Back in January of 2003 there was a friendly wager placed between then California Governor Gray Davis and Florida Governor Jeb Bush (pictured to the left) over the outcome of Superbowl XXXVII, a battle between the country’s top two football teams – the Oakland Raiders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Of course, in that duel, the Raiders were spanked by the Bucs by a lopsided score of 48 – 21.

One of the items put up in that wager by… Read More

Tom Delay was a conservative member of Congress. Although he announced his resignation yesterday, he had ceased to be a conservative congressman several years earlier. He became part of the club. He supported other Republicans because they were part of the club, regardless of whether that protected the family or our pocketbook.

This disheartening trend is happening in Orange County in the 35th Senate District. The Choice is clear. An Assemblyman named Tom Harman that has voted for bigger government, was first elected in the open primary with Democratic votes and has the support of labor unions or Diane Harkey, a pro-family, anti-tax conservative.

Look at the list of Harkey endorsements Congressman John Campbell Congressman Dana Rohrabacher Congressman Ed Royce Senator Tom McClintock Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, who maxed out at over $3,250 Assemblyman Ray Haynes

Now look at the Harman endorsements. Senator Jim Battin Senator Dave Cox Senator Bob Margett Senator Sam Aanestad Assemblyman Russ Bogh Assemblyman Bill Emmerson… Read More

FOCUS ON DC

DARRELL ISSA TAPPED BY SPEAKER The House Select Committee on Intelligence is a very small, carefully chosen bi-partisan Committe on Capitol Hill. It is the members of this small group that are given exclusive briefings on covert operations, intelligence data and other confidential information and actions of the federal government. It is an important oversight role that is played by the members of this Committee as they literally have access to information that the vast majority of Congress does not. For years, the now-disgraced Duke Cunningham served on this committee. It was recently announced by Speaker Dennis Hastert that California Congressman Darrell Issa will be replacing Cunningham on this important panel. This is a great appointment for the Congressman, and increases his growing clout on Capitol Hill. Congratulations Darrell Issa!… Read More

FOCUS ON DC DARRELL ISSA TAPPED BY SPEAKER The House Select Committee on Intelligence is a very small, carefully chosen bi-partisan Committe on Capitol Hill. It is the members of this small group that are given exclusive briefings on covert operations, intelligence data and other confidential information and actions of the federal government. It is an important oversight role that is played by the members of this Committee as they literally have access to information that the vast majority of Congress does not. For years, the now-disgraced Duke Cunningham served on this committee. It was recently announced by Speaker Dennis Hastert that California Congressman Darrell Issa will be replacing Cunningham on this important panel. This is a great appointment for the Congressman, and increases his growing clout on Capitol Hill. Congratulations Darrell Issa! … Read More

I was on vacation for a good chunk of last week, so I am playing catch-up on "Appointment Watch" where we review the Governor’s appointments to various positions, and look at the partisan registration of those individual, using the basic guideline that voluntary association of an individual to a political party gives some indicator of their basic ideological and philosophical leanings.

Last week Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the appointment of longtime Democrat Richard M. Goul to a judgeship in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Goul, 48, of Newport Beach, has served as a deputy district attorney with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office since 1989. He is currently deputy-in-charge of the sexual assault unit of the Long Beach branch of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Goul was a law clerk for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office from 1986 to 1989. He also served on the Cerritos College Board of Trustees from 1979 to 1985. Goul… Read More

Last week Governor Schwarzenegger announced ten appointments. Again, here we list the appointments, grouped by partisan registration, using the basic guideline that voluntary association of an individual to a political party gives some indicator of their basic ideological and philosophical leanings.

Of special note among the Democrats is Joe Nunez, an appointee of recalled Governor Gray Davis to the State Board of Education. The Governor has re-nominated Nunez to this post. Hold on to your seat for this: Nunez is not only the chief political and legislative person for the California Teachers Assocation union, but is also the Chairman of the Alliance for a Better California, the union-umbrulla group that has and continues to pound Governor Schwarzenegger. I can’t figure out this appointment???

THE REPUBLICANS

Cary Nosler, 61, of Carmichael, has been appointed to the Acupuncture Board. He has served as host of … Read More

Due to the lack of meaty political news today I’ve decided to comment on global warming.

It came to my attention today that San Diego, Los Angeles and other parts of California are under a flood watch. After doing about 10 minutes of research I discovered that this is all due to global warming . 10 more minutes of research yielded the following caused by global warming:

Drought Hail Tornados Hurricanes Cold Weather Hot Weather Excessive Rain Wind Flooding

So, you see, global warming is a real situation that we must deal with because ALL weather is caused by it! And don’t ever challenge this theory or some people will get really, really mad!… Read More

These additional appointments from the Governor just came over the wire.

Special "shout out" to FR friend John McCammon (who was Republican Congressman George Radanovich’s Chief of Staff for many years) and a special mention to Christine Ruben who had been working for Chuck Poochigian’s campaign for AG, and is now going to be Deputy Secretary for Communications at the State and Consumer Services Agency.

There are five Republicans, one Democrat and one Decline-to-State in this batch of appointments:

THE REPUBLICANS

William Bush, 54, of Elk Grove, has been appointed undersecretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency. He has served for over 30 years at the Franchise Tax Board and has held the position of interim executive officer since 2005. Bush is a Republican. John McCamman, 52, of McLean, Virginia, has been appointed chief deputy director of the Department of Fish … Read More