With the announcement yesterday that Assemblyman George Plescia is supporting the younger Hunter for Congress, I asked myself how the endorsements seem to be flowingthus far among the candidates. That is, if endorsements amount to a hill of beans when it’s all done.

Santee Councilman Brian Jones seemed to get out early, locking in a number of East County local electeds. Many of those folks, if they had been asked to stay neutral until Duncan D. returned from Afghanistan so they could meet him, may have felt at least temporarily obligated to do so. But, Congressman Hunter was tied up in a larger campaign. So, the person doing the asking was Jones, who was all over the place garnering support fromhis fellow locals.

County Board of Ed President Bob Watkinshas nailed down some non-East County but significant locals like Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox and County Supervisor Ron Roberts. Given Watkins’ long service with the Lincoln Club, he no doubt is more prone to getting early support from the "downtown SD establishment."… Read More

Today’s Los Angeles Times editorial opposing completion of the 241 tollroad led me to wonder if a) they let California Coastal Commission staffer Mark Delaplaine ghosted the editorial for them or b) they have ever actually been to the San Onofre State Beach.

For example, the editorial states:

As planned, the toll road would cut through a wilderness preserve in eastern Orange County and then traverse the length of a narrow, pristine canyon that makes up most of San Onofre State Beach, one of the most popular California state parks.

Most Southern Californians have never been to San Onofre State Beach, so if they were to rely on hysterical editorials they can be forgiven for thinking completing the 241 entails paving over paradise.

For those who haven’t seen the "pristine" ""wilderness preserve" park the LA Times rhapsodizes about, I’ll post some pictures.

Here’s a pristine stand of old growth power lines along the proposed route of… Read More

In old western days when settlers found themselves surrounded by hostile forces (I’m so P.C) they would circle the wagons.

Now in Los Angeles after years of losing battle after battle with the labor bosses, LA’s businesses are circling the wagons.

The local business federation is trying to organize and be as political active as the unions that control the city of L.A.

A good way to start would for businesses to stop giving ammo to the Democratic politicians that kowtow to the unions. Try that too. Partner.… Read More

SacBee Reporter Shane Goldmacher asks, "Does a newspaper endorsement matter?"

He has a blog post up, and also lists newspaper endorsements for and against the current statewide ballot measures.

The short answer is yes, but less than it has in the past, and more than it should. I think their primary utility these days is that they are used in this voter contact programs of the various ballot measure and candidate campaigns, to advocate for their position.

That said, I will make the case for why they shouldn’t matter…

One thing that I have learned over time is that behind "newspaper endorsements" are a group of very real human beings that make up that paper’s endorial board, and these folks typically decide on the paper’s endorsements.

Well, for some people, I suppose it is possible that their political party, or ideological persuasion, or philosophy on life, politics and public policy happen to mirror those of their local paper’s editorial board. I suspect, though, that this is rare.

Although it is… Read More

They’ve called Florida for John McCain. He’s ahead of Romney by about four percentage points. Giuliani is way behind. Drudge is even reporting that Rudy may drop out as soon as tomorrow, likely endorsing McCain.

Congratulations to the Arizona Senator and his supporters. Now on to Super Tuesday…… Read More

[Publisher’s Note: Senator Denham’s Commentary, below, is an invitation to a conference being put on this Wednesday hosted by Americans for Prosperty, a great organization. PLEASE note that the Senator’s column does NOT indicate a change in our long-standing tradition to not feature invitations to upcoming events on this site. Translation: Please do not send us information on your club or organization’s upcoming events as we are not equipped to post all of them. Thanks for your understanding — Flash]

Defending the American Dream State Senator Jeff Denham

In just two days, on Wednesday, January 30 there is an event… Read More

Hopefully soon we’ll be featuring some television advertisements from GOP Presidential contenders that are airing in California — although time is running out.

That said, I’ve been keeping an eye on the various ads being run over in Florida, where things are totally insane right now.

I LOVED the ad below, by Rudy Giuliani, that he just unveiled today because it goes to one of my pet peeves — GOP candidates who tout endorsements from newspaper editorial boards.

EARTH TO CANDIDATES — Editorial Boards of major newspapers are almost always stacked with liberal elitists who, when they endorse in a GOP primary of any type, are dabbling into a primary in which none of them will actually be voting.

Anyways, in Giuliani’s ad below, he takes the issue head on! THAT is Moxie. Good for Rudy. … Read More

Nothing. But one of my friends got a pro-Prop 93 piece featuring the Governor with some bizarre color schemes.… Read More