UPDATE: 07-28-06 FROM JON FLEISCHMAN: I have had a couple of e-mail dialogues with Brian Bilbray’s Press Secretary, and sent an email to Congressman Bilbray’s personal e-mail account that has gone unanswered. I guess his choosing to answer this ‘challenge’ is going to have to be taken as a de fact admission that Bilbray lied to pro-life conservatives in order to get elected to office, and then totally changed his position once elected. So now the issue isn’t stem-cell research, it is honesty and integrity. Brian Bilbray, in not responding, is basically saying, "Yep, I lied – tough!" If someone doesn’t have their … Read More

Roll Call is the "must read" newspaper on Capitol Hill. That said, you have to pay to pay to read it – even online. But David Drucker sent me over a piece he ran last Thursday, on my new career move. Thought I would share it with the 99.9% of FR readers who do not subscribe to RC.

Thanks David! Flash! This Just In! Consultant Hanging Shingle! By Josh Kurtz Roll Call Staff July 20,… Read More

There is an old joke that goes something like this.

Q. How do you know a politician is lying?

A. His lips are moving.

Obviously this catches the public’s disgust with politicians that say one thing and do another. This is one of the reasons citizen’s groups want things in writing. They send questionnaires out hoping to put these politicians in ink on various topics. They believe that at least having something writing will keep politicians honest.

In March of this year former CongressmanBrian Bilbray was running for the 50th Congressional Seat after Duke Cunningham resigned in disgrace.

Bilbray had a mixed voting record on life issues, but he filled out a questionnaire for the National Right to Life Committee. I have posted it below.

He indicated that his votes if elected would be "better" than his last go around in Congress.

After the April Primary, the National Right to Life Committee spent money in an independent expenditure campaign against pro-abortion Democratic candidate Francine Busby. Radio ads and telephone calls told pro-life voters… Read More

Arnold Bankrolls Opposition Research on Himself

California is facing a $4 billion budget deficit, so you might reasonably assume that the state can’t afford the luxury of funding think tanks for wealthy special interest groups. Yet the budget signed late last month by Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger includes $6 million for something called the Labor Institute, a pro-union public policy research outfit housed at the University of California. In doing so, Arnold reversed his previous position, suggesting a heavy whiff of election-year politics.

The Labor Institute got its start back in 2001 under Mr. Schwarzenegger’s Democratic predecessor, Gray Davis, and over the years has received nearly $23 million in taxpayer funding. Founded by left-wing professors at UCLA and UC Berkeley, the LA Times described it as "a place… Read More

It’s a slow news day in Fresno. Other than the stifling 113 degree heat, there is absolutely nothing going on of interest around here. The town is as deserted as its been in awhile as all who can seek refuge at Shaver Lake, Pismo Beach, Carmel, Monterey and Santa Cruz.

I have no idea why the Bee would bother with a story on the Congressional "race" between Democrat TJ Cox and incumbent GOP Congressmen George Radanovich. This is one of the most conservative districts in the country and the registration makes it impossible for a Democrat to win.

Someone has talked TJ Cox into spending a truckload of his own money to try to unseat Radanovich and whoever it is has committed a grievous offense against the Cox family fortune. It’s called political malpractice.

Yes, there are periods where a Democrat can out raise a Republican in a Republican District. Most donors correctly withhold their funds from a candidate like Radanovich because they know he can’t lose.

Meanwhile, self… Read More

In San Diego County, the process for nonpartisan endorsements by the Republican Party started a couple of weeks ago with the mass endorsement of dozens if not hundreds of Republican incumbents by the Committee. Part of the process, however, allows individual GOP incumbents to be “pulled” from the mass endorsement list by members of the Committee. Usually, an incumbent is only pulled for a pretty straightforward reason. Pulled candidates need to come before the assembled Central Committee during their regular endorsement meeting, ask for the endorsement, and answer any questions or address any problems the committee my have. Their Republican opponents are allowed the same opportunity. Then the committee votes.

This year two North San Diego County Mayors were pulled.

Before getting into particulars, some background is needed. Polling has demonstrated time and time again that the Republican endorsement is the single most important endorsement in both the County of San Diego as a whole, and in the vast suburban neighborhoods and cities outside of the urban core. Over the past few years the local Republican Party has increased it’s political… Read More

No one in the Republican Party likely expected Mayor Jerry Sanders and Councilman Kevin Faulconer to ever be what a conservative refers to as "hardcore." The City of San Diego doesn’t exactly have a history of breeding conservative politicians, and many ideologues seem to have settled with the fact that"centrist-right" elected officials inSDwill, for the most part,at least holdtheirown on fiscal issues (the small issue of the pension debacle aside).

Sure, those registered as Reps may stand up for the Mt. Soledad Cross (while watering down the core argument by noting they are defending aWar Memorial, not a religious symbol), and most back the Boy Scouts fairly consistently, but Republicans on the San Diego City Council are typically a fairly moderate crew. But, needle exchange?

As noted on these pages, the program was recently reinstated in San Diego at the urging of Mayor Sanders, passing the city council on a 6-1 vote. (Find the SDUT story… Read More

[There is no Sunday Commentary – enjoy your day — but I will leave up this important Commentary from Saturday in case you haven’t read it! – Flash] It’s time for a course-correction. I understand that the strategy for the Governor to be re-elected this November includes firmly planting his flag in the political center and holding his ground — with conservatives holding their noses at some of his policy moves, as the specter of a Phil Angelides’ Governorship is too much to bear. Relative to conservatives, that strategy is working to some extent (look at me, I have said a hundred times on this page that I am supporter Schwarzenegger for re-election). But lately I have noticed that among many of my conservative friends who are involved in politics, the enthusiasm and energy… Read More