Barack Obama’s popularity among European political elites is understandable given their similar views on both domestic and foreign policy and an unfortunate common interest in subjugating America’s role in the world to global institutions like the United Nations.

When I spoke at conferences in Germany and Switzerland in the years immediately following the invasion of Iraq and the removal of Saddam Hussein from power, the anti-American sentiment among European political and some business leaders was overwhelming.

It was no wonder, then, that Europeans would greet Mr. Obama with cheers – literally – as he campaigned for President in 2008. After all, Mr. Obama was given his chance against presumptive nominee Sen. Hillary Clinton as a result of Clinton’s vote in favor of authorizing the Iraq invasion.

Fast forward four years, however, and the zeal for Mr. Obama has diminished. No doubt most Europeans would still favor Mr. Obama over Republican Mitt Romney, but the enthusiasm for Mr. Obama is no longer there.

This was obvious at the 10th International Political Communications Conference hosted by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Berlin this… Read More

CaliforniaProp 32 would end political payroll deductions for corporations and labor unions. Both sides are spending millions on this measure (with the “no” side — all union money — spending MANY millions MORE against it).

But here’s a point that’s seldom mentioned — even by Prop 32 supporters. Labor union dues are 100% tax deductible — on both federal and California income tax returns. As much as 75% of union dues are used (directly or indirectly) for politics.

Hence unions and their members advocate and contribute with PRE-tax dollars, whereas those contributing voluntarily must use AFTER-tax dollars. It means that about one out of every three labor union dollars spent on politics comes from the taxpayer, thanks to this giveaway. And BTW, this union tax deduction for politics costs federal and state governments BILLIONS of dollars of lost tax revenue annually.

Even corporate payroll deductions for politics (which are voluntary and would be banned under Prop 32) are treated as after-tax dollars. ALL such contributions for politics are not deductible — unless you are a dues-paying labor… Read More

I am very pleased to announce that once again the FlashReport has partnered with the California Republican Assembly, the states oldest, conservative Republican organization, to present the debut of the CRA’s annual legislative scorecard! While there are many organizations that produce scorecards, this is the scorecard that, in my mind, provides the greatest insights into the voting patterns of legislators — especially Republican legislators. While many of the bills that are chosen for this scorecard represent some of the most important pieces of legislation voted on this past year, other bills are chosen because they provide insight into the… Read More

If I have any complaint with my fellow conservative warriors, it is that they don’t know how to win. Too often, their suspicion, or perhaps the years of oppression, has left them unable to accept good tidings when they arrive. They will, if left to their own devices, look a gift horse in the mouth.

Which leads many of them to criticize Molly Munger. Let’s be honest. If someone truly wishes to direct more money to schools, Proposition 38 really does that. It is the right means to accomplish the goal that Munger wishes to accomplish. If you agree with that policy, you would vote for 38, and vote against Proposition 30. She deserves kudos for a means that actually accomplishes her policy goal.

What is even better, from my perspective, is that she has the intestinal fortitude to look the Governor of the State of California in the eye, and tell him he’s a liar. That requires a lot of strength, strength the business community in this state lacks. True to form, when faced with the truly bad policy of Proposition 30, the business community, for the most part, rolled over on its back and showed the Governor their belly. They, quite frankly, gave… Read More

When a Democrat Congressional candidate gets financial backing and support from Nancy Pelosi it is to be expected – Pelosi really wants back her old job as Speaker. But when that candidate is also being bankrolled by far left sugar daddies like Sean Penn and George Soros it causes you to roll your eyes — these folks only get animated about extreme, left-wing ideologues.

Over in California’s 36th Congressional District (Central and Eastern Riverside County) local and national Democrats have insisted that Raul Ruiz is the challenger who will finally unseat Rep. Mary Bono Mack. He’s a 40 year old emergency room physician running in a district that is increasingly competitive and Hispanic.

That having been said, any realistic ability for Dr. Ruiz to garner meaningful support from patriotic, America-loving voters in the 36th Congressional District, will rapidly evaporate when work gets around about his radical past. It turns out that Dr. Ruiz, was arrested in 1997 at a Thanksgiving protest in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Read on…… Read More

I received an distressed phone call yesterday from a reader about a starling accusation of school cheating.

This reader, whose children attend the Oxford Preparatory Academy, which runs charter schools in Mission Viejo and Chino, CA, said that after months of diligent, time-consuming preparation for the mandatory May Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR exams testing), and months of teachers putting in 12-hour days, the Oxford charter school students reached an outstanding score of 997 out of 1000 possible points on the Academic Performance Index.

What should be good news has turned to controversy, because someone on the Capistrano Unified School district School Board has now accused the charter school of cheating.

The parent said that she and other parents are flabbergasted, especially after having worked along side the children and teachers, and said that the cheating accusation is likely motivated by the local teachers union.

No stranger to controversy

Capistrano Unified School District’s Superintendent Joe Farley informed charter school officials that the school’s charter could be revoked in the face of… Read More

The following column was penned by Rebekah Rast of Americans for Limited Government…

CALIFORNIA’S SELF-INFLICTED GAS SHORTAGE By Rebekah Rast

In September 2008, before Barack Obama was elected president and Steven Chu appointed Department of Energy Secretary, Chu stated, “Somehow we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe.”

Thanks in large part to strict pollution limitations and refinery and pipeline misfortunes, one state is now much closer to those levels.

Gas prices hit an all-time high in California… Read More

It’s too early to know for sure, but so far sales tax revenue this year appears to be largely on track to meet the state’s budget needs.

The latest general fund sales and use tax revenue numbers show that from July through September the State Board of Equalization received $4.64 billion in revenue. That’s just two and a half percent shy of the Department of Finance’s budget projection of $4.76 billion.

Of course, I can’t help but think that if more Californians had jobs, these revenue numbers would be even stronger.

The latest numbers do not reflect the recent spike in gas prices. And those high fuel prices have the potential to create a tax windfall for state and local government.

Earlier this year I proposed legislation capping rising fuel taxes. Unfortunately, it failed to gain traction in the Legislature.

We don’t know yet how much revenue will come in this month. But we do know one thing for sure: Californians will pay plenty in tax.… Read More