My heart and prayers go out to California’s First Lady, hercousin and fellow Californian, Bobby Kennedy, Jr., and the entire Kennedy family as the news of Senator Kennedy’s condition is announced. One of the many amazing things about this family is that, though they are large and geographically spread out, they remain as tightly knit and supportive of one another as any family I have ever witnessed. All of America, regardless of political affiliation, has woven the story of the Kennedy family into their own lives in a special way, and I think that is because of two words: public service.

Like the rest of his family, Senator Kennedy could have done anything with his life, but he chose to champion the people. Whether we agree with his policies or not, there is no question that his motivation to help the poor, the needy, and the disadvantaged were at the heart of his actions and achievements. It’s too easy for naysayers to chide the Senator for his faults and imperfections, but none of us are perfect. Senator Kennedy is human, and we all make mistakes, but the greater lesson of his legacy lies in the modus vivendi that drove him to give voice to those not born to… Read More

On the June Ballot, most local measures are designed to raise taxes or pass bonds. No so in Tulare County .Porterville votersare going to decide if they want to amend the City Charter to add "In God We Trust" as theCity Motto.

No word on what happens to Porterville if the measure fails.… Read More

A few weeks ago I wrote about AB 624, legislation that will require all private, corporate or public operating foundations and nonprofits incorporated in California, with assets over $250 million, to collect gender and racial data on their board and staff. It also requires these groups to report the number of grant dollars going to ethnic minorities, the disabled, low-income communities and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender recipients. After the data is collected, it must be posted on the foundation’s web site under a section labeled “DIVERSITY.” Of course, all of this is done in the name of “transparency” and forcing greater aid for “minorities.”

This is a patently bad bill; requiring philanthropic organizations to report on their board, staff and grant beneficiaries raises all sorts of questions about privacy and unconstitutionality. In addition, the government has no business in the donations of private citizens to their favorite charities.

Last week the bill was heard in the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development… Read More

Yesterday I received an e-mail from longtime FR friend Jeff Greene. Jeff and I are both alumni of Young Americans for Freedom (the conservative youth organization founded by William F. Buckley, Jr. that played an instrumental role in the development of the modern conservative movement) — in fact we each served as Chairman of California YAF at one point in our lives. I had the honor of voting for Jeff in the Republican primary for Governor in 1990 — though most people didn’t realize there was a primary, since Jeff didn’t get too many votes compared to his primary opponent, incumbent U.S. Senator Pete Wilson! (You have to love the moxie of YAFers!).

Anyways, I digress. The e-mail that Jeff sent was in response to this article by Carla Marinucci that ran in the San Francisco Chronicle over the weekend, in which the Governor, again, makes the case that if Republicans want to win in California, we need to "cross over the center" (his words) — and I guess be more like Democrats… I suggest you click through and read the article… Read More

Yesterday I received an e-mail from longtime FR friend Jeff Greene. Jeff and I are both alumni of Young Americans for Freedom (the conservative youth organization founded by William F. Buckley, Jr. that played an instrumental role in the development of the modern conservative movement) — in fact we each served as Chairman of California YAF at one point in our lives. I had the honor of voting for Jeff in the Republican primary for Governor in 1990 — though most people didn’t realize there was a primary, since Jeff didn’t get too many votes compared to his primary opponent, incumbent U.S. Senator Pete Wilson! (You have to love the moxie of YAFers!).

Anyways, I digress. The e-mail that Jeff sent was in response to this article by Carla Marinucci that ran in the San Francisco Chronicle over the weekend, in which the Governor, again, makes the case that if Republicans want to win in California, we need to "cross over the center" (his words) — and I guess be more like Democrats… I suggest you click through and read the article… Read More

Joe Mathews, a center-left-leaning moderate who recently left his job as a great writer with the L.A. Times for a gig with the liberal New America Foundation (you remember them – the invented the term “hidden tax” to justify heaping more unhidden taxes on Californians) is blogging over at Fox & Hounds, and today has a mostly hilarious (a partially disconcerting) post up about what he learned from reading the Governor‘s mind this morning. Check it out!

David Dayen, one of the bloggers over at socialism central, Calitics, writes that local Democrats on the Central Coast are working to place a Democrat on the ballot against Republican State Senator Abel Maldonado. Readers will recall that after Maldonado rather infamously bolted from his Republican Senate colleagues and joined with Arnold and the Dems on the state budget, Senate Prez Don Perata showered him with praise, and some felt Perata gave Maldo a “pass” in the… Read More

FlashReport readers are probably starting to become more familiar with the group Americans for Prosperity. Earlier this year they kicked off their California chapter (I had the honor of introducing Hugh Hewitt at that event) and they have been charging hard since then. I would like to share more with FR readers about AFP’s current big project here in the Golden State — and an important one…

AFP has started the Already Taxed to the Max (ATM) Statewide tour, with a kickoff event last week at the State Capitol and then an trip up to Chico in the North State. The tour, featuring conservative leaders and a huge 12-foot inflatable ATM machine will send a message to Lawmakers that California Taxpayers are not their personal ATM machine. Their next stop: The liberal bastion of San Francisco tomorrow.

… Read More

Lionel Van Deerlin, RIP… A partisan political opponent, perhaps, but definitely a noble adversary. Some of the news reports indicate former Congressman Van Deerlin had a heart attack on March 1 and was receiving home hospice care. That didn’t keep him from getting out of bed only two weekends ago to come to La Mesa and pay a memorial tribute to his longtime friend, Dr. Jack Hardebeck, who also recently passed away. From the good humor and stories he shared at Harry Griffen Park that day, few were the wiser that he himself had only a few days remaining.

I won’t miss reading his skewering of Republicans in the Union-Trib. I will miss his presence and his wit. Read the U-T report.

Quote of the Week… After I posted the Sycuan survey results last Tuesday showing Duncan D. Hunter leading the 52nd Congressional District GOP primary with 79 percent… Read More