You have to love the internet and the creative team over at the California Republican Party.

We all know that the major defining issue between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Phil Angelides is that Republican Schwarzenegger has made a strong a firm commitment against raising taxes or fees on Californians while Democrat Angelides has already pledged to raise over $18 billion in new taxes as Governor (and that number is probably low).

So now you have to check THIS out. There is a new perfect "mascot" for Phil Angelides!

No, mascot isn’t the correct term. What they have come up with is Phil Angelides’ alter-ego: The Tax Man!

He’s a caped crusader out there fighting "the dark forces of low taxes," as it says on his Myspace page (add him as your friend on Myspace).

This is one of those silly and fun things that pop up during… Read More

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POMBO LOOKS OUT FOR STATE’S RIGHTS – WITH THE DOER ACT! Right now, there is no federal law that bans drilling for oil off of the coastline of the United States. There are two temporary bans — one that is passed annually by Congress, and another which is even more tenuous, an "executive order" of the President which the Chief Executive can undo with the stroke of a pen. There are many who believe that drilling for oil offshore is a bad idea, and some that think it is a good idea. California Congressman Richard Pombo has been pushing hard to pass legislation that simply makes the issue of whether such oil drilling should happen off of the coast a state’s rights issue rather than a decision made by politicians in Washington, D.C.

The political reality is that the California legislature would never approve such drilling on its own coastline, but that doesn’t mean that other coastal state governments might choose to… Read More

TODAY’S SUNDAY COMMENTARY IS "GUEST HOSTED" BY LONGTIME FLASHREPORT FRIEND SHAWN STEEL. STEEL, A PROMINENT LOS ANGELES COUNTY ATTORNEY, IS A FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND HAS PENNED THIS BOOK REVIEW… Los Angeles Times reporter Joe Mathews’ new book, “The People’s Machine: Arnold and the Rise of Blockbuster Democracy” is quite the rage in Sacramento and for California political junkies. Mathews recounts the political formation of Arnold Schwarzenegger and the origins of the 2003 Gray Davis Recall that dethroned a sitting governor for the first time in 80 years – and elected Arnold Schwarzenegger in his place. That time now seems like eons ago, but we should remember the California Republican Party was on… Read More

TODAY’S SUNDAY COMMENTARY IS "GUEST HOSTED" BY LONGTIME FLASHREPORT FRIEND SHAWN STEEL. STEEL, A PROMINENT LOS ANGELES COUNTY ATTORNEY, IS A FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND HAS PENNED THIS BOOK REVIEW…

Los Angeles Times reporter Joe Mathews’ new book, “The People’s Machine: Arnold and the Rise of Blockbuster Democracy” is quite the rage in Sacramento and for California political junkies. Mathews recounts the political formation of Arnold Schwarzenegger and the origins of the 2003 Gray Davis Recall that dethroned a sitting governor for the first time in 80 years – and elected Arnold Schwarzenegger in his place.

That time now seems like eons ago, but we should remember the California Republican Party was on its back following the November 2002 election disaster in which all but one statewide GOP candidate went down to… Read More

Nick Inzunza, whose once near-lock on Juan Vargas’ 79th AD seat, or even simply another term as mayor of National City, were both dashed with last December’s SDUT report of His Slumlordness, is making a liberal splash for himself on the way out.

In the wake of cities like Escondido considering rental laws against illegal aliens and Vista adopting restrictions on the hiring of day laborers, Mayor Nick is doing the exact opposite…proposing National City as a sanctuary for illegals, or whathe is calling "immigrants"(see story). Notwithstanding his claim that this is simply an announcement of the city’s current policies, a few National City residents and some of his council colleagues are a tad surprised by the brazenness of proclaiming support for illegality, including that local law enforcement will turn a blind eye to any knowledge of “undocumented” denizens of the area.

Is Inzunza trying to… Read More

The news this morning (posted on the FR main page) about the County and City of San Diego "tag teaming" the Chargers to keep them in San Diego referred to a Joint Powers Agreement….

UnionTrib story North County Times story

As a result of this news, some may believe that all of the cities in the county may have a say in a JPA. I’ve received a couple of emails from folks asking me as a La Mesa councilman to oppose any such deal.

I’m at a loss as to how anyone could manipulate a possible county-wide JPA. City of San Diegans are the only residents that will have any input on a Chargers’ stadium in that city, with National City, Chula Vista and others being in the same boat if their overtures are successful (National City is dead in the water, regardless of the press attention). That is, unless the Spanos’ are brain-dead and try something really stupid. And, I would just love to see the County Supes even suggest that… Read More

First the Governor gets passage of AB 32. Now Pasadena has decided to endorse the Kyoto Treaty. See article here. Republicans on the City Council joined the effort. Pasadena joins California cities like Santa Cruz, West Hollywood and Berkeley. See list here.(surprise bankrupt San Diego is on the list) in this growing trend. Of course the City of Pasadena’s first step, hire a bureaucrat. Wonder if he walks to work?

If you are looking for free market, scientific info on the environment may I suggest the Committee for A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT)I’ve been associated with them for almost 15 years now. Great group.… Read More