Late this afternoon, ten GOP contenders for the White House will be trying their hardest to make in impression at a debate at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley. The fact that the debate includes all ten candidates, and not just the three front runners, means that no single candidate is going to receive a significant amount of exposure during this event. You can be sure that each of the campaigns has figured out what message or theme they want to try to strike in what will be just a very few minutes. Don’t look to be overly impressed with the perfomances as I think that with 10 people vying for time, there will be little chance for anyone to really make one. I guess, especially with the lesser-known contenders, it will be fun to see them try to pick up some momentum by being a little bit more ‘outlandish’ — which should provide some interesting moments. As for McCain, Giuliani, and Romney — expect them to continue to emphasize the same campaign points that they have been making on the trail… As it has been said, Fred Thompson, who is speaking to the annual dinner of the Orange County Lincoln Club tomorrow night, is more likely to… Read More

Late this afternoon, ten GOP contenders for the White House will be trying their hardest to make in impression at a debate at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley. The fact that the debate includes all ten candidates, and not just the three front runners, means that no single candidate is going to receive a significant amount of exposure during this event. You can be sure that each of the campaigns has figured out what message or theme they want to try to strike in what will be just a very few minutes. Don’t look to be overly impressed with the perfomances as I think that with 10 people vying for time, there will be little chance for anyone to really make one. I guess, especially with the lesser-known contenders, it will be fun to see them try to pick up some momentum by being a little bit more ‘outlandish’ — which should provide some interesting moments. As for McCain, Giuliani, and Romney — expect them to continue to emphasize the same campaign points that they have been making on the trail… As it has been said, Fred Thompson, who is speaking to the annual dinner of the Orange County Lincoln Club tomorrow night, is more likely to… Read More

Okay, okay. After some e-mails for pictures, I’ve slowed down long enough to pull one off of the camera. I stopped in to chat with Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines yesterday… … Read More

On Tuesday Orange County Register columnist Frank Mickadeit wrote about the failed effort of state senator Jenny Oropeza to ban outdoor smoking on state beaches and in state parks. Mickadeit who is most concerned that enjoying a cigar on the beach could become illegal, quipped that had Oropeza found the votes for her bill he would have unleashed me on an "Oropeza Oppresses Girl Scouts" campaign. The reason…camp fires are far more noxious and produce much more lung damaging toxins. Perhaps camp fires are next?

The following well illustrates what my message/campaign would look like if I were to run such an effort.

Just in case the Senator decides to bring the issue back…she knows what she could be up against.… Read More

FIrst the debate won’t really change anything — Guiliani, McCain and Romney will still be the front-runners tomorrow (with Fred Thompson as a popular, undeclared alternative). Bottom line is that they have the money, organization and support to win votes and compete nationally.

There were no real losers. Everyone looked credible and serious — and, other than Cong. Ron Paul, mostly agreed on the issues.

While I have been impressed with Giuliani as a solid front-runner, Romney got the biggest boost from his performance at the just concluded Presidential debate. And, this being his de jure introduction to the nation, the time could not have been better for his campaign.

Romney looked Presidential, handled questions with aplomb and gave credible responses to critiques that he’d flipped on key issues.

McCain made no fatal mistakes — but hit no long drives either.

Rudy looked tentative and seemed to stumble over… Read More

In was really no surprise that long time California ‘insider’ Attorney General Jerry Brown, the former California Governor and Oakland Mayor used his office to pen an extremely biased Title and Summary for the Term Limits Weakening Measure that is being supported by termed-out legislative leaders Don Perata and Fabian Nunez. U.S. Term Limits is used to having to battle entrenched incumbents, who have used every means at their disposal to not have their legislative careers cut short by term limits reforms. So it is with a strong record of standing up to these entrenched politicians that tomorrow representatives of U.S. Term Limits will hold a press conference (10 am, the Hyatt Hotel across from the State Capitol) to announce litigation to take Brown’s chosen, biased wording to court. You have to wonder what Title and Summary Brown will put on two other ballot measures that may appear in February — one to end tax-free per diem payments for legislators, and the other to significant reign in the ability of… Read More

I am flying to Sacramento this morning to participate in a forum to discuss whether DTS voters should be participating in selecting delegates to the RNC convention (of course they shouldn’t!).

Every time I fly to and fro from the Capitol City, for a few years now, there is always some familiar face (or ten) on my flight. This morning I was able to say hello to former California Education Secretary and State Senator Marian Bergeson. She flying up for a California Transportation Commission meeting – she is a member…

We’ll see if anyone of note is on my late afternoon flight tomorrow afternoon!… Read More

I have confirmed that Mike Radlovic has dropped out of the race for the 60th Assembly District. Mike Radlovic, past chair of the San Gabriel Valley Lincoln Club and the runner up to Bob Pacheco in the 1998 race for the seat (It was open primary, Huff came in third) Mike would have been a formidable candidate. See here. His ability to self-fund and his long history of GOP involvement were obvious pluses. Apparently, he had locked up political consultant Jim Nygren. Nygren helped Huff to an upset in this race four years ago. He let him go. Nygren has since signed on with Curt Hagman. See my post on him here.

Other candidates include Larry Dick, who has sources say raised over 60K at a recent fundraiser. The first financials in this race will be interesting. Other possible candidates… Read More