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Michael Der Manouel, Jr.

A Party With Nothing To Do

I read today’s article about the State GOP having to eliminate funding for local County party operations and it confirmed to me what I have believed in every cycle since 2002 – the State Party literally has nothing to do in 2008.

There is no statewide election. Neither side will contest the Presidential race in California. There are maybe five State legislative seats that could change hands either way – although none of them have in the past two election cycles. Some in leadership have to pretend to like what the Governor is doing although nobody really does.

This isn’t the fault of current or past State GOP leaders, and this isn’t, and never had been about social issues. California’s demographics have stampeded right over the top of the GOP and there is nothing we can do about it. Although the citizens of the State showed in 2003 that they have a pain tolerance level, and Gray Davis exceeded it, they don’t seem to be nearly alarmed at what the current Governor has allowed to happen to State finances. The GOP won’t be able to use financial… Read More

Jon Fleischman

DeVore Shelves Nuclear Power Initiative – For Now…

As FR readers are well aware, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore this year authored a ballot iniatiative that, if passed, would allow for the construction of new nuclear power plants in some parts of California. Despite the fact that this source of power has proven to be safe (there have been no significant radiation leaks from reactors in a very, very long time and the technology used in these plants only gets better), and despite the fact that nuclear power is among the sources of energy that contributes the least to the amount of human-produces carbon into the air (for those who buy the global warming alarmist spin), DeVore was unable to garner sufficient support to move this measure forward for the 2008 election. I asked the Assemblyman to share with FR readers his thoughts…

Overturning California’s nuclear power ban Jerry Brown signed into existence in 1976 is going to take a sustained effort – and, that is what I intend toRead More

Mike Spence

Giving Thanks for Killing Human Embryos

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

Jon Fleischman

Duke Cunningham – The Traitor Almost Ruined My Thanksgiving

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

Jon Fleischman

Today’s Commentary: Duke Cunningham – The Traitor Almost Ruined My Thanksgiving

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

Jon Fleischman

The Real Turkey? It’s the Chinese Government!

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

Jon Fleischman

Today’s Commentary: The Real Turkey? It’s the Chinese Government!

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

Jon Fleischman

Water Bond Discussions Scuttled

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