Need another reason to not trust lawyers and the Bar Associations. Conservatives have known that at the federal level the American Bar Association play politics with their rating system.

Need proof at the local level. Look at poor Bob Henry. Henry is Democrat and has been a Deputy Attorney general for two decades.

In 1992 he ran for judge and came in second. The bar rated him “qualified”. He ran again in 2004 and was rated as“well qualified. Two years ago he ran and was rated “qualified”. 2008 he runs and is now “not qualified”. To get it straight. The bar rating system four years ago had him as “well-qualified”. Since then he has been in a spiral downward dropping to “qualified” and then now to “not qualified”.

Iknow being a Democrat didn’t hurt him. So what’s changed?

Other than the make up of the review committee probably nothing.… Read More

Jon just posted a blog about President Bush vetoing the pork-laden farm bill. As Jon explained, the bill was rightfully vetoed because of all the subsidies for wealthy farmers. This issue is particularly important here in the 4th CD race. Former congressman Doug Ose (and current candidate for the 4th CD) has been the recipient of such federal farm subsidies for wealthy farm owners.

Doug Ose not only accepted $600,000 in farm subsidies (more than former Enron CEO Ken Lay), he approved those subsidies as a voting member of the House Agriculture Committee. Republicans are suffering from an image of corruption, and self-serving votes like Ose’s enforce this image, especially in a district where corruption is a hot issue. Republican voters should ask themselves if they want a millionaire congressman who will take their tax dollars to pay for his personal property.

Last week Tom McClintock launched a devastating TV ad regarding Ose’s self-enriching votes on farm subsidies while in Congress. I’m disappointed that my current congressman, John Doolittle, voted for this irresponsible bill. Based on Doug Ose’s record, Tom McClintock is the clear choice. I’m… Read More

The Harry Sidhu campaign has all the hallmarks of a campaign in disarray.

The local cable systems were recently called by Harry Sidhu told they would no longer be dealing his consultants, Coronado Communications, but that henceforth Sidhu would make the buys himself.

After being bombarded almost daily with Sidhu mailers for the last few weeks, the Sidhu mailers suddenly stopped arriving last week (there’s been no cessation of Mimi Walters mail).

A new Sidhu mailer finally arrived in today’s mail — but it is clearly not something produced by Coronado Communications: too dense and wordy. This leads me to believe Coronado Communications and Harry Sidhu have parted ways.

Harry Sidhu is also planning a press conference … Read More

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