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Jon Fleischman

The GOP Stopped the Bush/Kennedy Amnesty Plan. And what’s up with the WSJ Ed Board?

As we go into a quiet weekend, with all of America comforted by the fact that Paris Hilton is back behind bars, we’re left to contemplate the aftermath of the so-far unsuccessful attempts by President Bush, Teddy Kennedy and others to push through the federal immigration amnesty package.

A couple of weeks ago, it looked like passage through the Senate, while a rocky road, was a likely one. But over the last couple of weeks, despite a barrage of misleading messaging from the White House and other sources, somehow trying to say that amnesty isn’t amnesty, enough GOP Senators came together (whether through enlightenment, impact from an intense grassroots lobbying effort, or a combination of the two) to prevent the matter from coming to a final vote in the Senate. Second only to the fact that this ill-advised bill was so strongly supported by a Republican President to whom I devoted the 2000 election cycle when I worked as Executive Director of the California Republican Party was the rhetoric coming from the otherwise reliable stable of conservative/libertarian thought over on the Wall Street Journal editorial board. This fine group… Read More

Mike Spence

“I have the best preparation you could want for going to Congress. I work in a psychiatric hospital.”

That’s the quote from Green Party 37th Congressional DistrictCandidateDaniel Abraham Brezenoff. One part of the debate between the candidates focused on what leading canidates said or didn’t say about each others mother. A fun read here.Read More

Jon Fleischman

Today’s Commentary: The GOP Stopped the Bush/Kennedy Amnesty Plan. And what’s up with the WSJ Ed Board?

As we go into a quiet weekend, with all of America comforted by the fact that Paris Hilton is back behind bars, we’re left to contemplate the aftermath of the so-far unsuccessful attempts by President Bush, Teddy Kennedy and others to push through the federal immigration amnesty package.

A couple of weeks ago, it looked like passage through the Senate, while a rocky road, was a likely one. But over the last couple of weeks, despite a barrage of misleading messaging from the White House and other sources, somehow trying to say that amnesty isn’t amnesty, enough GOP Senators came together (whether through enlightenment, impact from an intense grassroots lobbying effort, or a combination of the two) to prevent the matter from coming to a final vote in the Senate. Second only to the fact that this ill-advised bill was so strongly supported by a Republican President to whom I devoted the 2000 election cycle when I worked as Executive Director of the California Republican Party was the rhetoric coming from the otherwise reliable stable of conservative/libertarian thought over on the Wall Street Journal editorial board.… Read More

Jon Fleischman

BREAKING: Postmus to Pass Batan of San Bernardino County GOP Leadership to Ovitt

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

Jon Fleischman

Congratulations Orange County Fair Board Director Mary Young!

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

Mike Spence

Maldonado Votes for Nanny State Smoking Bill, While Four Dems Vote No!

SB7 allows cops to give $100tickets to drivers who are smoking in a car with children under 17. Is this really the proper role of government? We all know that houses are next. While, I’m a non-smoker this is not what government should be doing.

What’s worse is when Republicans go along with the Nanny State while even Democrats are voting no.FOUR Democrats voted against SB 7 (Correa, Ducheny, Machado, Negrete McCleod). Yet Abel Maldonado voted yes.

Maybe when he ran for controller he thought it was a position thatcontrolled every aspect of people’s lives.… Read More

Barry Jantz

Justice is Served….Again

The Hiltons prove they are not as powerful as the Kennedys, after all…..

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Paris Hilton was sent screaming and crying back to jail Friday after a judge ruled that she must serve out her sentence behind bars rather than in the comfort of her Hollywood Hills home. "It’s not right!" shouted Hilton, who violated her probation in a reckless driving case. "Mom!" she cried out to her mother. Read the entire AP story.

Instead of running a photo of the convict, here instead is a link to the MADD victims tribute website.… Read More

Jon Fleischman

Leg. Counsel: Charges In Gov’s Health Plan Are Taxes NOT Fees!

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