From the “I’m not a nuclear weapons expert, but I won an Oscar for playing a Wall Street banker” department… You just have to laugh at the irony of actor Michael Douglas holding a press conference to push the US and other holdout nations to ratify a nuclear test ban treaty, then being peppered with questions about what Gordon Gekko thinks of the current financial meltdown. Hilarious exchange:

Reporter – "Are you saying Gordon that greed is not good?"

Douglas – "I’m not saying that. And my name is not Gordon. He’s a character I played 20 years ago." Somehow, I think the reporter already knew that. The only other question is whether Douglas knows more about nuclear test bans or investment banking. But, I have a better job for him. When their current star retires, perhaps he can do Geico commercials.

Please bear with me, but I can’t resist… Thanks to Roger Covalt for sending this along. The photo below captures a… Read More

Edging towards common sense. Bonds, yes, but purchased withprivate equity. Perhaps free markets can still play a significant role before taxpayers foot the entire bill….

Issa Offers Proposal for Guaranteed Recovery Bonds to Rescue Financial Markets – Proposal Uses Private Equity to Keep Government from Buying Mortgage Assets, Assures Wall Street Won’t Get Rich While Taxpayers Get Stuck with Trillion Dollar Bill Washington, DC – Rep. Darrell Issa, a businessman and entrepreneur before coming to Congress, today offered a new proposal to protect the economy without a taxpayer-funded bail out of Wall Street. Under Rep. Issa’s plan, private investors would provide the capital for a Rescue Fund through the purchase of government issued Guaranteed Recovery Bonds. The Rescue Fund would be managed by the Treasury Department and would offer troubled financial firms interest accruing loans based upon their holdings of at-risk mortgage assets.

“My plan uses private investment and gives Wall Street the same liquidity as the Paulson plan and guarantees… Read More

After patiently and, frankly, quietly watching our Republican Governor propose and support massive tax increases (after he campaigned vehemently against them), the California Republican Party Board of Directors has finally put down its foot — we voted overwhelmingly to both praise our legislators for holding the line on taxes, and we also urged the Governor to change his tune, and oppose tax increases going forward.

The resolution is below. I should add that there was a motion in our meeting to amend out the language referencing the Governor. After debate, the Board overwhelmingly voted to retain the language.

As Vice Chairman, South, of the CRP, I was very proud to be a Board Member this afternoon…

Here is what was passed:

California Republican PartyBoard of Directors RESOLUTION

Whereas the People of the State of California are among the most heavily taxed citizens in the United States; and, Whereas The California Republican Party is the party of balanced budgets, limited government, and fiscal responsibility; and, Whereas we believe that taxes in California are too high, and that state government… Read More

The following former Chairmen of the State GOP have endorsed Steve Poizner's candidacy for Governor in 2010: Truman Campbell, Tirso Del Junco, John Herrington, John McGraw, Mike Montgomery, Michael Schroeder, and Frank Visco.… Read More

I just got off of the phone with California Republican Assembly State President Mike Spence. He said that at his organization's Board of Directors Meeting, being held in conjunction with the State GOP Convention this weekend in Anaheim, the group will consider endorsing the potential recall drive against Governor Schwarzenegger… We'll have to go check that out! Spence did say the Governor was more than welcome to come to the meeting and defend his policies…… Read More

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For those of you that have not seen the cult classic Signs, Lies, and Videotapes I will have to look into the copyright issues and get that up on YouTube somewhere.

For those of you that have — we have a new edition to the story.

KERN radio personality Scott Cox adds his name to the Hall of Shame next to Rich Sybert and a host of others. You can read the story here in the Bakersfield Californian.

It is not the signs that really gets people — it is the cover up and the lies.

Note: The discipline involved in the Strickland campaign when this happened was also a major part of the story. Instead of blasting Sybert immediately they waited and let him hang himself for good with the lie he told shortly after the incident.… Read More

In an inasupicious start to his review of the FlashReport Top Twenty Bills He Should Veto, the Governor signed one into law today. A bill by liberal Democrat Joe Simitian that restricts personal freedoms of Californians — by banning text messaging while driving. Governor, just because things are stupid to do on the face of it, does not mean they should be illegal. Very disappointed, though perhaps not unexpected. If you need examples of the Governor using his bill-signing pen to alienate GOP legislators who promote inidividual respponsibility, here's a great example. Not too many GOPers supported Simitian's ill-advised bill — well, now it's an ill-advised law!… Read More