As we make the drive down into Kern County, I thought I would take the opportunity to give a little bit of personal perspective on the retirement of liberal Republican Congressman Bill Thomas.

We should all applaud the fact that after decades in Congress, this entrenched friend of the bureaucracy has called it quits. For years, Thomas has worked hard in the political realm to oppose Republicans with strong convictions for increasing the size and scope of the federal government.

FR readers know that I have often expressed my frustrations about the increasing size of the federal government under Republican watch in Washington, D.C. While Thomas’ departure from Congress won’t change that trend in and of itself, it will go a long way.

Thomas, by most accounts, is a bright and savvy politician. Too bad he used his skills to embrace government instead of reduce it. Adios Bill Thomas, you won’t be missed.

I’m sure that the William M. Thomas terminal at Bakersfield Airport will serve to remind you and your children of your decades of bringing home the pork for your district.… Read More

Larry McCarthy is the president of the California Taxpayers’ Association. Cal-Tax does not typically make endorsements of candidates, yet they felt compelled to do so in the race for Governor this year. McCarthy walks FR readers through the reasons why they endorsed Arnold Schwarzenegger for reelection in this short piece…

Assemblywoman Audra Strickland was the first person I saw when I snuck into the Bakersfield Victory heasquarters in advance of the candidate armada. She drove over from Ventura County with daughter Ruby so they could see her husband, Tony, in action!

On hand here at the HQ is State Senator Roy Ashburn, Bakersfield’s most popular political figure. “I’ve been priviledged to serve in the State Capitol with Tom McClintock, Chuck Poochigian, and Tony Strickland. These are three of the finest people you could place into statewide office!”

Working hard coordinating things is the dynamic duo – County GOP Chairman Matt Brady and V6 Deputy Field Director Glenn Rodgers.

I asked Matt how things were going, and he said, “We’re excited to have this bus tour activate our volunteers.”

Popular local radio talk show host Inga Barks warmed up the crowd and made introductions.

TS: “Our internal polling shows us up by two points. But this race is all about turnout. What you do the next 72 hours will make the difference!”

CP: “It has been such a great honor to run as a team… Read More

It’s a chilly morning here at the Victory ’06 Mega Volunteer Center in Sacramento for the first stop of the two day statewide tour to help promote the Republican GOTV effort.

Preparations are underway… Volunterr Bill Helgland is busy adorning the McClintock RV with big signs.

Congressman Dan Lungren has just arrived with his aide Rachel Wanner.

And now Senator McClintock has arrived with his wife, Lori. Also, Tony Strickland is here as well, with his campaign manager Paul Hegyi. We also sighted Ron Rogers, McClintock’s CM. (When we leave Sacramento, these managers will go back to their campaign hq’s to quarterback last minute activities.).

“Its great to see that the conservative side of the ticket is doing so well,” says Congressman Lungren.

We’ll report in soon as the morning rally kicks off…… Read More

Todays barnstorming tour of the Central Valley is over… And tomorrow, for day two, we’ll be taking the RV to Upland (at 10am), Temecula and San Diego. Tonight we’ll overnight in Burbank, fresh for the new day!… Read More

About a hundred GOP volunteers are up bright and early here at the Sac V ’06 HQ. The energy is palpable as our candidates mingle through the crowd. Senator McClintock (TM), Tony Strickland (TS), and Senator Poochigian (CP).

Working the crowd are GOP County Chairman (and FR friend) Donna Schalansky, Assemblyman-Elect Ted Gaines (who will be replacing the retiring Tim Leslie), GOP senior advisor Ken Khachigian (who is advising the Poochigian campaign), and GOP energizer bunny Fred Hildebrand.

I spoke with David Sander, the GOP ViceMayor of Rancho Cordova, a suberb of Sacramento. “We’re here to rev up the vote for our GOP ticket — it’s a great day to be a Republican.”

The Program:

Congressman Lungren warmed up the crowd. “It’s what we do today, tomorrow, Monday and yes, Tuesday, that will make the difference… The Congressman emphasized the importance of working hard to re-elect his fellow local Congressmen, John Doolittle and Richard Pombo – both are under serious assault by the far left.

TS: “In politics, it’s turnout, turnout, turnout!”

CP:… Read More

We’re on the McClintock RV (we’re currently debating a better name for it – email me at jon@flashreport.org with suggestions) on our way to Stockton for the second stop of our tour. The caravan includes this RV, an even bigger Poochigian RV, and support vehicles.

I’m sitting at the RV table with Senator McClintock, Tony Strickland, and top McClintock advisor John Feliz. Also on this RV are Lori McClintock, TM Communications Director Stan Devereaux, TM aide Jonathan Huey, TM photographer Roger Canfield, TS’s Director of Operations Chris Wangsaporn and our pilot is Bill Hageland. Hageland is a retired Major General so he has been quite assertive with us. I guarantee you no one on this RV will use the latrine while we are in motion except in dire emergency…”

Stockton here we come…!… Read More

We’re on the campus of the University of the Pacific, home of the UOP Tigers, for the next stop in our GOTV tour.

Greetings us, amidst a crowd of about a hundred folks is Congressman Richard Pombo – a true American hero.

“For all of us, all comes down to turnout,” Pombo told me beforehe started escorting our three statewide candidates around the crowd.

On hand are Republican Stockton Councilmembers Clem Lee and Gary Gioveneti among a whole score of other local GOP notables.

TS: “This election is all about changing California. I have never seen a better ticket from top to bottom! Its up to you to make that extra call or walk that extra precinct.”

CP: “I started out in politics as a volunteer for an Attorney General candidate George Deukmejian. I appcreciate so much the work of volunteers.”

Richard Pombo introduced TM saying, “He always fights for the things he believes in. Even when he is the lone voice standing up for us. He is someone we always know will be there for us…”

TM: “This election will be decided in about 83 hours, and it will… Read More