting response from Plescia:

I am flattered that some might think of me being chairman as a good thing, however I am not running. I am looking forward to seeking paid employment since I believe in taking personal responsibility for my mortgage and other bills, not having "spreading the wealth" take care of it.

Ok, let’s move on to the next rumor.… Read More

Today at 1pm PST, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore will announce his candidacy for the Republican nomination for United States Senate. I have known Chuck for two decades now, and can tell all FR readers that he is a fine conservative — a man of integrity and honor.

You’ll be able to check out DeVore’s announcement speech live right below. So check back to this blog post (or go to www.chuckdevore.com at precisely 1pm to see his live announcement…

Let the 2010 election cycle begin! … Read More

[Publisher’s Note: After the defeats suffered by the Republican Party in the General Election, we have reached out to some California leaders to ask them to reflect on this question, "What must the GOP do to once again be the majority party?" We are pleased to bring you this column from FR Correspondent Mike Spence. Spence is President of the California Republican Assembly – Flash]

If you want to meet people who are mad at the Republican Party you can go to MoveOn.org, you can go to San Francisco, or you can go to a meeting of local Republicans. Any meeting: Republican Women, Congress of Republicans, California Republican Assembly, it doesn’t matter. You will find people are just plain mad about the Republican Party.

How can this be? The people who have toiled in the vineyard and given of their treasure to GOP candidates are mad?

Almost twenty years ago at a conference, Paul Weyrich, a founder of the Heritage Foundation and the Free Congress Research and Education Foundation said, and I paraphrase, that… Read More

Jerry Brown, not very patiently, is holding a "Orange County Gala" fundraiser for only "$6,000 for Co-Hosts". You can still get in at Muldoon’s Dublin Pub this Friday, November 14.

Among those hosting include: Trial Lawyer Wylie Aitkin, Trial Lawyer and fomer State Senator Joe Dunn, Trial Lawyer Mark Robinson, Trial Lawyer Anne Andrews and Trial Lawyer Joy Berus.

Just to complete the picture the California Medical Association Political Action Committee is also featured. The lions with the lambs. I hope the medical doctors are taking long term pain killers.… Read More