Normally in this space we would have today’s political commentary. And there is plenty going on in the news on which to comment — a new redistricting proposal (that excludes redrawing U.S. House lines), the growing food fight between Speaker Fabian Nunez and the California Nurses Association, or Rep. Pete Starks’ apology after making an ass out of himself — to name a few. That said, these wildfires raging all over Southern California make it very difficult to just ‘dive in’ to political analysis, as if somehow today should be ‘business as usual’ for the FR. Like many, I have spent much time watching television, listening to the radio, and surfing the web, trying to stay up on what is going on, and where. I am overwhelmed with sympathy for people who are losing their homes, and awed by the bigger-than-life task of trying to manage and suppress all of these fires. It is clearly a testament to good firefighting skills that, given that well over 400,000 acres have burned (with over 900,000 people evacuated), that there has been so little loss of life. I know a significant number of people… Read More

Normally in this space we would have today’s political commentary. And there is plenty going on in the news on which to comment — a new redistricting proposal (that excludes redrawing U.S. House lines), the growing food fight between Speaker Fabian Nunez and the California Nurses Association, or Rep. Pete Starks’ apology after making an ass out of himself — to name a few. That said, these wildfires raging all over Southern California make it very difficult to just ‘dive in’ to political analysis, as if somehow today should be ‘business as usual’ for the FR. Like many, I have spent much time watching television, listening to the radio, and surfing the web, trying to stay up on what is going on, and where. I am overwhelmed with sympathy for people who are losing their homes, and awed by the bigger-than-life task of trying to manage and suppress all of these fires. It is clearly a testament to good firefighting skills that, given that well over 400,000 acres have burned (with over 900,000 people evacuated), that there has been so little loss of life. I know a significant number of people… Read More

It’s ‘raining’ ash downtown today. It leaves a disgusting film on you if you are outside for any period of time. Tourists, language students, and the homeless own the streets.

The homeless have actually gotten particularly aggresive… maybe because the ash and heat (it’s like 90 some odd degrees but no real sun) and maybe because the streets are pretty barren and they don’t feel restrained by crowds.… Read More

From today’s WSJ Political Diary E-mail:

Flaming…

Politics famously no longer stops at the water’s edge. It also apparently no longer pauses to let victims cope with the immediate effects of a natural disaster.

Speaking to reporters yesterday about a pending energy bill, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid declared: "As you know, one reason that we have the fires burning in Southern California is global warming. One reason the Colorado Basin is going dry is because of global warming," the eminent scientist explained. But Mr. Reid apparently realized he had overstepped and was already revising his theories a few minutes, claiming to a reporter: "I didn’t… Read More

I am very pleased to share with FR readers that Mindy Fletcher has joined the FlashReport team as a new statewide correspondent for our site. For those of you who do not know Mindy, she has a long history as a professional and an activist with the Republican Party. She played a key role in both the election and re-election of President Bush, serving as an official spokesman for the campaigns. Mindy also spent time working for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, with a stint as a Deputy Chief of Staff in the State Capitol, and as Deputy Campaign Manager for his re-election campaign.

I’ve know Mindy for years, and I am very excited to have her onboard. She’s conservative, smart, and has a good sense of humor, as well. She will provide a lot of great insight for us as she gets into the groove of blogging.

Please join me in welcoming Mindy. Her very first blog post is below…… Read More

No one in Great Britain would question whether a woman could be President. Point to Margaret Thatcher – the "Iron Lady" and ask if a woman can be the leader of a country. However, in America we are immersed in this debate.

This debate resurfaced on Tuesday when I attended the Governor and First Lady’s Conference on Women in Long Beach (which was terrific, by the way). There was alot of talk about Hillary Clinton’s candidacy and the potential to elect the first woman president. At a panel discussion that included the first female Governor of New Jersey Christine Whitman, the first female vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro and the first female White House press secretary Dee Dee Myers, I was struck by the dilemma facing me and most Republican women in this upcoming presidential election.

How can we be respectful of the fact that we finally have a woman running for president and at the same time oppose… Read More

*Today we ask all FR readers to take a moment and keep all of this immediately impacted by the expansive southland wildfires in their thoughts and prayers…*

We are pleased to present this outstanding commentary from Diana Ernst with the Pacific Research Institute.

The California legislature is in a special session on health care expected to last until mid-November, summoned by a governor who refuses to appreciate that tax hikes don’t equate with health reform. Thankfully, the governor recently vetoed Assembly Bill 8, which would have mandated that employers pay at least 7.5 percent of payroll towards health care, a tab that that many businesses find too expensive. … Read More

*Today we ask all FR readers to take a moment and keep all of this immediately impacted by the expansive southland wildfires in their thoughts and prayers…*

We are pleased to present this outstanding commentary from Diana Ernst with the Pacific Research Institute.

The California legislature is in a special session on health care expected to last until mid-November, summoned by a governor who refuses to appreciate that tax hikes don’t equate with health reform. Thankfully, the governor recently vetoed Assembly Bill 8, which would have mandated that employers pay at least 7.5 percent of payroll towards health care, a tab that that many businesses find too expensive.… Read More