Assemblymen Anthony Adams and Doug LaMalfa have been doing a great job blogging from the Assembly floor about the flood of bills passing this week. Unfortunately, there are so many bad bills passing, it’s hard to keep up with them. For example, moments ago the Assembly approved AB 1819 (Price) which will allow 16-year-olds to file an affidavit to register to vote in their next eligible election (when they turn 18). Of course Assemblyman Price and his fellow Democrats argued that this will encourage greater civic involvement from young people. But as Assemblyman Joel Anderson pointed out, this is a slippery slope towards allowing minors to vote in presidential elections—something Barack Obama could certainly benefit from were it allowed this year.

One point that I had not considered regarding AB 1819 was brought up by Assemblyman Chuck DeVore: every 16-year-old who files their voter registration affidavit will expose their private information to the public. In an era where keeping a minor’s personal information private is increasingly difficult, why is… Read More

By a bare majority, the Ammo registration bill passes, 41-31.… Read More

Who would serve the goals for expanding growth and opportunity in Los Angeles County? And, why are the county government unions spending over $4,000,000 for Ridley-Thomas?

Both answers suggest the clear conflict between Chief and now councilman Bernard Parks and professional politician Mark Ridley-Thomas.

The Los Angeles Times is covering this all important race in some depth. Yesterday, the Times reported that the union IE " Alliance for a Stronger [union controlled] Community has raised an unsurpassed monies to buy the 3rd vote.

Should union candidate Ridley-Thomas win, the county’s treasury will be devoted primarily for the unions. Taxpayers be damned. Atlas will Shrug.

On taxes only Chief Bernard Parks has pledged a rational plan to avoid tax increases. Every tax increases always drives business away, particularly the small business owner. The real growth for jobs come from small businesses. Large corporate owners are no longer the job generators in Los Angeles.

Parks reports that he would eliminate prog;rams that have no specific source of… Read More

Last Sunday I got to be one of those ‘talking heads’ on Sunday morning news television. I had the opportunity to appear on NBC’s political interview program, News Conference, which comes on right after the Chris Matthews show.

I appeared opposite two lefties — State Democrat Party Chairman Art Torres, and John Emerson of the Hillary Clinton campaign (who says the media isn’t fair and balanced?).

Anchor Laurel Erickson had the two Democrats doing most of the talking, but I got to make some salient points.

If you have a few minutes, and want to check it out, the links are below to the video from the KNBC website:

Segment One (approx 7 min.) Segment Two (approx 9 min.) Feedback is welcome (private feedback can be sent … Read More

Middle-aged and older FR readers will remember when Fonzie of Happy Days fame "jumped the shark" — we’ve included that video below for the uninitiated. Actually, that plot line was so bad that the phrase "jumped the shark" is now used to describe when a story’s plot-line has crossed over into the ludicrous and lame.

That said, Fonzie has nothing former FlashReport Beltway Correspondent Jason Roe. Instead of "jumping the shark" Roe actually jumped ON a shark – a real shark – or at least he tried. The Hill newspaper is reporting that Roe, while out on a fishing trip, was reeling in a large shark when his pole broke. Roe’s reaction? He grabbed a knife and dove in after the shark. Fortunately the shark swam away, and didn’t eat Jason.

According to the article, Jason’s wife was… Read More

I think that everyone acknowledges that there is a division of opinion in America (and in California) on what the long-term strategy for the United States should be relative to our military engagement in Iraq. As one who subscribes to the Governor Schwarzenegger’s press releases, a pained look comes to my face every time he laments the passing of another American soldier for whom California their home. One candidate for the Presidency feels that our presence in Iraq is a vital component to an overall War on Terror that America must fight, or else be subjected to more attacks like we had in New York City, Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon. John McCain believes strongly that anyone who would commit acts of terror against American or its people should live in fear that if they ever tried to do so, the consequences would be unfathomable.

The other candidate for the Presidency is part of the “U.S. Out Of Iraq Now” crowd – who sees little benefit to the United States in having troops on the ground in Iraq.… Read More

The Governor in his announcement of California Hall of Fame inductees wanted to recognize ..“Californians, whose achievements are legendary…"

So he picks who…… Jane Fonda?

For what Barbarella?

By picking a left wing liberal, the Governor is doing the politically correct thing. But this is not just any left wing liberal. This “legendary” pick actually went to Communist Vietnam and fired an anti-aircraft gun at American planes. Fonda never apologized for making propaganda broadcasts for the Communist Vietnamese. Jane Fonda aided and abetted an enemy of the United States.

Now she is in the California Hall of Fame?

Governor if are looking for achievements to pick. I have a few.

Richard A Anderson, Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, 2d Platoon, Company F, 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division. He was born in Los Angeles. Pfc Anderson was advancing in the jungles of the Quang Tri Province on a rescue mission. His platoon came under attack by Jane Fonda’s buddies from the North. Several men were wounded. A grenade landed in the middle of them right next to where Anderson was taking… Read More

Longtime FR reader Joe Armendariz sent over this commentary, which echoes on what I penned this morning. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did… This isn’t the first time and it certainly won’t be the last time Pete Wilson gets it wrong. Yesterday he defended the indefensible by suggesting his decision to raise taxes meant "having the guts to do what should be done". Wilson was wrong in 1993 when he raised taxes and he is even more wrong now by defending that bad decision in a clumsy endorsement of Doug Ose over Tom McClintock. And not only that, Wilson has done what another former california Governor implored Republicans never to do; Wilson broke the 11th commandment by attacking Senator Tom McClintock. But I digress.… Read More