Senator Tom Harman narrowly won (by less than 300 votes) his Special Election contest earlier this year against Dana Point Councilwoman Diane Harkey (a Probolsky client).

Now it seems that he is trying to reach out to the community by hiring some known quantities like Councilman Mark Leyes and Cynthia Determan, a former Morrow staffer.

I have been an outspoken critic of the Senator in the past, given his electoral success has come at the expense of the GOP Primary process twice (he was first elected in the one ‘open primary’ that was later deemed illegal) and this last time won in a Special winner-take-all Election.

But I am keeping an open mind with my new Senator and his staff choices seem to indicate that he is too. Leyes is a well known conservative leader in his city and countywide. I also credit Duane Dichiara of Coronado Communications (his consultants) with helping Senator Harman reach out to parts of the party that have not traditionally been supportive of the Senator.

I… Read More

Kudos to the folks at the California Democrat Party for making me giggle. A friend sent me a link to their website, where you see this graphic, linked to the now-infamous LA Times article where Maldo bashes the Governor. Classic.… Read More

If you haven’t already, I suggest that you look at the post by the FlashReport’s Los Angeles Area Correspondent, Mike Spence, who has posted something very disturbing. Last week, Congressman Brian Bilbray voted to override President Bush’s veto on using government funds to finance stem cell research. We can have a whole debate about whether that was a good or bad vote on policy grounds. But that is NOT the disturbing part.

Apparently, as Bilbray was in the battle of his life to win election to the House in the special election in CD 50, Bilbray filled out a questionnaire for the National Right to Life Committee. Not only did he check a box saying he would not vote to override a stem-cell veto, but, well – here is an excerpt from Spence’s piece: Big deal except, Bilbray promised that he would support the President’s policy IN WRITING. Again, attached is the questionnaire.

Look at question number four.… Read More

When Proposition 187 was on the California Ballot in 1994 (you’ll remember it as the measure to cut off government services for foreign nationals illegally in California), Arnold Schwarzenegger apparently supported the measure.

Today in an interview posted on the La Opinion website (click through here and you can click on the audio file), the Governor says (about his decision to support 187) "I think, looking back, if was the wrong decision."

Sigh. If I have my facts wrong, someone let me know or post a comment.… Read More

If you haven’t already, I suggest that you look at the post by the FlashReport’s Los Angeles Area Correspondent, Mike Spence, who has posted something very disturbing. Last week, Congressman Brian Bilbray voted to override President Bush’s veto on using government funds to finance stem cell research. We can have a whole debate about whether that was a good or bad vote on policy grounds. But that is NOT the disturbing part.

Apparently, as Bilbray was in the battle of his life to win election to the House in the special election in CD 50, Bilbray filled out a questionnaire for the National Right to Life Committee. Not only did he check a box saying he would not vote to override a stem-cell veto, but, well – here is an excerpt from Spence’s piece: Big deal except, Bilbray promised that he would support the President’s policy IN WRITING. Again, attached is the questionnaire.

Look at question… Read More

I’ll post more on this later, as I’m off to a city council meeting (hey, what do you want for free….we’re volunteer bloggers, not reporters….although sometimes were better than some reporters).

But I did want to get some photos up of Arnold’s campaign stop in lil’ old La Mesa’s Harry Griffin Parkthis morning. More on this "Town Hall in the Park" later.

Below are photos ofLa Mesa Mayor Art Madrid, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, and the Gov engaging the crowd……

… Read More

I am honored to have been named the newest member of the faculty for the Project for California’s Future.

The Project was founded in 2001 by Sam Hardage (who I first met back in the early 90s) and Ron Nehring (chairman of the SD GOP and Vice Chairman of the CA GOP). It is the only organization dedicated to providing campaign training to conservatives in California.

Having trained hundreds of activists and candidates and elected officials, the the Project continues to hold training seminars throughout the state.

Upcoming seminars include: Campaign Communications School in Fresno and Campaign Management School in Redding. Please visit www.californiasfuture.org for more information.

In my capacity as a member of the faculty, I will certainly speak on public opinion, targeting and media. But I also hope to inject some vigor into training about fund raising, a subject with which conservatives often have a hard time.… 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