SOME THOUGHTS ON LAST NIGHT’S DEBATE

Much has been written about last night’s debate, which you can find on our blog, on the main news page, and elsewhere around the internet. I will just make a few observations, take them for what they are worth: CNN should have dropped the pretenses of inviting Ron Paul to the debate as an equal candidate — I’ve never seen a serious politician with millions of supporters around the country treated with less respect. Anyone ever heard of equal time? Mitt Romney needed to keep John McCain and his positions on issues at the center of this debate — and he didn’t. John McCain, as the presumptive front-runner needed to keep his cool, and except for the Reagan question at the end, did just that. Mike Huckabee continued to demonstrate a level of charm that continues to make him popular enough to be a real pain to Romney. Ron Paul’s reference to the gold standard immediately made everyone think, "Nicholas Cage in National Treasure." The seemingly endless McCain-Romney … Read More

The San Francisco Chronicle might get a Pulitzer. No kidding, last weekend after several decades of missing the boat, brave reporters Matthai Kuruvila, Kevin Fagan and Jaxon Van Derbeken finally exposed the entrenched link between a local terrorist Muslim organization and key Democrat Bay area leaders.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/qws/ff/qr?term=your+black+muslim+bakery&Submit=S&sa=Search&st=s&Go.x=25&Go.y=7

… Read More

FR Publisher Jon Fleischman and FR Managing Editor Emeritus Nicholas Romero took a trip to the Reagan Library to take in the Presidential debate, and experience life in the "spin room" with all of the media…

Check out some photos from our trip here.… Read More

The report is here. We’ve been in touch with Romney’s campaign, and as soon as they are forthcoming with any details (size of buy, perhaps some video of the ads), we’ll get it up.… Read More

No details yet on where this is up… At 90 seconds, it’s long for tv… But then, it’s all what you can afford…. … Read More

I have been with Governor Romney (listen for our FR Podcast interview tomorrow), and only now am able to let readers know that Governor Schwarzenegger did, in fact, endorse Senator McCain this morning.

As an elected officer of the State GOP, I have not endorsed any candidate. But I will offer McCain some unsolicited advice. Since you are trying to garner conservative support in the final days, you should actually take Arnold on the road to other states, where his status as a celebrity will help your momentum. Here in California, “post partisan” Arnold has worked hard to alienate conservatives (after counting on their support in two statewide elections).

Senator, perhaps have your campaign strategists contact the folks trying to pass the Indian Gambling Compacts on the same ballot. They, too, are trying to move conservatives to support their cause. They’ve pulled their ads featuring the Governor…

Don’t get me wrong – good for you in receiving Arnold’s support. I just don’t think that he will be a good messenger to the very GOP voters you are trying to attract to your candidacy.… Read More

I’m on the road, so here is the latest off the transom from the freedom fighters at No on 93: Desperate Nunez Contributes $1.1 Million to Yes on 93 to Save Speakership Sacramento – Apparently Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez believes it’s a matter of life or death whether he can keep his powerful post until 2014 by passing Proposition 93. At least that’s what recent television advertising by the Yes on 93 campaign suggested. Nunez’s team used EMT Tim Heard to tie the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina and wildfires in California to the need to change term limits in their advertising. Who would have thought so much was on the line on whether the Speaker and his fellow Sacramento legislators can lengthen their terms in office? But then again, Proposition 93 has always been about Fabian Nunez and his lust for the power, perks and personal financial gain of public office. So it’s no wonder that a committee controlled by Nunez now reports contributing a total of almost $1.1 million to the Yes on Proposition 93 campaign. Obviously, the Speaker has waited until the last possible moment to contribute a total amount in excess of $1… Read More

A couple of weeks ago, I noted that former Congressman Doug Ose had decided to run. Now it’s official…sort of. Ose is set to declare Friday in Auburn and has been seen at numerous events in the Roseville area over the past few weeks.

The Roundup carried the following report: "Meanwhile, Doug Ose has decided that the term limits pledge he upheld when he gave up his seat was not a lifetime one, meaning Rico won’t have an easy dance in the primary for John Doolittle’s seat."

A similar report ran in a Sacramento Bee story as well…

It looks like Ose has positioned himself well — he’s got $460,000 left in his Congressional campaign account; and two weeks ago, moderate Mike Holmes dropped out of the race. Holmes praised Ose in his statement to the press, leaving the impression he was clearing out in favor of Ose.

So it looks like another showdown between Ose and conservative former State Senator… Read More