Every once in a while, on a ‘slow news day’ like today, I take the opportunity to ask you, my loyal readers, to give me feedback on the website. What do you like? What do you dislike? What else would you like to see? Is there anything (within reason) that we can do to make the site better? Am I missing any links to key California sources of news, or websites or blog? Your input will help to make the FlashReport an even better resource for following the politics of the Golden State.

You can email me, or drop me an anonymous note.

In the meantime, I want to draw your attention to a few things that attentive readers already know.

You can read any of my past daily commentaries by going to "Commentary Library" under the FR Info menu (or click here today).

You can read any of the past featured columns on this siate by going to "Special Reports" under the FR Info menu (or click… Read More

There is no doubt that the New Majority organization has been a major financial supporter to Arnold Schwarzenegger — to the tune of millions and millions of dollars. The NM is a Republican fundraising group made up primary of GOPers that are moderate on fiscal and social issues. I’ve gotten to know many of the leaders of this group and found them to be primarily corporate executives with a yearning to give back through their support of pro-business candidates. This website actually got off of the ground, in part, with support from some NM folks.

Anyways, Michael Blood is an ‘ace’ writer for the Associated Press, and he has penned a profile on the group, and its close relationship with Arnold Schwarzenegger. I’ll print the first part below, and a link to the rest at the bottom:

… Read More

I know what I’m about to publish is petty. I know I should be above it. But I’m a weak, weak man.

Check this out.

This is the funniest thing I’ve seen in a while. And yes, apparently it’s for real. I don’t know how he managed it, but Republican candidate and former Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian has managed to make enemies with many if not most of the state political operatives and pranksters (sometimes they are one in the same, sometimes not) who amuse themselves with this type of thing. Is this gonna win or lose the election? No. Is someone going to make some good money off it? Probably. Note to the inspired businessman… the coffee mug would have been more entertaining if there was a picture of Howard’s noggin on it near the top so the drinker could see the steam coming off his head.… Read More

I can’t help but hope that the Governor took the opportunity today during his time with Secretary Chertoff to discuss substantive measures to protect our borders.

If he did, why no message from the Governor to the people of California on the discussion?

Mr. Governor?… Read More

Warning. This will be one of my longer posts. I still won’t be able to get everything in. This was the first forum for all GOP candidates for the 59th Assembly District. I was an “uncomped” member in the audience of the San Gabriel Valley Lincoln Club (part of the 360 member Los Angeles Lincoln Club) monthly member meeting that featured this forum.

Moderating was Assemblyman Bob Huff.

You can read my previous post on the race here and it contains links to all the other posts by Brad Mitzelfelt or me on the topic. Since I last wrote the local CRA units in the area endorsed Barry Hartz.

First off all the candidates were pretty articulate and could make a decent presentation. That was good news.

Hartz, Adams and Slater are clearly conservatives and their answers on questions reflected that.

Slater did say she had three priorities in running illegal immigration, taxes and oh ya…… conservatorship. While that maybe great for the lawyer in the crowd or worries the ingrate grandson going… Read More

This is probably not a surprise to anyone, but Senate President Don Perata, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (pictured to the right on the campaign trail with Phil Angelides), and the rest of the Democratic legislators who hold majorities in both houses of the legislature do not want a Republican Governor — specifically, they would like to see Arnold Schwarzenegger lose in November, and fail dismally in his leadership of California between now and then. Why? Because as partisan Democrats, they would like to see one of their own party members occupy the highest public office in the state. This becomes important because in this election year, there is simply no way to avoid the reality that the partisan elections that are underway have already and will continue to ensure that the legislative Democrats will do anything and everything to see Governor Schwarzenegger embarrassed and do poorly — after all, you need only look at the endorsements lists on the websites of … Read More

This is probably not a surprise to anyone, but Senate President Don Perata, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (pictured to the right on the campaign trail with Phil Angelides), and the rest of the Democratic legislators who hold majorities in both houses of the legislature do not want a Republican Governor — specifically, they would like to see Arnold Schwarzenegger lose in November, and fail dismally in his leadership of California between now and then. Why? Because as partisan Democrats, they would like to see one of their own party members occupy the highest public office in the state. This becomes important because in this election year, there is simply no way to avoid the reality that the partisan elections that are underway have already and will continue to ensure that the legislative Democrats will do anything and everything to see Governor Schwarzenegger embarrassed and do poorly — after all, you need only look at the endorsements lists on the websites of … Read More

There will be no infrastructure bonds on the June ballot. This is a certainty. But what does that mean?

There are a host of articles linked on the main page today where you can read the ‘spin’ out there from over a dozen different political reporters (or in some cases "teams" of political reporters). I will take a few minutes here and put in my ten cents. Let me first talk about the Governor. Arnold Schwarzenegger has certainly won the debate — there is no question from any corner about the need for California to invest in significant infrastructure needs for the state. The Governor laid out a bold plan last January, and has spent months making a case for this. It’s not too hard a case to make when you spend hours on clogged highways, or see the state of disrepair of many of California’s levees.

So why, with the need so great, and a ‘superstar’ Republican Governor making a very passionate and persuasive case to the people of California about a need for strategic infrastructure growth, did the legislature fail to place anything on the June ballot? After… Read More