Yesterday Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a number of changes in key senior positions in his administrations. A number of them represent great moves, and a few of them are, frankly very disturbing. Let’s start with the great news! First and foremost, the Governor’s elevation of conservative Dan Dunmoyer to the position of Cabinet Secretary is outstanding news for all of us. Dan is capable, smart and effective. In this key position which acts as a liaison and coordinator between the Governor and all of the Agency heads will be in good hands. Undoubtedly this will be a big relief for former Assemblyman Fred Aguair, the GOPer who has been toiling out of the limelight in this role for awhile now. In other big news for conservatives — stalwart Cynthia Bryant has been given a big promotion. For years, Cynthia has been sitting second chair to Richard Costigan in the Governor’s legislative affairs unit, working to push the Governor’s policy agenda with the Senate… Read More

Today for lunch, I attended a presentation by the Orange County Forum where the featured speakers included three GOP and three Democrat Legislators. The Dems were State Senator Lou Correa, Assemblyman Tony Mendoza, and Assemblyman Jose Solario The Repubicans were State Senator Mark Wyland and Assemblymembers Jim Silva and Mike Duvall. All are a talented bunch and come into their respective chambers as freshman. Emcee for the panel was Orange County Register uber-political reporter Martin Wisckol (see his word via th OC Total Buzz link under the Blog Roll above). Everyone was amiable today. We’ll see how that changes after a year or two of struggling to make do with less in Sacramento!… Read More

Congressman Gary Miller continues to garner some unwanted attention — today the Wall Street Journal’s John Fund heaps on in the WSJ’s Political Diary e-mail:

Not ‘The Donald’

GOP Rep. Gary Miller of California was unopposed for re-election last month, so reports that surfaced last year about how Congressional earmarks he sponsored increased the value of real estate he owned in his district never became a campaign issue.

But now Republicans in his overwhelmingly conservative Orange County district will have to start asking hard questions about whether Mr. Miller, who came to Congress in 1998, deserves another… Read More

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

I don’t blame Congressman Gary Miller for not wanting to talk to the Los Angeles Times. Would you? Miller did, however, talk with Erica Werner from the Associated Press. Here’s Werner’s story: Rep. Miller disputes report he used office for personal benefit By Erica Werner with the Associated Press GOP Rep. Gary Miller used congressional staff for personal errands and tried to get a federal appointment for a city councilman about to vote on buying Miller’s land, according to a published report Tuesday that Miller angrily denied. … 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

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