The idea of banning legislators from fund raising during any give period of time for any given reason is so very very stupid.

It has already been suggested that fund raising for favorite non-profits might also be banned but I was thinking about what other stupid ideas the legislation might need to address…

…can checks be written during the ‘black-out period’ but delivered afterwards?

…can checks be received during the ‘black-out period’ but not deposited until afterwards?

…can a fund raising invitation be distributed during the ‘black-out period’ but for an event afterwards?

…what if funds are donated to the campaign, unsolicited during the ‘black-out period’?

…does having a web page with an on-line donation option constitute fund raising?

…would on-line contribution pages need to be ‘taken down’ during this ‘black-out period’?

…can I as an individual not connected with any campaign collect checks on behalf of a legislator during the ‘black-out period’ and deliver it… Read More

On Saturday, GOP Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani’s campaign came through Orange County, and provided me with another opportunity to bring the remarks of a Presidential contender to the readers of the FlashReport. Two weeks ago we brought you exclusive footage of Senator John McCain speaking at a fundraiser at the Hyatt Hotel in Irvine, and last week we were on hand to film Governor Mitt Romney as he spoke to supporters at the St. Regis Hotel in Dana Point. We also had a chance to interview Romney in advance of the event.

Thanks to FR friend Katie Levinson, formerly the Communications Director for the re-election campaign of Governor Schwarzenegger, and now a Senior Advisor to the Giuliani for President campaign, I was actually able to… Read More

On Saturday, GOP Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani’s campaign came through Orange County, and provided me with another opportunity to bring the remarks of a Presidential contender to the readers of the FlashReport. Two weeks ago we brought you exclusive footage of Senator John McCain speaking at a fundraiser at the Hyatt Hotel in Irvine, and last week we were on hand to film Governor Mitt Romney as he spoke to supporters at the St. Regis Hotel in Dana Point. We also had a chance to interview Romney in advance of the event.

Thanks to FR friend Katie Levinson, formerly the Communications Director for the re-election campaign of Governor Schwarzenegger, and now a Senior Advisor to the Giuliani for President campaign, I was actually able to… Read More

There may be a problem with the influence of "special interests" in politics, and by that I mean that those benefiting from government services and spending who are making contributions to elected officials are representing an ever-growing portion of the funds that these officeholders and seekers receive in their campaigns. But that having been said, the solution to the problem is not to set up government prohibitions against these interest groups expressing their freedom of speech (one of the ways you exercise this right is by giving your money to candidates and causes). In fact, under the United States Constitutions, many such bans are constitutional. I would even argue that some of the bans that exist now are not constitutional. Of course, the Supreme Court has rightfully made it clear that no laws can prohibit a candidate from spending freely of their own money in running for office — meaning that all of the restrictions (such as those embodied in the horrific McCain-Feingold federal limits) serve to severely ’tilt’ the playing field in favor of those who can self-fund their own campaigns. Then there is this… Read More

There may be a problem with the influence of "special interests" in politics, and by that I mean that those benefiting from government services and spending who are making contributions to elected officials are representing an ever-growing portion of the funds that these officeholders and seekers receive in their campaigns. But that having been said, the solution to the problem is not to set up government prohibitions against these interest groups expressing their freedom of speech (one of the ways you exercise this right is by giving your money to candidates and causes). In fact, under the United States Constitutions, many such bans are constitutional. I would even argue that some of the bans that exist now are not constitutional. Of course, the Supreme Court has rightfully made it clear that no laws can prohibit a candidate from spending freely of their own money in running for office — meaning that all of the restrictions (such as those embodied in the horrific McCain-Feingold federal limits) serve to severely ’tilt’ the playing field in favor of those who can self-fund their own campaigns. Then there is this… Read More

I’m blogging from a luncheon near John Wayne Airport where the featured speaker is reknowned conservative columnist and TV persona Bob Novak.

The event is a day long symposium cosponsored by the Federalist Leadership Center (type the name plus dot com for their website) and the Orange County Lincoln Club (you can reach their website via their ad on this site). Conservative movement icon Don Devine, former Director of the Office of Personnel Management in the Reagan Administration, is the head of the Center’s program.

Our own former FR Managing Editor Nicholas Romero played a lead role in recruiting young students for a day of learning about conservatism, and about fifty or so Lincoln Club members are on hand at this luncheon, making for a pretty large crowd. Jim Silva, Van Tran and Chuck DeVore, Assemblymen all, are here flying the Republican legislative banner.

Novak’s remarks centered around a stinging critique of the Democrats on Capitol Hill, pointing out that on just one day last week, Democrats tried to advance three different measures that violate the U.S. Constitution.

Novak also looked at the Presidential… Read More

With those words yesterday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi established herself as probably the dumbest House Speaker in history. The American people have a greater sense of the war effort than the President? Really? So a steady diet of negativity from the Eastern Print Media, NBC, CBS, ABC, MSNBC, CNBC, CNN and CNN Headline News is what qualifies the American people to have a better sense of the war effort than the President? Okay, now I get it.!

Make no mistake – the average American, myself included, hasn’t a clue as to what is taking place in Iraq because they get almost 100% of their information from a media complex that reports over 80% negatively on matters pertaining to the war against terrorists. Fox News being the only real exception. The House vote yesterday was nothing but symbolism and a signal to the leftist base of the Democrat party that the Party is anti -war. They had to lard the bill with pork in every direction to buy votes on the resolution (Steny Hoyer, Majority Leader, said the pork was necessary because the President hadn’t spent enough money in the last six years, incredible!) in order to get it passed.

Congressman Jim… Read More

I just attended a breakfast with Rudi Guilianni at Pebble Beach, where he energized the small crowd with his passionate speach on "Republicanism".

He hammered on the need for us as a party to communicate our ideas and solutions – because GOP solutions are better for people and better for freedom.

His freewheeling and engaging style were a refreshing change from the staid talking heads that dominate the political landscape.

Also attending – Congressman Dan Lungren, former Congressman Doug Ose, former GOP. Assembly leader Bob Naylor, former SJ vice Mayor Pat Dando.… Read More