I wish I could tell you when I read, with interest, the column by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Debra Saunders in which she reveals the connection between admitted-criminal Jack Abramoff and Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition, that I was surprised. Hardly. As a matter of fact, I wasn’t surprised at all, which is too bad. If you aren’t familiar with the Traditional Values Coalition, it is an organization that has done a lot of good work over the years advocating for socially conservative causes. But they have been plagued over the years by sometimes public and often private … Read More

Two interesting columns in today’s LA papers on the Governor’s new direction. One is from the Los Angeles Times and columnist Steve Lopez. He expressed concern over CRA members health during the State of the State. I emailed him that we are all accounted for. His column can be found hereor from the link on FlashReport.

The other is from the editorial pages of the San Gabriel Valley Tribune (also usually the same as the Pasadena Star-News and the Whittier Daily News.)These newspapers are sometimes overlooked, but reach the millions of people in the San Gabriel Valley. Here is their editorial "Cooperate Doesn’t mean Cozy"… Read More

Apparently earlier today, Arnold Schwarzenegger and his son were riding on a Harley Motorcycle (his son was in the side-car) when they were in a minor accident. "The governor was unable to avoid the vehicle in his path and collided with it at a low speed," said the Governor’s spokesperson.

Both he and his son were taken to a Santa Monica hospital where they were treated for minor injuries – the Governor requiring a dozen stiches. Fortunately the driver of the other vehicle was aok.

Thank goodness that everyone is safe!… Read More

John Boehner, Ohio. Currently the chairman of the House Education & the Workforce Committee and formerly the House Republican Conference Chairman (defeated by J.C. Watts). Boehner has been in the leadership before and has a conservative voting record. He comes in with the support of a united Ohio delegation and probably the support of more senior Republicans and committee chairman. Although he has a conservative voting record, he will be able to pick up significant moderate support thanks to his easy going, non-confrontational style.

Roy Blunt, Missouri. The Majority Whip and acting-Majority Leader was picked out of no where in his second term to be Chief Deputy Whip to then-Whip Tom DeLay. When DeLay was elected Majority Leader, Blunt easily moved into the Whip job. Sometimes referred to as the “Velvet Hammer” due to his smoother style. Blunt doesn’t have a big state delegation but as Whip has 30-40 members… Read More

A recent post by businessman and major Republican donor Mark Chapin Johnson over at the California Campaigns blog underscores my concern that I laid out in my post below responding to Dan Schnur, about the impact of the Governor’s shift-to-the center. Mark Johson was one of the original three co-founders of the New Majority, the state’s (and perhaps the nation’s) preeminent Republican political action committee that self-describes itself as moderate. They boast that their organization and members donated millions to Schwarzenegger his ballot causes. Johnson is no longer a part of the New Majority, but his political philanthropy has continued with much generosity. Over the past few years, Mark and I have struck up a friendship as we have found an important quality for each of us – the other is willing to listen to us rant when we’re wound up, and we also share some common friends. That said, Mark is one of the only people I know who actually IS fiscally… Read More

Time Magazine is reporting that ex-Congressman Duke Cunningham wore a wire in cooperation with the FBI before he publicly admitted to being on the take and resigning in disgrace.

As you may remember, I am not a fan of federal prosecutors (see my previous post here) but I have even more distain for rats. Those among us who would for their own personal gain abuse friendship and a history of trust to entrap someone else are some of the lowest of the low.

It’s a sad day when any office holder is found or admits to being guilty of crimes against the very people they represent. But even worse to me is the crime of being a rat which is punishable with a total and complete… Read More

I share Jon Fleischman’s disappointment over the Traditional Values Coalition and its role in the Abramoff sleazefest. But I’m a lot more worried than he is, not because the TVC’s activities have been outside the norm of acceptable political behavior, but because in modern-day Washington, they are the norm. In the national news media, Reverend Lou Sheldon’s role in this ethical circus has received a relatively small amount of attention, because similar behavior has been attributed to conservative activist Ralph Reed, who is alleged to have taken money from Abramoff’s Indian gaming clients to oppose other gambling expansion. Not to slight Reverend Sheldon’s political import, but Reed, who was a major player in the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign and is currently a candidate for Lt. Governor of Georgia, is a major, major player in national Republican politics. He’s also one of the savviest operators in the political arena today, which makes me wonder exactly how broad and… Read More

I too have a history with Rev. Sheldon. I have known the Reverend for more than a decade. I do not agree with him all the time and I certainly do not agree with some of his tactics. But it is very important to be clear, no one is accusing Rev. Sheldon of any improprieties and if they did, they would find none.

Today it is more politically correct to bash Abramoff and anyone he stood on line with at the grocery store let along gave a contribution to, than to give a college scholarship to a one-legged, lesbian illegal alien. So I understand my colleagues desire to pile on. But I caution that but for our tendency to focus our businesses in California rather than DC or the fact that some of us (not I) choose do politics for Sen. McCain rather than Rep. Delay, we could have some of the Abramoff stink on us too.

My point is, attack the good Reverend all you want. But don’t confuse something you don’t like with something that is off the charts illegal. [Publisher’s note: Adam brings up a good… Read More