My commentary is very abbreviated today.
There is a great profile on the FlashReport today in the San Diego Union Tribune. It is a main feature in an article penned by ace U-T political reporter John Marelius on the rising influence of political websites and blogs on politics. I’ve already gotten a dozen phone calls and even more e-mails this morning ‘letting me know’ about the piece. Needless to say, I have taken the liberty of making it the ‘top story’ today on the main page.
The article starts out:
Web sites’ influence on the rise statewide
By John Marelius
San Diego Union Tribube
IRVINE – “My boss wants to talk to you,” intoned the voice on Jon Fleischman’s cell phone.
When “my boss” turns out to be one of the biggest celebrities on the planet, who also happens to be the governor of California, you take the call.
Even as he related the conversation a few months later, Fleischman still seemed a bit overwhelmed by the turn of events. “I was on the phone with him for about 10 minutes,” he said. “And half the call, I’m trying to process the fact that I’m on the phone with an internationally known movie star that I have been watching on the big screen forever, bigger than life.”
Jon Fleischman’s FlashReport blog gathers political stories from newspapers and adds his commentary and contributions from Republican political professionals. He checked in on his blog last month at his Irvine home.
In November, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was about to name a prominent Democratic Party operative, Susan Kennedy, as his chief of staff. The Republican governor knew that such a politically unorthodox appointment would rile conservatives and wanted to give Fleischman a heads-up.
As a longtime activist in conservative Republican politics in Orange County, Fleischman was more than a gadfly but hardly a heavy hitter – certainly not a person to command the governor’s personal attention. 
He wasn’t, that is, until his hobby of writing an electronic newsletter and e-mailing it to friends evolved into the FlashReport blog.
FlashReport is a daily compendium of newspaper political articles, Fleischman’s commentaries and musings from a stable of political professionals around the state.
He begins compiling the blog at his Irvine condo every morning at about 5:45 before heading off for his job as public information officer for the Orange County sheriff.
It didn’t take long for the FlashReport to become required reading for Republican insiders and more than a few Democrats looking to keep tabs on what the other side is up to.
Fleischman’s newfound status was very much in evidence in January when he was invited to meet with top administration officials in advance of Schwarzenegger’s State of the State address. The Capitol press corps had been given such a briefing, but Republican legislators hadn’t. And they noticed.
Jon Fleischman begins compiling his FlashReport blog at his Irvine condo every morning at about 5:45 before heading to his job as public information officer for the Orange County sheriff. His blog has become required reading for Republican insiders in California.
“People were saying, ‘How could they meet with Jon before they met with Republican legislators?,’ ” Fleischman said. “Well frankly, if Republican legislators were blogging to large audiences of people, they’d meet with them ahead of time, too.”
You can read the rest of this article right here.
* Don’t miss out on some of the articles highlight the slug-fest that has now begun between Phil Angelides and Steve Westly to capture the Democratic nomination for Governor. Both of these two ultra-liberals seemed to be falling over themselves to see who could be more left-wing in their first debate. Calls for tax increases and pledges to throw more tax-payer dollars at programs were the common themes of the donnybrook.
* Did Steve Westly use his official office as Controller to help the business interests of some friends? There is a revealing look at a potential scandal in today’s Los Angeles Times, featured as a lead story on the main page.
I have to run! Have a great day.
Jon
Care to read comments, or make your own about today’s Daily Commentary?
Just click here to go to the FR Weblog, where this Commentary has its own blog post, and where you can read and make comments.