This evening I was able to visit the McClintock campaign headquarters and get the latest information about today’s count. As of this evening, McClintock is up 1,092 votes. El Dorado County garnered 122 additional votes for McClintock today and the good news is that the worst precincts in that county are done reporting. There are still some bad areas in Nevada County that need to count absentee and provisional ballots. Placer County will be counting tomorrow so hopefully we’ll have more good news then.… Read More

Veterans Day? It is not Veterans Day.

It is the 233rd Birthday of the United States Marine Corps. This is what should be a national holiday. Tomorrow is Veterans Day.

To all my Marine Corps family out there….Happy Birthday.

From the Halls of Montezuma To the Shores of Tripoli; We fight our country’s battles In the air, on land and sea; First to fight for right and freedom And to keep our honor clean; We are proud to claim the title of United States Marine.

Our flag’s unfurled to every breeze From dawn to setting sun; We have fought in ev’ry clime and place Where we could take a gun; In the snow of far-off Northern lands And in sunny tropic scenes; You will find us always on the job– The United States Marines.

Here’s health to you and to our Corps Which we are proud to serve In many a strife we’ve fought for life And never lost our nerve; If the Army and the Navy Ever look on Heaven’s scenes;… Read More

We here at the FlashReport treat all holidays as "our" holidays — which means look for the main page to be up a little later this morning. Also, look to Tuesday’s FR for our "weekend in review" and reprinting of our weekend commentaries.

We hope that you will join with us today in giving thanks to all of those who have served in the military, on behalf of this country — and also to those who have sacrificed by having a wife, a husband, a child or a parent serve in the military.… Read More

Why is John McCain letting his former running mate twist in the wind?

During the campaign, McCain be sure to chastise those among his supporters who unfairly or viciously attacked Barack Obama.

Now that Gov. Sarah Palin is being unfairly and viciously attacked by unnamed members of McCain’s campaign, why hasn’t he leapt to her defense?

Gov. Palin gave McCain candidacy every measure of devotion. She tirelessly and enthusiastically stumped for him, energizing the base for him — something he was unable to do for himself. And she did so even as her own reputation was unjustly damaged by a media mau-mauing unlike anything I have evern seen.

And through it all, she fought on without complaint.

John McCain owes it to Sarah Palin too come to her defense, as well as to publicly denounce those in his camp who are sticking her with cowardly knives.

The longer McCain stays silent, the more dishonor he brings on himself.… Read More

California voters have spoken twice on same-sex marriage (Propositions 22 and now 8) and their voice, even in this resoundingly Democratic election year,is clear: same sex marriage is not a right that can be equated with the civil rights of racial minorities, or a protected right under the First Amendment.

But now thebitter losers on Proposition 8 will take their case to the California Supreme Court, where they will ask the jurists to overturn — for a second time —a ban on their so-called right to same sex marriage.

The media, especially the Los Angeles Times, is loving this controversy. It must be selling newspapers. The same newspaper that brought us the headline "Obama Captivates the World!" had three separate articles on the issue in today’s Sunday paper. Supporters of same-sex marriage have been protesting religious services today at, among other places, Saddleback Church in Lake Forest. The Pastor there, Rick Warren, is hardly a gay-basher. But the activists believe it makes for good media.

The truth is, the gay… Read More

Solicitations for Winners and Losers… We know the local San Diego candidates and issues that won and lost, of course. But, what of the individuals, elected officials, organizations, consultants, etc. that were this election’s big winners and losers? Who had the most influence, good or bad, overtly or behind the scenes, and why? There are some obvious ones, perhaps. What of the lesser knowns? Send me those as well.

The final results will be subjective and my opinion, not necessarily based on the number of emails I receive, so no need to e-stuff the ballot box. But, I definitely will consider your opinion. However, you do have to send it to me in an email.

If you have a snappily-worded reason for your selection, I may use it in the final story. I promise to keep any entries anonymous, unless you let me know that I can quote you by name.

Send me your picks.

Day after "thoughts"… My Wednesday San… Read More

So here is the big question for Sunday morning.

House Republicans seem set on re-election John Boehner as some sort of “Permanent Minority Leader” for the long haul, with some sort of concession to conservatives being that former Republican Study Committee Chairman Mike Pence is going to be the new Conference Chairman, the #3 spot in House Leadership. The question is – if Boehner stays put, meaning that the fundamental structure of House Republicans stays in place, does it even matter that Pence is in Leadership, except maybe at the margins?

Whoever is in leadership – well, it’s rearranging the deck chairs if they aren’t prepared to reign-in the “GOP Cardinals” – the Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee. Isn’t it time for House Republicans to stop glorifying spending by leaving in place the GOP Lard Team?

It’s true that conservatives don’t go to Washington, passionate about spending. So the squishy moderates and non-ideologues end up stacking the Appropriations Committee.… Read More

So here is the big question for Sunday morning.

House Republicans seem set on re-election John Boehner as some sort of “Permanent Minority Leader” for the long haul, with some sort of concession to conservatives being that former Republican Study Committee Chairman Mike Pence is going to be the new Conference Chairman, the #3 spot in House Leadership. The question is – if Boehner stays put, meaning that the fundamental structure of House Republicans stays in place, does it even matter that Pence is in Leadership, except maybe at the margins?

Whoever is in leadership – well, it’s rearranging the deck chairs if they aren’t prepared to reign-in the “GOP Cardinals” – the Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee. Isn’t it time for House Republicans to stop glorifying spending by leaving in place the GOP Lard Team?

**There is more – click the link**

View Full… Read More