The race for the GOP nomination for Attorney General is taking on a high profile for not having really started yet. Chuck Poochigian, who has spent many years working for Republican candidate and causes, worked as a senior-level appointee to Governor Wilson, served in the Assembly and currently in the State Senate, has really seen his years of hard work pay off in the form of many endorsements. Of course, this is also CALIFORNIA where the GOP has a big challenge winning statewide office. So with someone as able as Poochigian willing to run, and run hard, its no wonder he has raised big bucks, and really cemented early status as a virtual nominee. Back on October 5, my commentary centered around a San Francisco Chronicle Story that Richard Pierre Prosper, a… Read More

George Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger are both fighting political wars on many, many fronts. So of course it makes all the sense in the world for them to start firing on each other.

At one level, the dispute over the President’s fundraiser is the silliest political story of the week. On another level, it’s a reminder of the geographic, cultural and political distance between Washington and California. Washington politicians of both parties tend to be pretty tone deaf when it comes to California politics. There’s a case to be made that the White House and Republican National Committee ought to be looking for ways to support fundraising efforts for a GOP governor’s top political priorities.

On the other hand, the governor’s people should put this in some perspective as well. The special election is the most important thing in our world, but it’s only one of many, many things in Bush-land. The fact that it should be more important to the White House than it is may be a legitimate cause for frustration, but there’s no need for political spitballs.… Read More

GOP Itching For Another Dem Mayor’s Seat

SAN BERNARDINO — Republicans are looking to take care of business in the City of San Bernardino. That is, despite the fact that the local business community is largely favoring a Democrat Superior Court judge for Mayor on November 8, while fire, law enforcement and other unions are supporting a long-serving, controversial elected city attorney with no current party affiliation. The county party is targeting the Mayor’s race hoping to nudge an underdog Republican Councilman into a February runoff and add to its track record of success in local, "non-partisan" elections.

Chas Kelley, 36, is a Councilman representing the city’s affluent Fifth Ward. An electronics technician married with four children, he’s been a Republican Party activist since he was old enough to vote (he still barely looks old enough to vote). Kelley unseated an incumbent two years ago in a grassroots campaign. Despite the fact that he’ll… Read More

Vance Raye, a 3rd District Court of Appeal justice, is a good friend of Justice Janice Rogers Brown. I have to wonder if that is really what is behind Att. Gen. Bill Lockyer’s opposition to Raye’s elevation to the California Supreme Court.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting today that Lockyer has expressed "concern" about one of Raye’s legal decisions. Lockyer expressed this "concern" at a meeting of the Alameda County Democratic Lawyers Club where Lockyer asked fellow Democrats to submit other names of possible candidates. (Somebody needs to remind Lockyer that he is not the governor and cannot nominate justices.)

Raye served as Gov. George Deukmejian’s legal affairs secretary and was appointed to the bench by Deukmejian. He is a well-respected and intelligent judge and probably the one of the nicest people you would ever meet. … Read More

It appears George Bush doesn’t have enough problems with rank and file Republicans over the Miers nomination, government spending and immigration. Now his fundraising visit to California, two weeks before the special electionhas become a source of division. The official CRP spokesperson called the visit "ill-timed." Look for these fights to continue as issues like redistricting reform seperate California’s Republicans from the White House..

Read all about it in Jon Fleichman’s commentary here.… Read More

BOXER’S NEW BOOK Barbara Boxer has two titles now – career politican AND author. That’s right, she has a new book out, entitled "A Time to Run" that is seemingly and interesting read. Apparently the scenario has a liberal female U.S. Senator from California opposing a conservative female appointee to the Supreme Court (shock). Fiction or non-fiction? I’m not really sure. The San Francisco Chronicle’s political writer/analyst has takes a quick peak at the book.

I’m not saying what Carla’s

priorities are here, but she did make it to the ‘racey’ parts of the book, like this excerpt: "… Her shirt was very short, and Josh found himself mesmerized by her pefectly shaped silken legs, with kneecaps that reminded him of golden apples … and her… Read More

President Bush is coming into California to honor Ronald Reagan, and mark the addition of Reagan’s retired Airforce One plane to the Reagan Library’s extensive and tremendous facility. This trip and speech from the President are laudable, and commendable.

But, what should have happenned when the Reagan library event made the Presidential calendar was a call from the WH political operation to Governor Schwarzenegger’s political operation… Maybe the call would be like this: "Hello ‘Murph’ – it’s Karl. We’re going to be in your state right before the Special Election. The President believes strongly in paycheck protection, fair districts, as well as education and fiscal reform. We want to do a fundraising event for your measures while we are there."

Um….that call apparently did NOT take place. Instead,… Read More

The generic images of smoky back-room party politics have not been a realistic depiction (at least not in CA) for decades. While the back-rooms are used for storage now since it’s illegal to smoke in them anyway, party politics is back, with a punch. Parties are getting keen to the idea of weighing at all levels of election politics, including endorsing and spending money on behalf of not just legislative candidates, but local races too. Read more in a column I wrote that was published today in Capitol Weekly.… Read More