THOMAS PUSHES LETTER – CAN YOU BLAME DREIER FOR NOT WANTING TO SIGN?

I am a big supporter of Proposition 77 – the measure that calls for a new process of redistricting in California that I believe will lead to more competitive seats in general elections. I do not believe, as some do, that this measure will cause a ‘moderation’ in our GOP nominees. That said, sometimes politics does make strange bedfellows. I will tell you now that I never dreamt that I would be rowing an oar in the same boat as Congressman Bill Thomas.

BIG-GOVERNMENT BILL THOMAS Let me start here: It is very easy to dislike Congressman Thomas on a personal level. As a matter of fact, he almost makes it fun to not like him. In a moment, I will talk about the… Read More

FR Bloggers Adam Probolsky, Mike Spence and Jon Fleischman are here at the "Big A" with Governor Schwarzenegger, cheering on the Angels (who are losing 5-3 in the 8th, but we’ll come back!).

Ok, well, in theory, Governor Schwarzegger is here at the game somewhere. And I’m sure he has plans to stop by our Terrace-level seats. Then again, Congressman Gary Miller supposedly has seats close to ours, and he isn’t around.

Kind of makes you wonder if there is an "in" spot to catch the game, and we aren’t there!

To further promote this "there’s a cool place to be and we aren’t there theory" – we are all guests of San Bernardino County Supervisor Bill Postmus, who is at the game but…well…we haven’t seen him either!

We were also wondering how many union members are here, watching baseball while their paychecks are being raided to stop Arnold’s Reform Agenda.

Well, we’ll keep looking for the "important people," and rooting on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim!

Jon, Adam and Mike at the "Big A"… Read More

John Kerry comes to California yesterday and never quite says that the concept behind Proposition 75 is a bad thing, only that he thinks it creates an imbalance against union interests. So theoretically, he could have endorsed Prop 75 and then announced support for a companion "shareholder protection" measure, which is what Schwarzenegger did. But that wasn’t going to happen, obviously. And anyone who thought Kerry might take even a baby step away from Democratic orthodoxy learned a lesson when reporters asked him about Proposition 74 instead.

In a rare lapse into political courage, Kerry has actually talked in the past about the need to extend the teacher tenure probationary period, which is what Prop 74 would do. So technically speaking, Kerry supports the initiative, whether he says so in public or not. (Not, by the way.) But he can’t oppose 74 either, because he supports its content. So Kerry pulled a Kerry, and told the press that he wasn’t here to talk about that.

Earlier this week, John McCain comes to… Read More

When I lived in Sacramento and needed a laugh, I sat down and watched Bill Murray’s “Stripes.” Now living in the Bay Area, all I need to do for a good laugh is to watch San Francisco local politics.

Sometimes the board of supervisors is passing loony resolutions, like advocating that the federal government allow a San Francisco group to trademark the name “Dykes on Bikes.” Other times, the craziness comes from the many different (and often freaky) groups in San Francisco, the high church of group politics.

The latest example is the tension in the Polk Gulch neighborhood. Once dominated by drug dealers, prostitutes and the homeless, the neighborhood now is enjoying gentrification.… Read More

No one has taken the time to write anything substantive about Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante lately and that must make him sad.

Don’t get me wrong, there was Yamamura’s mention in the SacBee of Cruz going to Thailand for a quickie (trade mission) and of course yesterday SF Chronicle’s John Wildermuth’s mention of an old FPPC fine the Lt. Gov. had to pay back in 2004.

But my absolute favorable ink Cruz has gotten lately is, his EXCLUSIVE OpEd about who cares what in Tehama County’s own: Red Bluff Daily News!!!

I am not sure, but I think I am breaking news here, Cruz Bustamante may be… Read More

With all due respect to my friend and fellow Flashblogger Jason Roe, the passage of California’s Proposition 77 is not going to cost us a Congressional Majority in Washington if it passes in November. What WILL cost us a majority is the GOP’s embarrassing, dreadful handling of the nation’s finances and spending, and a complete lack of courage to do something about the borders. I WANT every Congressional Republican incumbent to have to compete for his or her seat. The reason we have drifted so far in Washington to public policies that we used to abhor is the absence of real electoral competition. What better way is there for so called "conservative" members of Congress to rediscover the Reagan doctrine than a good healthy fight every two years to stay in office? As for those members of the California Republican Congressional Caucus that have refused to sign on to Proposition 77, I hope all of your seats… Read More

Already flagging in every legitimate poll, San Diego Democrat Mayoral candidate Donna Frye recently advanced a bold new policy proposal that probably put the finishing touches on her campaign: raise sales taxes $1.1 billion over the next ten years to pay for the pensions of city employees. Increasing taxes to pay for the pensions of city workers or make up for the other grotesque overspending, wasteful habits of City Hall have been polled time and time again as the touch of death.

To steal amusing quotes from a recent Union Tribune editorial that excoriated Frye Pontius Pilate style:

"Would you vote to raise your taxes by a whopping $1.1 billion over the next 10 years to pay for the bloated pensions of city workers?"

"Mayoral contender Donna Frye not only thinks you should, but that you will"

"This is precisely the measure demanded by the city’s politically powerful public employee unions"

"Councilwoman Frye’s proposal to raise taxes on a massive scale as a first resort is fiscally imprudent and… Read More

I mentioned earlier this week that I spoke in support of Proposition 76 at an Irvine’s Schools forum — well you can read the Irvine World News’ take on the event below (it is an attachment). I was not as eloquent as Tom Campbell is in today’s San Francisco Chronicle — but I took it to the educrats!

Today’s news is packed with a lot of stuff — every Thursday is the publishing day for Capitol Weekly magazine, which is the "Roll Call" of the state capitol. Clearly this is a superior publication as they have asked me to be a regular contributor! Just kidding. Actually, it is a great newspaper — and so every Thursday, the FlashReport News Links include a number of stories/column from the paper. Today’s include a piece from yours’ truly that focuses on a sad phenomenon – that in a house dominated by liberals, even our best conservative legislators are reduced to authoring some poor legislation… FlashReport Weblog Author Bill Whalen pens a defense of controversial Steve Poizner,… Read More