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

This morning’s Commentary from Mike Spence concerning the California Republican Party has already spurred a few e-mails to me — so I just wanted to let any stakeholders in the CRP know that if you would like to weigh in with your thoughts about the CRP, feel free to contact me. I’m happy to arrange to post your thoughts up on the site!… Read More

I’m running for Vice Chairman, South, of the State GOP. Here are some thoughts from some prominent supporters:

"Jon Fleischman is a leader in the California Republican Party. Please join me in supporting him for Vice Chairman, South" – Tony Strickland, GOP Nominee for State Controller

"As State Chairman of the California Republican National Hispanic Assembly I feel that it is paramount that we have a strong… Read More

In the late nineties some GOP leaders pushed to take over the CRP and local GOP county committees with a simple mantra: Ideology doesn’t matter, what matters is the "nuts and bolts" of party building. Basically, the goods they sold said the party should focus on registering voters, GOTV etc…. Of course most were moderates (who would lose campaigns if ideology was a factor) and their successful campaign culminated in the much-heralded CRP Parsky Commission reforms of 2001. … Read More

BOE Member Bill Leonard has twice mentioned in his weekly newsletter questions as the effectiveness of the CRP’s 20 million GOTV effort. He calls for a "performance audit". See here.

Coincidentally, the CRP Board of Directors will meet face to face at their Sacramento Headquarters this Friday. Just added to the agenda will be a full and frank discussion of the effectiveness of the GOTV program.

Steve Kinney will present a detailed post election analysis, which would show that our down ticket candidates [Mc Clintock and Strickland] won the absentee votes but lost dramatically with election day voters. [ See Brandon Powers blog Dec 6 here]. More interesting is that the majority of voters were white, older, married and home owners. What gives?

In the meanwhile, who raised the 20 million and how did it get spent?

Board members are promised they will see all direct mail that was issued by the CRP and review all scripts used at the telephone… Read More