This last weekend, along with many hundreds of other State GOP Central Committee members, I participated in the State Republican Party Convention at the Hyatt Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. This hotel is the site of a lot of fond memories. At one point, Californians for Schwarzenegger finance guru Marty Wilson and I were reminiscing about how all of the Ronald Reagan victory parties were held in this hotel. Of course, Republicans gathered here on the night of the recall election, cheering on newly minted Governor Schwarzenegger at his victory party. So this is the hotel of Ronald Reagan…and Arnold Schwarzenegger! Later this week, the FlashReport will be publishing its renowned "Winners and Losers of the GOP Convention" column — and as always, many of our best ideas come from fellow attendees who submit their ideas. So you can write to me … Read More

There are lots of unnecessary bills which deserve to be vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger, but AB 1873 is one that should be on the top of his aides’ list of recommended vetos. AB 1873 would expand the state program which allows mothers to safely surrender their newborn infants within three days of giving birth. The proposed law wouldrequire all fire stations to be safe havens and, more troubling, giving mothers up to 30 days to abandon their child without any questions being asked. (The SF Chronicle carried a story today on the proposed bill and it’s author, Assemblyman Alberto Torrico, D-Fremont.) Under existing law, mothers can drop an infant off at a safe haven spot designated by their county (usually an emergency room or fire station) without having to identify herself. After three days, there is still a legal way for a baby to be given to the state, but a mother cannot remain annoymous.

Los Angeles County and CSAC are among the groups opposing the bill. And for good reason. Both organizations argue that giving parents 30 days to decide to give up… Read More

This last weekend, along with many hundreds of other State GOP Central Committee members, I participated in the State Republican Party Convention at the Hyatt Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. This hotel is the site of a lot of fond memories. At one point, Californians for Schwarzenegger finance guru Marty Wilson and I were reminiscing about how all of the Ronald Reagan victory parties were held in this hotel. Of course, Republicans gathered here on the night of the recall election, cheering on newly minted Governor Schwarzenegger at his victory party. So this is the hotel of Ronald Reagan…and Arnold Schwarzenegger! Later this week, the FlashReport will be publishing its renowned "Winners and Losers of the GOP Convention" column — and as always, many of our best ideas come from fellow attendees who submit their ideas. So you can write to me … Read More

This morning’s commentary will be short, as I have to get ready to go down to the general session here at the California Republican Party’s convention. I was up pretty late (I have vague recollections about a conversation at around 2am with LA Weekly Reporter Bill Bradley and Steve Schmidt from the Governor’s campaign and from there it fades to black). On a quick note, I will update FR readers that despite the well articulated arguments to the Resolutions Commitee as to why embracing massive government borrowing was a bad idea, the committee members (with the Party Chairman and some Team Arnold mucky mucks watching from the back ot the room) voted to embrace the Transportation and Levee bond measures, and take a "no position" position on the massive education bond measure. I won’t repeat for the millionth time here why I think that all of the bond measures are poor public policy, but I will spell out that I think that it is a big political mistake for the convention delegates today to vote for these recommended positions. Governor Schwarzenegger, who has planted himself firmly in the political center of the… Read More

I’m here on the floor of the state GOP convention. The good news is that the many hundreds of Republicans are clearly excited about our opportunities for victory in November!

I can report to you that the committee report of the Initiatives Committee was adopted, which means that the GOP has firmly planted both feet on the ground – one foot representing a firm opposition to tax increases, the other an embrace of massive borrowing and debt.

I am proud that Governor Schwarzegger, Tom McClintock, the entire GOP ticket and the State GOP are unified against all of the myriad of tax measures on the ballot.

I am equally disappointed that delegates, in their desire to stay unified behind the Governor and not give him black eye, agreed to support massive infrastructure borrowing. More on the specifics to follow!

It is hard as a GOP activist to figure out the line between support of a candidate (I am a stong supporter of Governor Schwarzenegger’s reelection) and frustration when my candidate, and now my party, embrace spending measures which materially and philosophically contradict the limited government philosophy that brought me… Read More

A local lesson on good credentials and a tad good luck….

In a further tribute to now former FR blogger Joe Justin, I opt today for a song title.

In politics, a Free Ride is something incumbents can only hope for once in a blue moon. Even the strongest will often garner the opposition of someone usually well-meaning, yet with nary a clue about the reality of competing against an incumbent’s wheelbarrow full of name ID, funding, and popularity, not to mention societal issues like resistance to change, apathy, no-news-is-good-news, and you name it.

At the partisan level, in a majority of the gerrymandered, uncompetitiveseats (like all of ’em), we only know too well how the opposition may be non-existent in the primary, but the opposing major party (and often the Libertarians) will always try to field a suicide candidate in every race for November.

At the local level, meaning especially city councils and school boards – and often extending to special districts – free rides for incumbents happen a bit more often,… Read More

For 11 years I never missed a CRP Convention, but when I termed out as the Treasurer of the Party in 2001 I began attending only sporadically. I came down to LA this weekend to fulfill my duties as a member of the Executive and Rules Committees and to see my good friend, and your humble publisher, Jon Fleischman. I also wanted to attend the Lincoln Clubs Breakfast which just concluded and say hello to good friends there.

In general, not much of substance takes place at these gatherings. They are primarily social affairs, and it is great fun to see old friends and political staffers, consultants, etc. There is the usual inside baseball activity in Initiatives and other committees, but this convention is very light on all the usual machinations. At this convention, all the action is in the initiatives committee, where the Governor’s bond issues will be debated.

The Friday Executive Committee luncheon was keynoted by former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore, and while is speech was peppered with the usual, albeit long ago forgotten, Reaganesque principles, after about the fourth "we must do this, and we must do that" I came to my senses and… Read More

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