"I don’t think Democrats should mention the T-word for two or three years"

Rep. Jim Cooper D-TN

Jim Cooper is actually probably the least liberal Democrat in Congress. He has actually voted for many of the earmark reductions that I or Jeff Flake (R-AZ) have offered. But what he said here is very revealing. The "T-word" of course is taxes. The message is that Democrats ought to wait until after the next election before they do what they really want to do because raising taxes is not popular. In other words, hide your real agenda from the public because they won’t like what they hear. I have often said that the greatest fearfor Republicans is that the public won’t understand what we’re saying. Democrats, on the other hand, fear that the public will understand what they are… Read More

I am blogging live from the Balboa Bay Club right at the water’s edge here at the beautiful Newport Harbor, in the heart of Newport Beach.

Congressman John Campbell represents an amazing House seat, that spans from Newport Beach all of the way down the coast to Dana Point. He is having the regular gathering of his Congressional Club, and I am pleased to be here supporting John. He has been and outstanding United States Representative.

Campbell’s special guest is a mutual close friend, John Fund, an editorial board member of the Wall Street Journal. We frequently feature John’s writings on our blog page, and he is one of our most honored “Golden Pen” award winners on our main page.

Fund’s remarks were on a myriad of topics, starting with what impact Rupert Murdock’s aquisition of the Wall Stret Journal. He thinks the effects will be positive — especially an anticipated short-term infusion of funds into the Journal.

John talked about the Presidential primaries – both the Democratic and Republican side. After spending time talking about “Hillary-zilla and “O-Bambi”… Read More

The slugfest for AD 60 continues with Curt Hagman earning the endorsement of State Sen. Bob Margett. Margett represents most of the 60th and cited Hagman’s fundraising and service as the reasons for his endorsement. See previous post with links to other posts here.… Read More

A h/t to the Romney Campaign for uploading this footage… (With Romney are two of his prominent California supporters — State Senator Mark Wyland, and former Assemblyman Tony Strickland. The latter wins the "best positioning behind Romney while the cameras are rolling" award.) … Read More

How bout some quick math here: 54+27+1=Budget

2/3 vote minimum required to pass a budget in both houses, 54 in the Assembly, 27 in the Senate and the Guv’s signature once the blue pencil has been put away.

In the Assembly are: 48 Dems, 32 Reps.

In the Senate are: 25 Dems, 15 Republicans.

Senate Republicans call for improvements to the budget document that came from the Assembly $700 mill [or more] upside down, that it be truly balanced on a "non-election year, non-get-out-of- town" excuse basis…a goal that many columnists, editors and opinion leaders have shared publicly.

So, what do we get?

The same tired, lazy math equation every year that says, in the Assembly,54 equals 48 Dems plus callingout 6 Reps to hold their noses and vote it out with mostly Dem priorities and spending habits.

That formula in the Senate: 25 Dems, plus catcalls from the Left all over the state to get 2 Reps to capitulate on a budget,to ‘kick the can down the road’ one more year and watch the ’08-’09 budget blow up big time in all our faces.… Read More

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s "Beat up Republicans in their district" tour continues as he spent the morning in Kern County, the home of Republican State Senator Roy Ashburn. I don’t think the Governor’s approach is working… Senator Ashburn just posted this up on the web…

POLITICAL REALITY – By Senator Roy Ashburn

Senate Republicans in Sacramento have been roundly criticized for refusing to approve an irresponsible state budget. This week Governor Schwarzeneggerhas beentraveling the state seeking to put pressure on us in our own districts. It won’t work.

The voice of the Senate Republicans resonates… Read More

Over at his Citizens for the California Republican website, State Senator Tom McClintock has posted an outstanding column with a little bit of "budget terminology 101" an some ominous numbers foreshadowing challenges ahead.

My eyes were drawn to the last part of what he wrote, and I am reprinting it below:

HOW DID YOUR LOCAL MEMBER OF CONGRESS CAST THEIR VOTES ON FIFTY SEPARATE OPPORTUNITIES TO STRIP EGREGIOUS PORK OUT OF FEDERAL SPENDING BILLS? Perhaps one of the most influential and important groups in Washington that is dedicated to market-based economic principles, and cutting government spending, is the Club for Growth. Of the handful of key websites that our FR team goes to every morning when we compile news of interest, the CfG’s site is one of the best.

The Club for Growth has compiled a RePORK Card on how all of the members of the United States House of Representatives voted on 50 anti-pork amendments that were introduced on the floor of Congress. Over the past many weeks, Democrats were moving out all of the mammoth appropriations (spending) bills that provide… Read More