The CRA continues to pound on Brian Bilbray in the 50th CD Special, unveiling a new website. Below is a screen-capture from the main page of www.bilbraytheliberallobbyist.com.

Welcome to the world of politics. You can see why Bilbray faught hard to NOT be a ‘lobbyist’ on the ballot, even though that is what he does. By no means do I think that Bilbray is any way the scoundrel that Jack Abramoff turned out to be. But Abmamoff has made ‘lobbyist’ a bad word, and in the 50th district where ethics is a key issue, it is no surprise that attempts are being made to connect dots between Bilbray and Ambramoff, who were in the same business.… Read More

President Bush has been taking heat from all sides on his effort to shepherd immigration reform legislation through Congress. Conservatives are upset with his guest worker proposals, while liberals are always going to rail against any efforts toward border security and interdiction. On the latter front, the Los Angeles Daily News reports this morning that a rally to defeat congressional efforts to tighten border security is expected to draw tens of thousands of protestors to the streets on downtown LA tomorrow. (The story is in the Daily News here)

Protests like these generally tend to have the opposite effect of their intent, causing a backlask that strengthenss support for most border security measures among most voters without intense feelings on either side of the issue. Language like this from the rally’s organizers indicates that the level of rhetoric at tomorrow’s event may have the same impact:

"This is going to be the mother… Read More

It is always so much fun to watch Democratic candidates’ efforts earn their party’s nomination. Take, for example, the story in this week’s Bay Area Reporter, a newspaper covering issues in the Bay Area’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, reporting how Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo is on record for strongly supporting gay marriage while Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown is refusing to take a position on the issue. Gay and lesbian advocates are critical of Brown for signing a 1977 bill which changed the legal definition of marriage as being between two people to being between a man and a woman. While refusing to say if Brown today supports gay marriage, Brown’s campaign spokesman instead pointed to a 1975 law Brown signed that legalized adultery, oral sex and sodomy between consenting… Read More

The special election in San Diego’s 50th Congressional District is coming down to the home stretch, with the election just weeks away. There are a half-dozen viable GOP candidates all trying to get the biggest piece of the pie.

By most accounts, the candidate who is leading the pack if former Congressman Brian Bilbray, who has been working as a federal lobbyist (for an immigration reform group, and other clients) since he lost his house seat years ago.

Anyways, the conventional wisdom is that Bilbray will win unless he is the subject of negative campaign mail hitting him on his vulnerabilities as a lobbyist, and potentially as a former Member of Congress in a district where the Duke Cunningham calamity might leave voters looking for a fresh face.

The California Republican Assembly Federal PAC has a negative piece on Bilbray hitting wide and deep throughout the 50th District tomorrow. The CRA folks sent over a copy of the piece — it is attached below.

Oh yes, an interesting point – the CRA… Read More

I have received dozens of calls over the last month about CRA and how one goes about getting a CRA endorsement. People could read our bylaws at the CRA website. I’ve learned that it easier to find my phone numberon the site then click the by-laws link. So here is a quick primer.

Statewide endorsements and Board of Equalization are done at the Statewide Endorsing Convention. We recently had one in Bakersfield. Delegates sent by units and the Board of Directors then endorse statewidecandidates and initiatives.

All endorsements at all levels require a two-thirds vote.

CRA is a conservative organization not only in beliefs, but also in how it operates. The state does not endorse in local races.

If the local race partisan or non-partisan has more than one unit in that area (meaning ANY of the geography regardless of size), a local endorsing convention must be called with delegates from all the affected units. With the current gerrymandered seats, some legislative districts could haveseveral clubs that need to be invited to participate. A single club in a… Read More

Lancaster School District in Los Angeles County’s Antelope Valley has adopted a new science philosophy that allows debate in science classrooms about Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. Lancaster becomes the latest school district that specifically hasentered into this debate. See the article here.

Alex Branning, the parent that initiated the policy. Says his next target in Los Angeles Unified. Hate to break the news, but LAUSD needs a "Big Bang" to start all over again. This policy won’t do that.… Read More

In this business of politics we sometimes forget that the men and women who become policy makers are not necessarily themselves the biggest reason for thier own success. The fact is, George W. Bush would be no where without Karl Rove (George W.’s ‘brains’). For every successful politician there is a man or woman, some times a team, but more regularly on person that is their political brains, foot soldier and all around goto guy or gal. This column is written not just in tribute to them but to highlight just how important the politicians ‘brains’ really are.

I am going to present this list as a start of something bigger and encourage readers to give me their thoughts on who else to include on future lists. Today’s list will include ten elected officials and their ‘brains’ mostly from Orange County, but some from other parts of the state.

ASSEMBLYWOMAN MIMI WALTERS

ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF MIKE CARONA

ORANGE COUNTY SUPERVISOR LOU CORREA

ASSEMBLYMAN TODD SPITZER

ASSEMBLYMAN TOM UMBERG

ORANGE COUNTY SUPERVISOR BILL CAMPBELL

ANAHEIM MAYOR CURT… Read More

FR friend Bruce Bialosky sent me this column weeks ago, and I told him I would run it. Somehow I never did, and after a gentle reminder from Bruce, here is his piece, which is definately from the heart, which he has entitled, "Why Arnold is Losing the Republicans"… Bruce has been involved with helping to raise funds up in LA for Republican candidates and causes for years.

The recent semi-annual California Republican Convention was an attempt by Governor Schwarzenegger and others to solidify his support with the base of the party. Despite his efforts and those of State Senator Tom McClintock, Arnold has failed as of now. Schwarzenegger positions have left the base feeling that supporting him for reelection may not only be the wrong thing to do, but may also be… Read More