Thanksgiving provides each of us with an opportunity to reflect on our lives, and give thanks to the Lord for all of the things that he does for each of us, and for everything. It’s a great opportunity to spend time with our families, and to give thanks to them for the support they give to us. It is also an opportunity to be a bit reflective on our lives, and on those things that are important. But I won’t wax on, as this is not a "Thanksgiving Day Message" from the FlashReport. But it was this general Thanksgiving "happy and appreciate state of mind" that was interrupted yesterday for some time by disgraced, imprisoned former Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham. I am not sure what it was that caused me to think about Duke yesterday. Perhaps the ongoing string of articles that appear in the San Diego U-T and the North County Times as they track the trials of those involved with Duke’s dastardly deeds. Then again, maybe when you are thinking about… Read More

Thanksgiving provides each of us with an opportunity to reflect on our lives, and give thanks to the Lord for all of the things that he does for each of us, and for everything. It’s a great opportunity to spend time with our families, and to give thanks to them for the support they give to us. It is also an opportunity to be a bit reflective on our lives, and on those things that are important. But I won’t wax on, as this is not a "Thanksgiving Day Message" from the FlashReport. But it was this general Thanksgiving "happy and appreciate state of mind" that was interrupted yesterday for some time by disgraced, imprisoned former Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham. I am not sure what it was that caused me to think about Duke yesterday. Perhaps the ongoing string of articles that appear in the San Diego U-T and the North County Times as they track the trials of those involved with Duke’s dastardly deeds. Then again, maybe when you are thinking about… Read More

That’s the message in my email box (you can see the paragraph below) from the Americans for Cures Foundation. Rather than thank God, as Thanksgiving was to be intended, they us want to be “thankful for the promise that stem cell research holds…” However, this is the sentence that caught my eye in the opening paragraph. “With the recent breakthrough in Oregon we could be closer to that day – but only if opponents do not successfully use the more recent skin cell research as a reason to stop embryonic stem cell research.” (italics added) Well, it is clear that they aren’t really thankful for stem cell research, just the kind that uses human embryos. If they were thankful for “stem cell research” why not include the “more recent skin cell research”? Oh wait that would jeopardizeTheir 3 billion dollars in state supported bonds. … Read More

Let us on this day give thanks to the Chinese government. What could be a more dreary way for the 8,000 men and women stationed on the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier and accompanying escort ships than to chart a circular course through the South China Sea? Well that is what they will be doing because, without explanation, the Chinese have abruptly cancelled permission for the liberty call that the Kitty Hawk was planned to make in Hong Kong this holiday weekend.

Makes you wonder if they will just as arbitrarily block Americans from attending this summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing… I can think of a whole lot of reasons to be critical of the Chinese government. But this is certainly the latest and greatest. What a bunch of jerks. Well, as you are enjoying a Thanksgiving Day feast today with family and friends, raise a glass to our American troops. From those in perelous danger… Read More

Let us on this day give thanks to the Chinese government. What could be a more dreary way for the 8,000 men and women stationed on the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier and accompanying escort ships than to chart a circular course through the South China Sea? Well that is what they will be doing because, without explanation, the Chinese have abruptly cancelled permission for the liberty call that the Kitty Hawk was planned to make in Hong Kong this holiday weekend.

Makes you wonder if they will just as arbitrarily block Americans from attending this summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing… I can think of a whole lot of reasons to be critical of the Chinese government. But this is certainly the latest and greatest. What a bunch of jerks. Well, as you are enjoying a Thanksgiving Day feast today with family and friends, raise a glass to our American troops. From those in perelous danger… Read More

My Coachella Valley Thanksgiving week relaxation aside, I did note this news. For those who have conjectured and wondered whether Duncan D. Hunter would be deactivated soon enough to legally campaign for the CD 52 seat, and for those who hoped he wouldn’t be, as well as for those conspiracists who have continued to say he has been nothing but a "place-holder" for his dad’s potential run once again in the case of short-lived presidential foray….

Dear Friends,

I have some wonderful news that I wanted to share with you. My husband, Capt. Duncan D. Hunter, will be returning home from Afghanistan on Thanksgiving Day! As you know, Duncan launched his campaign for Congress in the 52nd district just days before being called up for his third tour of duty since joining the U.S. Marine Corps after 9/11. We are very thankful for his safe return, and very proud of his service to our country.

In a few weeks Duncan will be off active duty and able to campaign full time for Congress. The missive from Margaret Hunter goes on to point supporters to a new… Read More

I just got off of the phone with Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman, who passed along that not only have official Senate meetings on the health care plan been scrapped for now as well, but also he said that the last-minute flurry of negotiations on a potential water-bond package have also been scuddled, due to a policy impasse.

"There won’t be anything on the water issue on this February’s ballot," said Ackerman. So the focus now likely will be on next November’s ballot…"

Whether the legislature is ultimately able to settle on something that can pass muster with a 2/3 vote in each house remains to be seen. Of course, to add to the challenge for those intent on coming up with a solution to our looming water-access problems…is the poor fiscal health of state government. So discussions on water policy will be taking place amidst the backdrop of a discussion of the need for significant cuts in state spending…… Read More

Yesterday the Federal Election Commission agreed on a so-called “safe-harbor” that would allow for issue ad spending without the usual FEC regulation during Federal election campaigns.

Under the newly adopted rule, an established nonprofit advocacy organization whose major purpose is not candidate elections, a corporation, or a union, can fund communications that mention a Federal candidate’s name, even during an election, where the communication contains no words of “express advocacy,” (i.e., “vote for,” “vote against,” “support,” “oppose,” etc.) and where the content of the communication focuses on a public policy issue and either urges a candidate to take a position on the issue or urges the public to contact the candidate about the issue.

The new rule isn’t much help to clever political consultants that want to start new nonprofit organizations for the purpose of intervening in an election with what liberals call “sham” election ads. However, it is a big help to existing nonprofit organizations that want to continue articulating their mission to the… Read More