Today the Governor announced some cost savings measures that include an immediate hiring freeze for state government. Estimated savings, according to the Governor, could reach $100 million. Good for the Governor — every little bit helps.

That having been said, to put the magnitute of our $15 billion (and growing) shortfall into perspective, we’d have to have this hiring freeze in place until 2158 to deal with the shortfall, not factoring in inflation, which would add decades onto that year.

The Governor has called on the legislature to make more cuts. The billion in cuts earlier in the week were a good start, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg…… Read More

Over the weekend, this FlashReport commentary evoked quite a bit of controversy and response. After an in-depth analysis of the RNC’s fundraising numbers, the FlashReport revealed that the RNC has been performing a "cashectomy" on California Republicans. In 2006, the RNC gave California just $204,101 out of the $37.5 million spent by the RNC in state party support. California ’s share was less than ½ of 1% of the RNC’s total state support, while Golden State donors gave over $12.9 million to the RNC.

Apparently there are some that dispute my research, saying that California received over $6.25 million in 2006. In order to make this true, one would have to look not at the RNC, but to the National Republican Congressional Committee, a separate organization.

Before we delve into the nitty-gritty, let me first offer this disclaimer. McCain-Feingold’s draconian campaign finance restrictions make it much harder for political parties to coordinate expenditures. It would be illegal for the RNC to transfer funds and… Read More

I have had the great privilege of representing Riverside County for 14 years – first in the Assembly and now in the Senate.

I just can’t express here well enough how honored and grateful I am to have had the opportunity to serve the people of the 37th Senate District. It’s been a once in a lifetime job – and I’m glad I had the opportunity to be involved.

I take my job and mypolitical beliefsvery seriously and I thought long and hard before I endorsed in my Senate seat.

After all, I am a voter in SD 37 and I want a conservative Republican I can always count on to represent me in the Senate. Someone I can trust to do the right thing.

Russ Bogh is that man. Yesterday, I stood with Russ and endorsed him for my seat. I’m very comfortable with my decision and know he’ll do a great job. Russ is a steady, solid conservative vote.

Here’smy statement we gave to the… Read More

The Race to 270 by Daron R. Shaw was written several years ago but is perfectly relevant in the political discussions occurring today.

Shaw is a Professor at the University of Texas at Austin. In 1999, he helped craft some of the techniques to be able to get then-Governor Bush to the magic number of 270 electoral college votes. He was also involved in the 2004 re-election campaign.

The subtitle of the book is "The Electoral College and the Campaign Strategies of 2000 and 2004." That is what this book is all about. The reading text is only 170 pages that are a quick read.

We all know that states like Texas, Utah, and Idaho were going to vote Republican. We also know that Massachusetts and New York were going Democrat. This book provides some good information on the way that the Bush, Gore, and Kerry campaigns determined the battleground states and what they did in them and why.

What Shaw does better than any other analysis I have read is to look at the… Read More

The Race to 270 by Daron R. Shaw was written several years ago but is perfectly relevant in the political discussions occurring today.

Shaw is a Professor at the University of Texas at Austin. In 1999, he helped craft some of the techniques to be able to get then-Governor Bush to the magic number of 270 electoral college votes. He was also involved in the 2004 re-election campaign.

The subtitle of the book is "The Electoral College and the Campaign Strategies of 2000 and 2004." That is what this book is all about. The reading text is only 170 pages that are a quick read.

**There is more – click the link**

View Full Commentary… Read More

Today the Presidential campaign of Senator John McCain announced the endorsements of California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring, and California’s Republican National Committeeman, Tim Morgan. McCain’s campaign announced the endorsement last week of California’s Republican National Comiitteewoman Barbara Alby.

These three are California’s three "Superdelegates" at the RNC Convention.… Read More

These Members of the California State Assembly have now also endorsed McCain (some had announced before, but this is a comprehensive list, apparently):

Michael N. Villines Assembly Republican Leader, 29th District

George Plescia Assemblyman, 75th District

Van Tran Assemblyman, 68th District

Greg Aghazarian Assemblyman, 26th District

John Benoit Assemblyman, 64th District

Tom Berryhill Assemblyman, 26th District… Read More

Former California Republican Party Chairman Shawn Steel was endorsed by the Orange County Republican Party tonight for National Committeeman.

The vote was overwhelmingly for Shawn.… Read More