I don’t make it up to San Francisco as often as I would like, as I am reminded by how much I enjoy myself on each visit, even a quick overnite stay like last night.

I came up at the invitation of Dr. Sally Pipes (one of the country’s top experts on health care policy) to speak over dinner to the Board of Directors of the Pacific Research Institute, an outstanding think tank that produces tremendous amounts of useful research on a myriad of policy issue.

I thought I would make a "Top Ten" list of silly or astounding observations made – in no particular order:

— Oakland PD motor officers are now tooling around in Harley Davidsons, stopping crime and making a LOT of noise.

— According to my cabbie, more people are using cabs during this period of high gas prices. But cabbies are still losing money because the City of SF won’t let them raise rates to accomodate for a 100 percent rise in gas prices in one year.

— The "stress releiving" lotion provided in my hotel room did little to relieve my stiff neck from watching the Lakers lose their second straight game to the Celtics.… Read More

It is arguable that no single person has had more influence on the development and popularity of American wines than the late Robert Mondavi. Mondavi, considered the modern-day pioneer of the San Franciso Bay Area’s wine region was an inventor, a businessman, and foremost a visionary. He saw where the wine industry could be, and then lead the charge over decades to take it there.

At the time of Mondavi’s passing, we dedicated much of our main page to this pioneer – who was a master of the politics of wine.

As I pen this blog post, I am with my brother deep in the heart of the Napa Valley. We spent the better part of an hour this morning in the To Kolon Reserve Tasting Room at the Robert Modavi winery, sipping a vertical tasting of some outstanding reserve Cabernet Sauvignon wines, and toasting to the life of one who has made so much impact on an industry so important to California, and one very impactful to the publisher of this website.

To Robert Mondavi — salut!… Read More

Ok, The San Diego Primary Election Contest results are in (see prior post if you missed the opportunity to awe your fellow political hacks with your savvy predictions).

The response was pretty overwhelming for the blogs, with nearly 40 respondents! Before I announce the winners, first a recap of the questions, the correct answers and a brief analysis of the responses on each, as well as some creative comments that were occasionally included:

Question #1: 75th Assembly – Name the winner of the Republican nomination.

Correct Answer – Nathan Fletcher. This one was a throw away, worth zero points if answered correctly, but if wrong I wasn’t going to waste my time with the rest of the guesses. Fortunately, everyone got it right. Actually, one respondent nearly muffed it, initially answering Martin Garrick, only to email again and say "Oops," he had mis-read the district number.

“Cutest” Answer – “Mindy’s husband…I forgot his name.” Question #2: San Diego Mayor… Read More

The football adage of "If you get into the end zone, act like you have been there before." I would also add — act like you are going to come back.

Since last Tuesday I have noticed that around that state we have some poor sports. A few of the people have been those that lost on Tuesday.

The vast majority of poor sports have been those that have won races.… Read More

The liberals that control the California legislature HATE Proposition 13. Why? Because they have a voracious appetite for taxing working Californians, and "playing" with that money as if it were the fruits of their own labor. Well, this past week was the 30th Anniversary of the passage of Prop. 13, and to celebrate the occasion, Senate and Assembly Democrats killed commemorate resolutions in their respective houses. Below is an account from Senate Tom Harman, who authored a resolution for the Upper Chamber…

Democrats Are Party Poopers for Prop 13’s Birthday by State Senator Tom Harmon

… Read More

The liberals that control the California legislature HATE Proposition 13. Why? Because they have a voracious appetite for taxing working Californians, and "playing" with that money as if it were the fruits of their own labor. Well, this past week was the 30th Anniversary of the passage of Prop. 13, and to celebrate the occasion, Senate and Assembly Democrats killed commemorate resolutions in their respective houses. Below is an account from Senate Tom Harman, who authored a resolution for the Upper Chamber…

Democrats Are Party Poopers for Prop 13’s Birthday by State Senator Tom Harmon

… Read More

I’m live blogging this morning from the organizational meeting of California’s Delegation to the Republican National Convention, taking place this morning in Burbank. After the primary concluded, the McCain campaign asked me if I would be willing to serve as a Statewide At-Large Delegate. I accepted the offer which means that FR readers who are not at the big event will be able to follow along as I blog from Minneapolis. There are about 450 people here, mostly made up of original supporters of Senator John McCain in the Presidential primary (each candidate puts up a slate of delegates and overwhelmingly, based on the results of California’s February Presidential primary, Senator McCain’s delegates were overwhelmingly seated). The meeting was opened by California’s Republican National Committeemembers, Tim Morgan and Barbara Alby. Both received a standing ovation for their service as both will be retiring this Summer after twelve years of service on the Republican National Committee. Tim and Barbara are both serving in leadership roles for the convention. Alby placed into nomination former… Read More

It seems like I should add, from my first post, by adding that there are quite a few folks at the delation meeting who were supporter other candidates than John McCain. In a few instances you have some Romney delegation who represent the handful of House District that the former Massachussetts Governor carried — but much more so is a lot of outreach done by the McCain campaign to include supporters of former candidates Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson and Mitt Romney (I’m still looking around for an official Ron Paul supporters that is now on the delegation).

Who is making everything happen for the delegation?

The delegation staff is as follows (thus far):

Kathy Tavoularis, Executive Director Hector Barajas, Communications Director Charles Moran, Media Director (he’s an FR friend, so we’re looking for special treatment) Anthony Kuo, Executive Assistant Martin Paine, Transportation Coordinator Christina Tatevossian-Clendenin, Delegate Services Coordinator Jame Clark, Finance Consultant Julie Vallante, Housing Coordinator Janine Eggers, Major Gifts … Read More