Senate President Don Perata’s embarrassment and legal exposure continues to grow as "his" recall effort against State Senator Jeff Denham continues to spiral to new depths of unethical, inappropriate and probably illegal activity.

Last week we brought you exclusive audio recordings of recall-petition circulators admitting that they were from out of the district, which is against California state law. You can check that out here.

Today, in an even more starting and brazen display of stupidity, we have obtained an audio recording that we’re told is the answering machine of one of the senior managers of the signature gathering effort.

**There is more – click the link**

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At the holiday time, you should always endeavor to give a gift greater than the one you receive.

I’m not the only one who (see Jim Battin’s post below this one) has been "elfing around" — Jim’s been at it, too. And with two of his good friends.

Check Jim and his friends out here.… Read More

The California Republican Assembly has officially endorsed the Voters FIRST Redistricting initiative. The vote was nearly unanimous, with only a single dissenting vote.

The Initiative, which is due to begin circulating petitions shortly, takes the drawing of legislative district lines out of the hands of the legislature and gives it to an Independent Commission composed of Republicans, Democrats and Independents randomly selected from a pre-qualified list of volunteers.

I know people are wondering how CRA can support an initiative endorsed by the Governor and Common Cause. Clearly, CRA is no fan of these two or some of the other groups supporting the initiative.

Some of the criticisms from a few Republicans include that it doesn’t include Congress. I wish it did. The reality is this is the only initiative on the topic that might qualify and pass out there. It isn’t perfect but it is a step in the right direction.

Want proof?

The initiative has drawn heavy fire from Democrat party activists like Bill Cavala, who predicted it could cost Democrats 6 Assembly seats and 2 Senate seats, and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez’s spokesman Steve… Read More

Nominations are coming in for "most creative holiday card" from political firms. Below are links to two great contenders — the first from the Federal Strategy Group (managing partner Jason Roe, former FR Beltway Correspondent) and the second from Bieber Communications (owner Jim Bieber is a longtime friend of the FR).

Check them out!… Read More

The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee today announced its California Congressional District Chairs. Giuliani campaigned throughout the state Monday and Tuesday with stops in the San Francisco Bay area, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. It is a strong statement for any Presidential campaign in California to be organized at the Congressional District level. With our district-by-district delegate selection process, the candidates who focus locally will have a big leg up… Mike Harris, CD 1 Geri Byrne, CD 2 Erik Christeson, CD 3 Adam Willoughby, CD 4 Sandy May Stultz, CD… Read More

The San Francisco school board voted tonight to allow the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps to operate at least one more year in the public schools. Activist groups, including Code Pink, have been agitating to have the group thrown out of the schools. Never mind that the school district gets close to $1 million to run the program ($1.7 million, which they split with feds). Never mind that three-quarters of the students involved with the program told the district that the program made them feel "safe and appreciated in high school” while only 16 percent reported being interested in a career in the military. And never mind that most of the kids use the JROTC marching drills to meet their PE requirements. Code Pink told the SF Chronicle that the kids "should have a choice of better things to do." Just not the "choice" to join JROTC. So typical of the Left.

At the same meeting, the school board approved a new… Read More

Mimi Walters knows all too well what a formidable opponent Jim Gibson can me. In Mimi’s first and ultimately successful run for the Assembly, she won in a three-way primary. While most pundits saw then-OC Supervisor Tom Wilson as Mimi’s primary opponent, it was ultimately Gibson, a school board trustee from Vista, in San Diego County, that ran second.

The 73rd Assembly District, while mostly in South Orange County, takes in a sizable chunk of Northern San Diego County.

Fast forward to the not-so-distant past, and the special election for the 35th State Senate District, vacated by John Campbell when he replaced Chris Cox in Congress (I know, terribly confusing). Dana Point City Councilwoman Diane Harkey ran a strong, conservative campaign against Assemblyman Tom “son of the open primary” Harman. Harman eeked out a victory by a handful of votes…

Fast forward to the present. Mimi Walters is now the front-runner in a bid for the 33rd State Senate GOP primary, where Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman is term-limited out of office. Thus we once again have an open 73rd… Read More

Sending a strong message to the lesser known and/or lesser qualified GOP candidates mulling the race, the San Diego County Republican Party last night unanimously endorsed former Assemblyman and currently-on-leave Judge Jan Goldsmith for San Diego City Attorney. The momentum has built against incumbent Mike Aguirre, whose mouth-shooting and media-grabbing can’t-help-himself tactics have turned what was once a potential easy re-election into one of the races to watch next year. Goldsmith brings high credibility to the race. Aguirre, who called for a complete evacuation of San Diego during the October wildfires, is now on the end of an effort — complete with bumper stickers — to "Evacuate Aguirre."

The Party press:

The Republican Party of San Diego County unanimously voted to endorse Judge Jan Goldsmith for San Diego City Attorney on Monday night.

"Judge Goldsmith is exactly the kind of City Attorney that San Diego needs. Someone with a well-earned reputation for independence and integrity. His experience, competence and thoughtful demeanor are critical… Read More