John Howard of the Capitol Weekly has posted an article on Kennedy’s appointment, in which he reveals that Kennedy turned the Governor down on an initial ask, and then finally accepted after being given carte blanche authority over the hiring and firing of the senior staff.

The article begins:

Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has hired Susan Kennedy, a top aide to former Gov. Gray Davis, as his new chief of staff, Capitol sources in both major parties said. The chief of staff’s position is considered the most powerful administrative position in state government, with broad authority over policy-making and the sprawling bureaucracy.

The decision was made following two days of intense, closed-door meetings that included negotiating sessions across the street from the Capitol in the Hyatt Regency Hotel, where Schwarzenegger stays while in Sacramento. Kennedy’s hiring was the culmination of a five-hour meeting, sources said, at which Kennedy demanded–and got–sole authority over hiring and firing the executive… Read More

The Cunningham situation is developing rapidly… This should hold us over until we hear from Duane…

By ELLIOT SPAGAT

The Associated Press

SAN DIEGO

Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham admitted taking $2.4 million in bribes as part of guilty pleas Monday in a case that grew from an investigation into the sale of his home to a wide-ranging conspiracy involving payments in cash, vacations and antiques.

Authorities said Cunningham steered defense contracts worth tens of millions of dollars… Read More

Like many Republicans I know, I’ve spent the last few months puzzled and concerned about all of the allegations around Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham. I remember meeting Duke during his first campaign for Congress, and being ‘blown-away’ by this bigger than life persona and story (as a very decorated combat flying ace). With each story that has come out, my heart has said, "Duke will show ’em! He couldn’t have done what they said!" At the same time, after each story, the voice in my head starts to say, "Hmmm. Duke is being quiet, and the case against him is getting to be so bad that even a ‘magic bullet’ theory wouldn’t explain it all." Now with the news today that Duke has resigned his seat after pleading guilty to taking millions of dollars in bribes — I have two things to say: The first:… Read More

Today I focus on attorneys. You will see some of them have political practices, others are in criminal law. All of them are OC Power Brokers.

NOTE: Many of these attorneys have been the driving force behind electing judges and the district attorney now and in the past. I don’t want to politicize the bench unnecessarily but know that these are the players who got many of our respected jurists their jobs, both appointed and elected.

Tom Malcolm. A Jones Day partner and major Republican donor he is the Dean of the OC legal community and respected by ALL.

John Ramirez. A partner at Rutan & Tucker, he is among the top land use/initiative lawyers in CA. If you need to qualify an… Read More

FR Friend and political consulant Dave Gilliard provides this useful information to readers of the FR Blog:

SPECIAL ELECTION CALENDAR 1. Gov. must call a SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION within 14 days of vacancy. The window would be Nov. 26- to Dec.10.

2 IF the SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION is called within 180 days of a statewide election, (after Dec. 8), it can be consolidated. It is likely the Gov. will do this in order to save money.

3. THE SPECIAL PRIMARY is eight Tuesdays before the SPECIAL GENERAL, or APRIL 11.

SO, the dates would be: PRIMARY – April 11 RUN-OFF (GENERAL)… Read More

I am predisposed to be suspicious of anyone with the power to prosecute. It is the Jeffersonian in me that questions authority and especially authority that can use the vast resources of all the Federal Government to bring hurt on those suspected of [fill in alleged heinous crime here].

It is with that vain that I question the actions of the Federal Prosecutors in the case against Rep. Duke Cunningham.

I agree that Rep. Cunningham made serious errors in judgment. His crimes were so blatant that they include "OVERT ACTS" like illegally accepting over a million dollars in loans to buy a property and so ridiculous that he allowed a defense contractor to pay a $1000-plus repair bill for his Rolls Royce!

But someone needs to call attention to the Federal Prosecutors–the so called U. S.… Read More

Courtesy of FR friend Dave Ellis, click below to read the actual Duke Cunningham plea agreement. Thanks Dave!… Read More

This morning, unexpectedly, Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham pled guilty to bribery, tax evasion, conspiracy and who knows what more. US Attorney Carol Lam was just on the local news stating that he took some $2 million in bribes from defense contractors in exchange for favors. Cunningham will be holding a press conference in 45 minutes downtown. I’ll be there and report back in this publication. My guess – he resigns and there is a special called within 90 days to fill the seats. All bets are off – the Congressional, Senate, and Assembly races in question are a madhouse of speculation.… Read More