Out of Thin Air… The departure of Ken King from the 52nd Congressional race may have been mysterious and quiet, but the "potential" candidacy of County Supervisor Dianne Jacobfor theopenhouse seat created quite a buzz last week. It proves once again that political rumors are often fueled by their own hot air.

Jacob said long ago she would not be running for Congress, and — despite the fervent grist mill — absolutely nothing has changed in that regard. None of it amounted to anything other than the same folks talking to each other and building much ado out of nada. In fact, I wasn’t even going topost a thing about it, but the anonymous SD411 decided yesterday it was an entry on Red County SD.

BTW, Jacob was in the ROV the very first day of filing, the Monday before last, to pull her papers for re-election. With $400k on hand, there is also a rumor afloat that she might be hard to… Read More

A quick update from the State GOP Convention… Delegates overwhelmingly re-adopted a strong, conservative pro-life, pro-family platform. Also, in a very competitive race for Republican National Committeeman, former CRP Chairman Shawn Steel defeated incumbent Tim Morgan, the current National Treasurer of the Party (the vote was 595 to 380). Also elected without contest Treasurer Keith Carlson (reelected) Secretary Steve Baric and National Committeewoman Linda Ackerman (outgoing National Committeewoman Barbara Alby endorsed Ackerman for her seat). Congrats to all!… Read More

As anticipation grows over a possible Tom McClintock run in the 4th CD, there is a strong presence here at the CRP convention in favor of his candidacy. Greeting delegates and guests when they enter the registration area are two huge “Draft Tom” signs. Supporters are asked to sign their name to the signs, expressing their encouragement for McClintock’s campaign. “Draft Tom” stickers are on the lapels of many attendees (including this excited 4th CD resident). Talk amongst attendees is that our conservative standard bearer could throw his hat in the ring as early as this week. Supporters are anxiously awaiting the announcement and the buzz at the convention is that we could soon be referring to Senator McClintock as Congressman McClintock.

Based on the platform battles at this convention, it becomes increasingly obvious that now, more than ever, we need more articulate, committed conservatives in our state legislature and congress. Thankfully, the CRP’s platform committee successfully hammered out a platform that maintains our conservative principles and addresses current issues facing our state. As a member of congress, McClintock would provide the sound… Read More

Well I did it again. I’ve taken another step in making the world safer from global warming.

We proudly present SB 1374………..

… Read More

Businessman Ken King, owner of San Diego Pools, has decided against running in the open 52nd congressional race (Hunter seat). Although the rumor has floated for several days, there has been no confirming statement from the campaign. Today, however, two independent sources acknowledged King’s decision. I have a call into King for a possible statement.

The current remaining GOP field includes Marine Captain Duncan D. Hunter, Santee Councilman Brian Jones and County Board of Ed President Bob Watkins. The Democrats include former El Cajon Planning Commissioner Vickie Butcher and retired Navy Commander Mike Lumpkin.… Read More

This weekend the California Republican Party is holding its biannual convention in San Francisco!

As such, I’m at the convention (actually sitting in a Board of Directors Meeting) so blogging (from me) will be light…… Read More

I had a chance to meet Elizabeth Hill, the Legislative Analyst, last December at the joint legislative retreat of Senate and Assembly Republicans. She is a remarkably pleasant person, and clearly someone who has a grasp of state fiscal issues. That said, I have to say that I was extremely disappointed at the "Alternative Budget" that her office released yesterday, that is the source of so many MSM news stories today. Why the disappointment? Because Hill in a very antiseptic way is looking at the gap between projected state incoming and projected state spending, and is making proposals to "fill the gap" with a combination of spending cuts and de facto tax increase (by slashing existing tax credits) and proposing more fee increases. In other words, Hill is siding solidly on the side of "growing" state government to deal with what we have said all along is an over-spending problem. If you go back over the last few budgets, you will see that there has been a *massive* increase in state spending, that is the root of the problem. It is completely unfair to… Read More

According to the LAO, the only way out of our budget mess is raising taxes. And here’s another shocker—the Democrats think her recommendations are BRILLANT! Oh, and so does George Skelton.

None of this is a surprise. Nor is the fact that the budget gap continues to grow. It all comes down to Gov. Schwarzenegger.

Many of us here on the pages of the Flashreport have been disappointed with many decisions that have come out of the Governor’s Office in the past couple of years. We’re not happy with the people—effectively Gov. Gray Davis’ top staffers—with whom the governor has filled his office (at the same time, there some good people continue to work on the governor’s behalf, both in and out of the horseshoe). But the real test of the governor’s leadership—and his ability to stand by his word to the people of… Read More