If FR readers don’t already know it, now is a good time for you to ‘officially’ hear that former FlashReport Managing Editor Nicholas Romero (pictured to the right) has occupied a leadership role with the efforts to get former Tennesee Senator and Law & Order actor Fred Thompson into the race for the GOP Presidential nomination. For those that took the opportunity to make their way over to the "Draft Thompson" website (www.fred08.com), you would have seen Nick’s name featured as their contact for the Golden State.

Nick actually joined up as a volunteer with the draft Thompson movement back in early 2007, and he has been steadily working to marshall California Republicans for the Thompson cause. I’m sure that Nick’s efforts have helped generate some of the more than 50,000 online petitions that were filled out on the Draft Thompson site.

As we have all seen lately (here on… Read More

In reading about today’s continued persecution of poor Paris Hilton, I saw this in the SacBee.

"A former district attorney, Robert Philibosian, also represented Hilton. He said that the law supports the sheriff in making an independent decision on her custodial situation." See full article here.

Bob was appointed DA of Los Angeles County By Gerrge Deukmejian (Bob replaced John Van De Kamp who was elected Attorney General). I was honored to vote for him in 1984. Unfortunately he lost.

Bob has been Chair of theCRP Resolutions Committee for some time and also helps screen judicial candidates for support from the LA Lincoln Club.Now I know someone famous!… Read More

Republican Assemblyman Rick Keene submitted the healthcare proposal from Governor Schwarzenegger to the independent Legislative Counsel for an opinion on whether the charges proposed by the Governor on employers, hospitals and surgeons are a tax increase as defined by the California Constitution. Undoubtedly Keene had to submit this question to the Counsel’s office because the Governor, who campaigned with an iron-clad promise that he would never ever raise taxes, has been characterizing these charges as "fees" — arguing that that there is a ‘hidden tax’ on Californians (the ‘cost’ of covering uninsured Californians) and therefore these charges, because they are part of a plan that purports to reduce this ‘burden’ on all of us, is a fee and not a tax. What are the charges? Increased payroll taxes, and increased income taxes on hospitals and doctors! Well, it comes as no surprise that the Legislative Counsel has made it very clear that, "…the provider contribution that would be imposed pursuant to the proposal would not constitute a fee and, as a result, would be… Read More

I just got off the phone with San Bernardino County Republican Party Chairman Bill Postmus to confirm a statement issued by the party – Bill will be stepping down as chair of the organization he has successfully led through five election statewide elections.

In announcing his retirement, Postmus threw his support to County Supervisor Gary Ovitt, his County GOP Vice Chairman, to succeed him. The support from the popular Postmus virtually assures that Ovitt will be the next County Chairman.

Postmus, who has led the successful county GOP organization since he was elected in late 2003, was recently elected County Assessor for San Bernardino County.

Attached to this post is the email sent out by Postmus, which you can read. It really goes into much more detail.

I will close by saying that while no one can serve in these posts forever (they are volunteer positions, ya know) — it’s certainly too bad Bill could not. He’s a great guy, a good friend, a solid conservative who is passionate about the Grand Old Party, and is a dynamic leader. Fortunately he’ll still be around to help out the presumed new Chairman, Gary… Read More

Thankfully, unlike his appointments in Glenn County, Governor Schwarzenegger has seen fit to keep the Orange County Fair Board solidly Republican. His latest appointment, FR has learned, is our friend and the Orange County Republican Party’s Secretary Mary Young!

Here’s the official write-up on Mary:

Mary Young, 63, of Aliso Viejo, has been appointed to the Orange County Fair Board of Directors (32nd District Agricultural Association). She has owned Quiet Village Mobile Home Park and Las Brisas Apartments since 1990. Young is active in her community and is a member of the Republican Presidential Task Force, Orange County Youth Commission and is a former member of Choices/Teen Awareness. She founded and is past president of the Aliso Viejo Republican Women Federated. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Young is a Republican.

Congratulations Mary!… Read More

Update: After much debate, the assembly passes AB 8 out on a party line vote of 47-32.

One of my favorite arguments against was by Assemblywoman Audra Strickland. When speaking of a government run plan [the same government that has prison health care in receivership and Medi-cal in a shambles] promising higher quality, speedier access and lower costs she referred to a workplace poster that said. "Low Cost, Quality, Speed…Pick Any Two." Also, she compared to a Las Vegas buffet where you can pick from mediocre food, thechoices made by someone else for you, while the good stuff is elsewhere in short supply [rationing]

The effort by government to further takeover your health care choices rolls on. The Senate earlier passed the Don Perata bill, SB 48, 23-16, while we are currently debating the Assembly counterpart, AB 8 by The Speaker. Republicans are articulating our market, free choice proposals through floor amendments and reminders of our 18 bill package that were stopped in Committee on party line votes.… Read More

AB 16 passed today 44-28. To answer the question of how many Republican voted for a bill opposed by CFRW, CYR, YRFC and many pro-family groups is still at two (Emmerson, Huff). One Democrat voted no (Parra). See previous post on issue here. The following GOP Legislators actually stood up and opposed the bill. Joel Anderson, Doug La Malfa, Alan Nakanishi, Ted Gaines, Martin Garrick and Bonnie Garcia. Garcia was previously a co-sponsor, but became an opponent after amendments were added that ceded legislative authority to an unelected government official.

Audra Strickland was out there whipping the caucus for no votes as well.… Read More

The California Term Limits Defense Fund, the committee formed by term limit advocates to oppose any possible ballot measures to weaken California’s existing term limits law, announced earlier in the week that they had hired veteran political organizer Bob Adney (pictured) as its Executive Director. Upon hearing the news, I reached out to Adney to welcome him to his new post, and see if we could have a little "on the record" chat about him and his new post. Here is a write up of our Q & A… FR: So Bob, welcome to California! Why don’t you take a moment and ‘introduce yourself’ to FlashReport readers, perhaps with some of your past political involvement, and maybe a little bit about you personally?

Adney: I started my involvement in politics while in High School. A teacher… Read More