Today, the Phil Angelides campaign crossed a line and compared Governor Schwarzenegger to Kim Jong-il, the North Korean dictator infamous for starving his own people and currently destabilizing Asia with missile tests. The Drudge Report has it here. This was quickly reported by FR State Capitol Correspondent Karen Hanretty in the post below this one (h/t Karen!).

This is just the start of what’s in store from the Angelides’ campaign. He has a history of rough, over-the-line politics. During the primary, Steve Westly liked to point to a Washington Post piece characterizing Angelides as a "champion smear artist."

For those of you unfamiliar with Angelides’ tactics, here’s a refresher on his attack television ad linking state Sen. David Roberti to a "murdered" abortion doctor. The ad was called "sleazy and… Read More

Its a simple fact, Phil Angelides presents in an awkward way at best.

I have never met the man, but his latest TV commercial airing here on Southern California (which I cannont find on his web page) shows him walking and talking and in a crowd of people and its not a pretty sight. He looks uncomfortable and shaky and far from gubernatorial.

I am not a bully for saying these things, I am simply observing that his body language does not transmit: strong leader. And when you put him in the same room with Governor Schwarzenegger, the voters who watch the interaction will see a governor debating their accountant.… Read More

Request for your thoughts: TERM LIMITS CHANGES/REPEAL I am penning a column on the issue of term limits, looking specifically at whether a measure penned by the state legislature and placed on the ballot would even have a chance of passing? Are term limits working? Have they failed? Please drop me a note here, or feel free to comment below. TOP STORY: Phil Angelides wants to raise your taxes, my taxes — everyone’s taxes. Just click here if you need a reminder of exactly how bad an Angelides Governship would be for the economic freedom of all Californians. The top story in the FR today comes out of the Sacramento Bee. Governor Schwarzenegger… Read More

Questions:I am back in Orange County during the congressional recess this week and have been around and about the district talking to constituents. And they have lots of questions about what is going on in Washington; several of whichare asked repeatedly. So, I thought you might be interested in the top 5 of these questions and my answers to them: How do you like being in Congress? Answer: I am enjoying it a great deal. I have never worked harder in my life nor been more stimulated by my work. Being involved in many of the great issues of the day and our world in a position to influence their outcome is a great responsibility. As a student of history, this is pretty heady stuff. Cold December days in Washington do, however, bring on a longing for a good Santa Ana offshore breeze from the ocean. What has surprised you the most so … Read More

There are a number of items of interest in the news today. So for my ‘commentary’ I will draw your attention to some of the more interesting ones.

Leading the page is good news for the Governor. There is a new survey out showing that Schwarzenegger has increased his popularity numbers with the electorate, and also has increased his lead over liberal Democrat Phil Angelides. Also the many, many representatives of California’s small business community within the National Federation of Independent Business have backed the Governor’s re-election overwhelmingly (95%). This makes sense since Phil Angelides has never met a small businessman he didn’t want to tax out of business! The Golden Pen today goes to columnist Tom Elias who eloquently reminds us all that California still is getting short-changed by the federal government, as money is sucked out of the Golden State and redistributed elsewhere in the nation, or used up by the massive federal bureaucracy. Vic Pollard from the Bakersfield Californian has a must-read column with his take on the latest intrigue in the most highly targeted State Assembly seat in … Read More

There are a number of items of interest in the news today. So for my ‘commentary’ I will draw your attention to some of the more interesting ones.

Leading the page is good news for the Governor. There is a new survey out showing that Schwarzenegger has increased his popularity numbers with the electorate, and also has increased his lead over liberal Democrat Phil Angelides. Also the many, many representatives of California’s small business community within the National Federation of Independent Business have backed the Governor’s re-election overwhelmingly (95%). This makes sense since Phil Angelides has never met a small businessman he didn’t want to tax out of business! The Golden Pen today goes to columnist Tom Elias who eloquently reminds us all that California still is getting short-changed by the federal government, as money is sucked out of the Golden State and redistributed elsewhere in the nation, or used up by the massive federal bureaucracy. Vic Pollard from the Bakersfield Californian has a must-read column with his take on the latest intrigue in the most highly targeted State Assembly seat in … Read More

Today’s news brings good polling data for the Governor – a 44 to 37 lead over Phil Angelides. I have to admit the daily email from the campaign is good stuff, the messaging is solid, and the rapid response is the best I’ve seen in many years. That having been said, there is really no campaign taking place right now, and the Governor’s numbers seem to me to reflect a couple of factors: 1) no real campaign or messaging against him right now 2). collateral damage done to Angelides in his primary 3) Arnold’scozy relationship with the Democrat Speaker, Fabian Nunes, who really wants Angelides to lose so Los Angeles Mayor Antonia Villaraigosa can be Governor in 2010 4) union money and television ads against the Governor are completely non existent.

Yes, its good to be in the lead at any point in the campaign. But there is a long road ahead, and its going to be extremely tough throughout the summer and fall. The Governor is still challenged with the GOP base and not balancing the State’s budget was a missed opportunity to give conservatives some red meat over the summer months.… Read More

Welcome back from your July 4th holiday! On Monday, I returned from my outstanding three-week journey from Great Britain, just in time to celebrate our country’s 230th anniversary of throwing off the oppressive tyranny of that nasty King George III and the British! Hooray! The day after a holiday is almost as always quiet, politically, as the holiday itself. Reporters like to take time off, too, and while holidays that are closer to elections are typically exceptions to this rule, Independence Day is far from the November elections (well, to normal people who aren’t hip-deep in campaigns). Today we feature a column penned by FR friend Jon Coupal, the President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (pictured). Jon has given due credit to the Governor for drawing a firm line in the sand against tax and fee increases. This is an important position of the Governor, and will help to draw a sharp contrast between… Read More