I’m out and about today, but wanted to post up (via PDA) these appointments (3 Dems, 7 Reps) right away. More analysis to follow I’m sure, from our FR Team…

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Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces Senior Staff Appointments Continuing to build his leadership team following the election, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced appointments and promotions within his office for the new term. Governor Schwarzenegger today announced the appointments of Cynthia Bryant, deputy chief of staff and director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research; Alice Dowdin Calvillo, chief deputy cabinet secretary; Dan Dunmoyer, deputy chief of staff and cabinet secretary; Margaret Fortune, senior advisor to the Governor; Chris Kahn, deputy chief of staff and legislative secretary; Ross LaJeunesse, deputy chief of staff and senior advisor to the Governor; Luis Portillo, director of constituent affairs; Michael Prosio, chief deputy legislative secretary; Sean Walsh, senior advisor to the Governor and Daniel Zingale, senior advisor to the Governor and chief of staff to Maria Shriver. “As we begin a new… Read More

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has agreed to create and run anew project to be entitled "Coalition for a Conservative Majority" under the auspices of the American Conservative Union, the national conservative organization that is best know for its annual ratings of Congress and sponsorship of the yearly Conservative Political Action Conference. DeLay is known as a prodigious fundraiser, and was called "the most effective majority leader of the last 50 years" in terms of influencing legislation, by journalist Bob Novak. He will develop and implement a legislative strategy for the nonprofit ACU, and will join the Board of Directors of the organization.… Read More

Today funeral services will be held for Louise Leigh. Many of the activists in LA County and in the state recognize her as an important GOP volunteer. I met Louise when I was first elected to the LA County Central Committee. She convinced me I needed to tutor immigrants in English at a local church. She was also CRA Historian since 1969 and in the last decade was the organizer of Constitution Day. Below is part of an biography provided by Peggy Mew.Our Republic lost a a dedicated patriot and the GOP lost a bundle of energy. R.I.P.

Louise Leigh 1914-2006

She began her constitutional activism as an outreach director for the California Bicentennial Commission in 1987. In 1997 she founded Constitution Day, Inc to organize Constitution Day celebrations with school children, overseas military and Governor’s or their representatives from each state reciting the Preamble to the Constitution simultaneously on September 17 throughout the nation. Last year, Louise was instrumental in getting Public Law 108-447… Read More

The Federal Election Commission just issued this statement on today’s settlements of cases against the SwiftBoat Veterans and MoveOn.com for alleged 527 committee campaign act violations:

"The Federal Election Commission announced today that it has reached settlements with three 527 organizations accused of violating the federal campaign finance laws during the 2004 presidential election. The League of Conservation Voters 527 and 527II, MoveOn.org Voter Fund, and Swiftboat Veterans and POWs for Truth have collectively paid almost $630,000 to settle charges that they failed to register and file disclosure reports as federal political committees, and accepted contributions in violation of federal limits and source prohibitions. The Commission approved all three conciliation agreements by a vote of 6-0."… Read More

A friend sent this to me…I thought FR readers would enjoy this too!

For My Democratic Friends:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to observe religious or secular traditions at all.

I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the generally accepted calendar year 2007, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures.

… Read More

I opened my newspaper today (yes, I actually do still read them) to find an article stating that no less than15 bills had been introduced already for the upcoming legislative session responding to the governor’s call on health care. Fifteen – wow – and that’s just the beginning of the liberal storm brewing.

As the Democrats compete with each other to prove who can be the most "comprehensive" (translation: cover the most people – even if they already have insurance – and don’t need the government to be in more control of their lives), and who can be the most "compassionate" (translation: spend the most tax dollars); we will see more bills.

Two things that stood out in the article I read were:

(1) that the new Chairman of Assembly Health has already started pushing tax increases to pay for what could cost $12 Billion (I believe that is a lowball number to be sure). "Who pays?" Chairman Mervyn Dymally (D-Compton) asked. "If you put out a comprehensive… Read More

Today I am pleased to announce that the FlashReport is welcoming its first contributor from the California State Senate with addition of Senator Jim Battin to this weblog! We really couldn’t be more pleased that Senator Battin will be joining our two Assemblymen/Bloggers Doug LaMalfa and Anthony Adams. A conservative Republican, Jim Battin understands policy, politics and the importance of emerging communication technologies such as the internet and weblogs to help enhance and guide the discussions that take place about what is happening in Sacramento. I have known Battin for a long time, and have always been impressed with his ability to cut-through to the essence of issues, and of course we all admire anyone engaged in the serious business of legislating who can also inject humor into the debate. Senator Battin’s first post appears below this one, and you can click the little "i" that appears next to his name on his post (or on the blog roll on the left sidebar of the… Read More

Tim Clark tells us the number one indicator of political success is money in the bank. It looks like the three major Republican presidential candidates are burrowing inthe California money tree.

Ultra Heavy weight Anne Dunsmore of Capitol Campaigns [Pete Wilson and W] will take charge of Gov. Mitt Romney’s fund raising efforts. She worked with Gov. Romney when he served as Chair of the Republican Governors Association, 2004, and his Commonwealth PAC. She has the best Rolodex in town from raising millions and millions forPresident Bush alone.

Another millions and millions fundraiser Casandra Vandenberg, will head McCain’s effort with an impressive list of a half a dozen experienced regional fundraisers. She will be moving to a reported 11,000 square foot HQ in Century City in the near future. McCain will use LA as one of his three National Headquarters. That is a first in a long time for California.

Finally, financier Bill Simon is tapped to run Rudy Giuliani’s effort here. Simon a prodigious fund raiser himself, active in political and charitable circles, promises to make California the most sought after location for… Read More