I am running out the door this morning as the Orange County Republican Party is hosting a small breakfast reception with none other than northern California Congressman John Doolittle. I’ve known John for many, many years (working for him for a short spell) and he is a fine Congressman. He’s a strong, conservative voice in the House Leadership serving as House Republican Conference Secretary. It will be good to see him, let alone a couple miles from my front door!
Look for some great work the next three days from guest editor Nicholas Romero, who will be filling in for me. Also, look for some FR ‘regular faces’ to be filling in for me on this Daily Commentary page!
Today the FR features a column from Assembly Republican Leader 
George Plescia. Plescia has just assumed the reigns of leadership from Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy, and with them, the office swap that moves Plescia to the more spacious digs, and McCarthy to Plescia’s closet. That said, McCarthy will soon (say…January) be looking out on the State Capitol from his office in Washington, D.C. Anyways, apparently today is "George Plescia Day" with SacBee columnist Dan Weintraub penning a column about Plescia, and there is also an interview with Plescia featured in today’s Capitol Weekly. Of course, all of these are linked to the main page.
As special FR CONGRATULATIONS to Gaddi Vasquez, 
currently Director of the United States Peace Corps. There was an easily-missed column in the Washington Post yesterday about Vasquez possibly moving to a new position – as a United States Ambassador to the United Nations, to the U.N. Food Bank. Such a post would move Vasquez from Washington, D.C. to Rome! Vasquez, a Californian, has long been a personal friend. While there has not been a formal nod yet on this from W., look for it soon – or so say my sources!
The Governor should not rely on Democrats in the legislature to help him win election this November by giving him policy wins — this is the thesis for my column today that appears in the Orange County Register.
**There is more – click the link**