As we start out a new week, the 120 members of the California legislature are back at work, as is Governor Schwarzenegger. I think that it is important to start off this Monday morning, frankly, right where we left off before the weekend. This year’s budget debate started out on such a positive note. Well, as positive as a budget could be if you consider that without any changes, it would be over $15 BILLION in the red.

When I say starting out on a positive note, I mean that the Governor charged hard out of the gate with a very important, and very accurate message: we have an over-spending problem. The Governor was unequivocal — that he would not raise taxes and make California taxpayers shoulder the burden for over-spending in the Capitol. He then proposed a budget that would have shaved off 10% from what might otherwise have been introduced. From our perspective, given the spending increases, this is actually a modest proposal. Yet, the yells and screams from lefties in the Capitol could be heard by dairy cows in Yolo County. Here at the FlashReport, we devoted some serious editorial space to praising our Republican Governor… Read More

After reading Jon’s post about the Legislative Analyst I was compelled to disagree in writing on several points.

You aren’t going to hear anything from me that encourages tax increases. It would be my preference to eliminate large sections of the state government. Despite this preferred course of action the comments Jon made about the role of the LAO and their budget proposal should not go unchallenged.

The budget proposal from the Governor that Jon praises is the easy way out. It makes 10% cuts to most all state programs. This assumes that all state programs are of equal value to the people of California. That is clearly not the case. It also makes it easy to grow all of those programs back to full-size when revenues increase.

Some people may be looking at revenue shortages as a problem. They should be looked at as opportunities to restructure… Read More

As we start out a new week, the 120 members of the California legislature are back at work, as is Governor Schwarzenegger. I think that it is important to start off this Monday morning, frankly, right where we left off before the weekend. This year’s budget debate started out on such a positive note. Well, as positive as a budget could be if you consider that without any changes, it would be over $15 BILLION in the red.

When I say starting out on a positive note, I mean that the Governor charged hard out of the gate with a very important, and very accurate message: we have an over-spending problem. The Governor was unequivocal — that he would not raise taxes and make California taxpayers shoulder the burden for over-spending in the Capitol. He then proposed a budget that would have shaved off 10% from what might otherwise have been introduced. From our perspective, given the spending increases, this is actually a modest proposal. Yet, the yells and screams from lefties in the Capitol could be heard by dairy cows in Yolo County. Here at the FlashReport, we devoted some serious editorial space to praising our Republican Governor… Read More

Flannery on Peters… Pat Flannery, the oft-times one-man spotlight on the City of San Diego’s greasy underbelly, had some strong words for Scott Peters last week. Peters, the city council president and city attorney wannabe, was calleda liar by Flannery inBlog of SD on Thursday:

Peters tried to smear the City Attorney (Mike Aguirre)for doing his job. Peters has abused the legal process by filing a false complaint with the State Bar wrongly asserting that Mr. Aguirre was not authorized by his client, the City, to file a cross-complaint in a matter in which the City was sued…Clearly Scott Peters does not have the best interest of the City at heart, merely his union backers. His abuse of the State Bar disciplinary process for political purposes should be enough to disqualify him from practicing law let alone becoming City Attorney for any city. And, the city attorney race hasn’t even gotten ugly yet.

Speaking of… Will Carless’ Friday… Read More

On this quiet Sunday, I’ll give you some recommended reading!

Cold Water on "Global Warming" by Thomas Sowell

Does the Left Value Truth? by Dennis Prager

Economics and Property Rights by Walter Williams

For those who take a more considered look at the conservative movement, and whether the "Reagan Coalition" is seeing its final days, this article (from the libertarian perspective) is quite thought provoking…

The End of Republican ‘Fusionism’? by Robert Tracinski

OK – For those with a bit more time, and the willingness to take in some… Read More

On this quiet Sunday, I’ll give you some recommended reading!

Cold Water on "Global Warming" by Thomas Sowell

Does the Left Value Truth? by Dennis Prager

Economics and Property Rights by Walter Williams

For those who take a more considered look at the conservative movement, and whether the "Reagan Coalition" is seeing its final days, this article (from the libertarian perspective) is quite thought provoking…

The End of Republican ‘Fusionism’? by Robert Tracinski

OK – For those with a bit more time, and the willingness to take in some… Read More

My reading, listening and viewing habits are broad. I tend to read magazines like the New Yorker or the Atlantic, listen to NPR, and watch the BBC America. Liberal stuff? Sure. But when you work in Republican politics day in and day out, Lake Woebegoneis a welcome change of pace.

So last night I was pulling a turkey out of the oven and listening to Air America. When I lived in Los Angeles I was a regular listener of the Pacifica Network, which is your basic run of the mill far left craziness mixed with ‘global’ music. Nutty and dated? Yes. But it was entertaining. Last night I listened to Air America for nearly two hours and I can truly write, with no qualms, that it was not entertaining.

Now understand, I’m not judging the programs I heard based on ideological content. I don’t listen to get angry, or educated, or whatever. I listen for entertainment. And the quality of the entertainment was just low. It wasn’t funny. It wasn’t sharp witted. The format of the programs were difficult to keep clear, the individuals talking talked over each other, and there was no attempt to stick to a topic for more than a couple… Read More

[Publisher’s Note: FR Congratulates Shawn Steel on his election as Republican National Committeeman for California. As of today, we have "promoted" Shawn to be a "Statewide" correspondent for the FR! – Flash]

Sometimes College Republicans have too much fun. Presently, CR’s usually dominate student political groups on most campuses. The Left is lethargic and the only cores remaining are tenured Marxist 60’s professors who are retiring in droves. Since 9/11 a new generation of CR’s in rapidly impacting California politics. Already, graduated CR’s are holding important posts in the CRP and with up and coming politicos.

At San Francisco State University the CR’s are on fire. Besides suing the Administration,… Read More