Measure D is ascheme on the February ballot that "updates" the utility tax in Pasadena to include email, digital downloads as well asInternet and cell phone use. Freedomworks run by former Congressman Dick Armey have targeted the tax for defeat.

The tax effort comes as Pasadena continues to have a huge ballot surplus. Godspeed Freedomworks.… Read More

After helping our friend Hugh Hewitt through security and to the “spin room” Nick and I decided, with a while to go before the debate, to pay our respects to the Gipper.

As I write this, we’re beside his memorial, where President Reagan sleeps forever. On the memorial is a quote from Reagan, that reads: “I know in my heart that man is good, that what is right wull always eventually triumph and there is purpose and worth to each and every life.”

Stationed around the burial site are Cub Scouts (Troop 3732) asking us not to take any photos today.

Reflecting here, it is apparent that there will be no other President who will live up to Ronald Reagan. Nor should anyone try. He was one of a kind…… Read More

Nick and I have been “working” the spin room for a while now. The big “to do” was the press conference where Rudy Giuliani threw his support to John McCain. We had virtually front row seats for the action. I’ve done quite a few media interviews, and CRP Chairman Ron Nehring has been doing twice as many… T-minus 71 minutes ’til the debate…… Read More

Governor Schwarzenegger just did a brief media availability in the Spin Room. he made some general comments about how the field of candidates is winnowing, and he also lauded the decision to move CA’s Presidential Primary up to February. The Governor said that he will be appearing at an event tomorrow with McCain. When asked by SF Chronicle reporter Carla Marinucci if he would be endorsing McCain, the Governor, wearing a big grin, was coy, and said that he had nothing to announce today… He did add that the dynamics of the race have changed, and that he had not wanted to weigh in with both Giuliani and McCain, both of whome had been helpful to him, in the race. T-minus 47 minutes to the debate…… Read More

Nothing. This is getting irritating.… Read More

We’ll assume that FR readers who care are watching the debate live, or will catch the video stream at CNN.com. Nick and I are so close…but yet so far. We’re upstairs in the Spin Room, which is just a few hundred feet from the Air Force One hanger where the debate is taking place. So far, 25 minutes into the debate, our point made below that there is no Ronald Reagan in the race is being reinforced. Neither Nick nor myself have been impressed thus far.… Read More

This is hot off the presses from Team McCain:

CALIFORNIA LEADERSHIP TEAM State Chair The Honorable Bill Jones – Former California Secretary of State Honorary Vice Chairs Mayor Alan Autry, Fresno Sheriff Lee Baca, Los Angeles County The Honorable James Brulte – Former State Senate… Read More

From today’s Wall Street Journal Political Diary E-mail:

The Post-Arnold?

Meg Whitman, the retiring chairman of the Internet auction site eBay, is telling colleagues she has no current plans to run for governor of California as a Republican in 2010 when Arnold Schwarzenegger is termed out of office. But my California sources tell me the 53-year-old corporate powerhouse caught the political bug this year raising money for Mitt Romney, with whom she worked at the venture capital firm Bain & Co.

This month, Ms. Whitman made the rounds of key Republican groups in the state and got a warm reception. She would bring a sterling record of running eBay for a decade along with the advantage of being a fresh face on the California… Read More