The other day I posted how hard it was to believe it had been four years since Shirley Horton was elected in AD 78, and that things should quickly be heating up for that seat’s 2008 triple-donnybrook.

I guess the four days between swearing-in on Monday and first official candidate on Friday is quick enough. Auday Arabo, presidentand CEO of California Independent Grocers & Convenience Stores, is throwing his hat in the ring…as a Democrat, which may come as asurprise to some that have otherwise assumed — or never asked — his Party registration.

Before we get to Auday, let me touch on my reason for calling the ’08 contest a "triple-donnybrook." As background, this seat was drawn a relatively safe Dem seat, with Vince Hall being that Party’s standard-bearer in 2002. When the smoke cleared, Republican Shirley Hortonhad won (one of two supposedly safe Dem assembly seats in the state, the other taken by Bonnie Garcia), due to Horton’s serviceas mayor in the area’s largest city (Chula Vista), the… Read More

Chris Cox’s nomination in June, 2005 to head the Security & Exchange Commission, launched the first in a series of special elections here in Orange County that continue to this day. Combined with the regularly scheduled

First, of course, was the special election primary and general elections to fill Cox’s congressional seat, which concluded in December of 2005.

Concurrent with that campaign was an bitter fight over a county initiative on the statewide special election ballot — an expensive battle between the firefighters and deputy sheriffs unions over how to divvy up Prop. 172 revenues (the deputies won).

**There is more – click the link**

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Though a major decision at an important juncture for the immediate, if not long-term future of our Party, relatively little was made public of the deliberations of the Senate GOP Caucus’ pick to keep Senator Ackerman as Leader.

I’ll leave the arguments for and against to others, but found this article especially worth noting.

“Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, who cast the swing vote for Ackerman, is expected to be rewarded with a chairmanship.”

If true, we find ourselves in a situation where the Democrat Senate President is hand-picking those in charge of our Republican Caucus through bribes of Chairmanships or other goodies.

Whoever the 15 of our guys in the Senate Caucus feel is best to lead them, so be it. At least it was a decision made for Republicans, by Republicans.… Read More

At 7:55 AM, 65 years ago today, America was plunged into the World War with Japan by the aerial sneak attack at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on a Sunday morning. There are several Pearl Harbor Survivor chapters in California, perhaps one near you. They usually conduct a ceremony commemorating that day at an appropriate place of memorial. If you have the time, seek them out in your area. In California they typically start around 9:55AM PST to coincide with that moment in Hawaii.As our Pearl Harbor heroes are dwindling in number, [it has been 65 years since these young men were there]I would strongly suggest we try to honor them in person…and remember.

Here’s a link to an enlightening story I found in the New York Times yesterday about Kenneth M. Taylor, an Army Air Corps (now the Air Force) pilot who was one of the first to strike back on behalf the country.… Read More

Assemblywoman Mimi Walters plays a strong hand, with support from the outgoing Senator as well as fellow nested Assemblymen Todd Spitzer and Chuck DeVore. Can you say frontrunner?

“Mimi Walters is a strong conservative who understands the proper role of government and who is committed to improving our business climate and keeping taxes down,” said Ackerman. “I am confident that she will be an outstanding representative for the 33rd Senate District.”… Read More

Chris Cox’s nomination in June, 2005 to head the Security & Exchange Commission, launched the first in a series of special elections here in Orange County that continue to this day. Combined with the regularly scheduled

First, of course, was the special election primary and general elections to fill Cox’s congressional seat, which concluded in December of 2005.

Concurrent with that campaign was an bitter fight over a county initiative on the statewide special election ballot — an expensive battle between the firefighters and deputy sheriffs unions over how to divvy up Prop. 172 revenues (the deputies won).

That special was won by state Sen. John Campbell, which led to a special election to fill the 35th Senate District seat he was vacating. This was effectively won in the April 11, 2006 special election primary by then-Assemblyman Tom Harman, who barely edged out Dana Point Councilwoman Diane Harkey.

Shortly afterward, the battle royale had begun between Supervisor Lou Correa and Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher for the 34th Senate District. Correa’s… Read More

Regarding Jill Buck’s and Doug LaMalfa’s earlier posts, here’s what Eddie Money looks like not-circa-1981, since Jill was being nice….

As for "Take Me Home Tonight," all I can say is good luck.

Hey, Jon, I like these newer bloggers digressing from politics a bit. Perhaps Joe Justin will consider returning, now that the site has gone Rock n’ Roll.

Ok, perhaps we should lay off, I feel the Jill-coined e-towel snap coming from Fleischman.

Speaking of politics, although this is quite a stretch, when I was in Sacto on Monday, I stopped into your office, Doug (LaMalfa), to see if I could collect on your July 13 Rock On challenge for a bag of Butte County… Read More

The ever informative Target Book justsent one of their “Hot Sheet” emails to subscribers. In it, a fascinating bit that seems to dovetail nicely on Mike Spence’s CRP Reform piece this morning…

The Target Book segmented the results in absentee voting versus Election Day voting. With our $20 million GOTV “juggernaut” in place, let’s take a look at how the votes went down.

In the LG Race:

Among Absentee/Mail voters: McClintock: 49.5 Garamendi: 44.6

(A 4.9% edge)

As I reported at the time, Tom was up before Election Day hit.

But amongElection Dayvoters: McClintock: 41.1 Garamendi: 53.1

(A 12% deficit)

16.9% in the LG Race (it was 16.8 in the Gov race). That’s the swing. Something went wrong, and we’d be foolish if serious efforts weren’t made to figure out what did.… Read More