Appropo for today, May Day. No one ever said Dennis Mountjoy isn’t colorful. As noted on FR last Friday, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore wrote about Dennis’ comments the other day in Human Events Online, but now they are being being picked up in various other blogoplaces. This from Calicapia:

Dennis Mountjoy. Love him, or loath him, you have to admit he’s always entertaining. At the end of Thursday’s Assembly Session, following the announcement of the Democrat plan to shut down the legislature on Monday so the majority party could go participate in the anti-rule-of-law demonstrations, Mountjoy announced that he’d located a number of former members of the legislature who were willing to come in that day. Further, he remarked that they’d work for half the price of the elected members. One small issue, he said, they haven’t been documented by the… Read More

Much like my fellow FR contributor Phil Paule I can report that here in Orange County we are open for business.

All the shops in strip center across from my house are open, so was Bistango, one of the nicest restaurants in Irvine. Clearly the the media is up and running because all LA stations are broadcasting the protests.

I really don’t understand who is out there in LA and here OC in Santa Ana at the Civic Center.

My sense is that perhaps they are the several percent among us who are unemployed or it is their day off, because I see no evidence any impact on local businesses. According to Totally Buzz the OC Register blog our own County Supervisor Lou Correa left his comfortable office on the 5th floor of the Hall of Admin. to protest with the peps.… Read More

I am going to try and claim some of this day for myself, rather than penning a long Sunday column. I will take a moment to congratulate the California College Republicans for putting on a great convention here in Orange County, headlined by great speakers like Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Larry Elder, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore and…me? Actually, those other folks all spoke to the whole group — but I did get invited to come and speak yesterday at a panel looking at the Main Stream Media, and this impact of blogging (wonder why they would ask me to talk about that?). Anyways, my favorite part of the panel was actually the end — when incoming CCR Chairman Mason Harrison came into the room and, using a bullhorn (for real), ordered all college republicans out to the street for an impromptu (well, given the pre-painted signs, almost improptu) rally in support of the Governor. Congrats on a great event!

THE WEEK THAT WAS… You can catch up on this week’s commentaries here.

Also, here are the special columns that… Read More

Q&A With George Plescia… The SDUT, often known for doing these Sunday Insight section interviews with folks like presidential cabinet heads, national party leaders, governors and the like, focuses on the new Assembly Minority Leader. Good for the UT…and good for George!

Read the interview here.

Can I hope for a little more state legislative news coverage in the UT now,too?

The Juan Vargas-Insurance Co. Connection… Maybe the answer to my question above is reflected in another UT piece this morning, Lawmaker Vargas’ ties to insurers questioned. Adding to the UT’s recent string of… Read More

I am going to try and claim some of this day for myself, rather than penning a long Sunday column. I will take a moment to congratulate the California College Republicans for putting on a great convention here in Orange County, headlined by great speakers like Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Larry Elder, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore and…me? Actually, those other folks all spoke to the whole group — but I did get invited to come and speak yesterday at a panel looking at the Main Stream Media, and this impact of blogging (wonder why they would ask me to talk about that?). Anyways, my favorite part of the panel was actually the end — when incoming CCR Chairman Mason Harrison came into the room and, using a bullhorn (for real), ordered all college republicans out to the street for an impromptu (well, given the pre-painted signs, almost improptu) rally in support of the Governor. Congrats on a great event!

THE WEEK THAT WAS… You can catch up on this week’s commentaries here.

Also, here are the special columns that… Read More

While Democrats are engaged in an 1500 delegate ‘food fight’ in Sacramento, as the forces and minions of Phil Angelides and Steve Westly wrestle over which (if either) Democrat will end up with an official State Democratic endorsement for Governor, California’s Republican ticket for statewide office couldn’t have been more unified.

Last evening, I attended the Orange County Lincoln Club’s annual membership dinner banquet at the gorgeous Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach. The guest of honor… EVERY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE ON THE PRIMARY BALLOT! That’s right, while the top-billing for this ‘Lincoln-Club Members Only’ (and invited guests) event of over 400 people were Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his running mate, State Senator Tom McClintock, every other candidate vying for the Republican nomination for a statewide office was at the dinner, working the room, and meeting the influential members of Orange County’s most prestigious Republican organization.

When I… Read More

A few observations concerning the Democratic State Party Convention — sent into the FlashReport by State GOP Communications Director Patrick Dorinson:

The good thing about the California Democratic Party Convention year after year is that if you miss one it doesn’t really matter. They keep bringing up the same, failed, tired old ideas that they have been preaching for the last 30 years.

A few observations:

Steve Westly’s ads tout him as a “different kind of Governor”, but when you listen to him he sounds like any other Democrat running for office. Lots of old repackaged ideas but no way to pay for it. He may try to fool California voters that he is different with his ads, but at heart he is a just another liberal Democrat. Just listen to his own words from his speech to the convention:

"Like all of you, I’ve been a Democratic activist most of my life. In fact, I got my start when you elected me party treasurer in this very building 25 years ago. And I’ve been working with you ever since to strengthen this party. It’s good to be home."

Here’s another passage I particularly liked:

"I’m proud… Read More

One of the finest men I have ever met in politics is Bill Jones, former Secretary of State and Assembly Minority Leader in the early 1990’s. Aside from being part of one of more prominent westside farming families in the Central San Joaquin Valley for decades, Bill served and was easily the best Secretary of State in the history of California, and left a legacy in the legislature including the 3 Strikes law, among other accomplishments.

On his way out of active politics in 2004 he ran for Senate against Barbara Boxer, a half hearted effort doomed from the start. But he went out a true gentlemen, and his family, including wife Maureen and daughters Andrea and Wendy were simply one of the model political families anyone can remember anywhere. An incredible group. Always friendly, and always the same.

Bill’s current business pursuit is Pacific Ethanol, a relatively new company looking to put ethanol on the map, finally, as an alternative to oil and gasoline. His timing has been spectacular here. As chairman and founder of the company, he has led the effort plan/construct five ethanol producing… Read More