Takes One to Know One

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has made his clearest statement yet that he isn’t going to use illegal immigration as a campaign issue this year. He told a Spanish language newspaper that his support for the anti-illegal immigrant Proposition 187 back in 1994 was "wrong" and refused to repeat his earlier praise of the Minutemen, a group of private citizens who have set themselves up as guardians of the U.S.-Mexico border.

San Jose State political scientist Larry Gerston said the governor is trying to appeal to centrists without alienating his conservative base. "Where are the conservatives going to go? They’re either going to Arnold Schwarzenegger or they’re going to sit it out. You weigh that against accommodating votes not only… Read More

I am sure if you are reading this, than you already read my commentary this morning where I take the Governor to task (as a supporter of his) for what he said at a campaign stop in La Mesa yesterday, "Never get mad at anyone that is trying to come to this country. I understand people wanting to be part of this state."

Over on his weblog, Sacramento Bee reporter Dan Weintraub had some thoughts after reading what I had to say:

My take is that illegal immigration, in and of itself, is a victimless crime. If people come here to work, which most illegal immigrants do, they are going to engage in a voluntary exchange of their labor for someone else’s money. They are not stealing, and, as a group, they are helping our economy, even if a few people at the lower end of the wage scale see their wages bid down. Illegal immigrants are also not harming legal immigrants or anyone

The other day I had coffee with an un-named gentleman who has been in California and national politics since probably the 1950’s. He looked over his coffee (black, thank the Lord) and noted that when he was in his 30’s most business was done in smoky, more whiskey and gin laden atmospheres. And that he thought the more social aspect of politics in years gone by also lubricated the actual getting of things done. He also mentioned the particular formula of his favorite drink – a gin martini.

Having made the wide-awake at midnight, knot in the stomach promise to that self-same deity above that if I won a particular race or two in June I would run 3 miles a day or so and drink nothing but beer as a shield against boring conversation, until the quickening of the November Election and my return to San Diego’s dread Alby’s, the recipe of this un-named gentleman’s martini interested me. From time to time, before my pledge, you see, I was inclined to order a gin myself.

Anyway, so this was on my mind as I was reading “Casino Royale” which I believe to be the first James Bond novel (Ian Fleming, 1953). And on page 40 there… 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

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

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