Damage Control by Eric Dezenhall and John Weber is an excellent book if for no other reason than it tells the whole story of the 1982 Tylenol recall case and why it is not the only way to handle a corporate crisis.

Dezenhall is the CEO of Dezenhall Resources in Washington DC. One of the areas that they specialize in is crisis communications.

This book has many lessons for those that are involved in politics about the way to handle a problem.

The one thing that stood out is something that has always baffled me about the California business community. Why do they continue to give campaign money to the people that attack them? It can’t be because they support what the person stands for.

Dezenhall mentions a client that wondered how this attack group was able to afford to challenge the client. The truth was that the client was trying to buy peace. This is something that rarely works.

This is a great book that is a quick read. Most of the principles involve… Read More

McCain Sings Streisand… A sure bet to start or end your Sunday right. In case anyone forgot this gem — or never saw it before— Sen. John McCain’s appearance on Saturday Night Live in 2002 doing a reverse Barbara Streisand parody is a hilarious classic. Make sure you watch ’til the end so you don’t miss all the McCain political "statements." It was funny in ’02, now it’s even funnier.

POA Yanks Hartley Endorsement… One week you’re the law and order candidate, the next week you don’t have a pot to…well, forget it. If you missed the prior news ofJohn Hartley’s allegedunique precinct walking methods, find it here. The SD Police Officers Association now understandably reneges on its support for the former and wannabe-again member of the city council.… Read More

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Charlton Heston, who won the 1959 best actor Oscar as the chariot-racing "Ben-Hur" and portrayed Moses, Michelangelo, El Cid and other heroic figures in movie epics of the ’50s and ’60s, has died. He was 84.

The actor died Saturday night at his home in Beverly Hills with his wife Lydia at his side, family spokesman Bill Powers said.

Powers declined to comment on the cause of death or provide further details.

Heston revealed in 2002 that he had symptoms consistent with Alzheimer’s disease, saying, "I must reconcile courage and surrender in equal measure."

With his large, muscular build, well-boned face and sonorous voice, Heston proved the ideal star during the period when Hollywood was filling movie screens with panoramas depicting the religious and historical past. "I have a face that belongs in another century," he often remarked.

The actor assumed the role of leader offscreen as well. He served as president of the… Read More

Some legislators just don’t learn. Assemblywoman Sally Lieber has reintroduced her bill that will ban parents from spanking their children, AB 2943. You may recall that last session Lieber introduced identical legislation, AB 755. The bill received national media attention and California became the butt of many jokes for being so out-of-touch. Parents nationwide were rightfully outraged by the arrogance of one California lawmaker inserting herself into family discipline.

In fact, Lieber has no children herself and reportedly was inspired to author her bill after a visit to her cat’s veterinarian’s office. Apparently a discussion with the vet about how bad it is to strike a cat or dog led Lieber to the logical conclusion that children should not be struck either. This, despite the fact Lieber has no personal experience raising well-mannered children herself; and in spite of thousands of years of history that prove children need parental reproof in order to become healthy, productive members of society.

Capitol Resource Family Impact has the… Read More

DENHAM LAUNCES NEW RADIO SPOT The campaign of Senator Jeff Denham against this dumb, politically motivated recall, has launched a radio spot (click on the link below this post to hear it!) which really emphases how every newspaper in the Senate District (as well as, frankly, most of the major papers around the state) have come out against the recall. I figure Senate President Don "The Golden Pig" Perata must be getting used to this. After all, all of these newspaper editorial board (which for the most part are left-leaning or worse) frequently supportive of the policy goals of liberal politicians. But this recall, like Proposition 93 (where again, the Lion’s share of the media opposed that power-grab) has left Perata isolated. No one thinks this recall is justified. When I talk to folks in Sacramento whom I would characterize as "more friendly" to the goals of the left in the legislature, even they roll their eyes and some even say, "Perata will be gone soon…" … Read More

DENHAM LAUNCES NEW RADIO SPOT The campaign of Senator Jeff Denham against this dumb, politically motivated recall, has launched a radio spot (click on the link below this post to hear it!) which really emphases how every newspaper in the Senate District (as well as, frankly, most of the major papers around the state) have come out against the recall. I figure Senate President Don "The Golden Pig" Perata must be getting used to this. After all, all of these newspaper editorial board (which for the most part are left-leaning or worse) frequently supportive of the policy goals of liberal politicians. But this recall, like Proposition 93 (where again, the Lion’s share of the media opposed that power-grab) has left Perata isolated. No one thinks this recall is justified. When I talk to folks in Sacramento whom I would characterize as "more friendly" to the goals of the left in the legislature, even they roll their eyes and some even say, "Perata will be gone soon…"

SUPER-SLOW NEWS DAY On a… Read More

Apparently after taking a trip over to Africa with a much of left-wing Congressman, Central Valley GOP Representative Devin Nunes took it upon himself to vote in support of a $50 billion global AIDS relief package.

When one looks at the purpose and function of the American federal government, and then consider that the primary mechanism that funds our government are coercively taken tax dollars, you have to ask yourself where government-sponsored charity comes into play.

Look, I understand that the situation in Africa is tragic — truly I do. And if Devin Nunes and the others in Congress who voted to redistribute the funds from American taxpayers into charity abroad instead just reached into their own pockets to contribute, that would be appropriate. But if the federal government has enough money to give out tens of billions in charitable efforts, it’s time to reduce federal taxes.

The American people, collectively as private citizens, are the largest giver to charitable causes on the planet. But that is individuals giving of their own property, which is good, and morally… Read More

I’m in New York City and attended the Memorial Mass for the Repose of the Soul of William F. Buckley, Jr., this morning, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Park Ave.

I learned that FlashReport’s Nick Romero also attended, but the church is of course huge and I did not see him, but we have been exchanging voice mails on our cells andwill be meeting forlunch shortly to discuss theMass.

This was a special memorial service, what us Catholics used to call a "High Mass." Much of the service involved singing, including the Gospel reading by the Rev. George W. Rutler, the principal celebrant. Incense, Latin, and formality were evident throughout the service, which had a definite "Buckley feel" to it. The celebrants did not insist on the "sign of peace" being exchanged among the people in the large audience, the "sign" was muted. I suspect Buckley wouldhave liked that.

I met, spoke with, and introduced Bill Buckley on a number of occasions as a result of my service as National Chairman of Young Americans for Freedom in the late 1970s. In fact, I succeeded his nephew, John… Read More