There’s no shortage these days of informed opinion about how California is on the brink of economic disaster, no longer represents a place of creative innovation and may even become America’s first failed state. And those are the more optimistic ones. Kidding aside, these are dark days for the Golden State and they stand to be tough for a long while longer. But while midway through a critical election year and the middle of a severe recession seems like no time to review and evaluate the future direction of major public policy, that’s precisely what California needs to do. In every way, a shortfall of vision created many of our problems in the first place. Our budget deficits, pension crisis, record unemployment and unprecedented housing foreclosures are effects – not causes – of bad policy choices California has made over the past several years. I’ve been thinking quite a bit about the public institutions that traditionally represent the best of California and the role they will play… Read More

I take a vacation out of town for a few days, and of course nothing conveniently "slows down" in my absence. Guess I’ll play catch-up on this whole CalChamber/Jerry Brown dust-up, but I didn’t want to miss posting up this latest commercial from Steve Poizner… This spot is real "hard ball" and it will be interesting to see if a couple thousand rating points behind it in a statewide buy has an impacts. It represents the first time statewide voters will be exposed to the issue of through tv advertising to Meg Whitman’s lackluster voting record (briefly, in this ad)… (Team Whitman blasts Poizner for this ad here, though they don’t seem to say that anything in it is inaccurate, they just assault Poizner’s own record.)

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The turning point for the Schwarzenegger for Governor campaign in 2006 was the day after the primary when Phil Angelides started being defined by the Governor as being out of step with California. It set the tone for the entire campaign and pushed the Governor into a commanding position for re-election.

This all might have turned out very differently had Steve Westley been the nominee as he had a plan for the day after the primary and was prepared to execute. Angelides was undefined still and the Governor did it for him.

Today we may have seen a similar turning point in the 2010 race for Governor. The Chamber of Commerce had a bold political move to define someone that is probably not even remembered by millions of California voters. When the ads got pulled today it ended the early definition process of the Democratic nominee.

If we do have a second "Governor Jerry Brown Show" the business community is the most likely target of his policies. They will complain to no end…. all because of Manat, Phelps & Phillips (sponsor of this site), Robert Simonds Company, Forest City Residential West, and Latham & Watkins. Thanks… Read More

If you’re a FlashReport reader with an iPhone, and think that the next Governor of California should be a Republican, than you need to step it up.

I was reading about a new group, CALInnovates, which is all about keeping government regulation of of technology and innovation. You should check out their website here. Anyway, these guys did a survey and found out that Blackberry users are more likely to support a Republican this November, while iPhone users are more likely to support a Democrat. There may be something to this because – well, I use a Blackberry…

Well, perhaps more useful is that CALiInnovates have developed a new app for Blackberry and Facebook to allow for tracking of political news that is worth checking out. If you are like me, you upload tons of apps, and delete the ones that don’t make the cut. I’ve uploaded this one – we’ll see if I keep it!

I’m not in Sacramento tomorrow – but if I were, I’d be heading over to Pyramid (1029 K Street) from 530pm – 730pm where CALInnovates is buying the beer. From our perspective, we think that CALInnovates should require a… Read More

So you want to win a California GOP Primary?

June is almost here and I get asked a lot about what it takes to win a GOP Primary. I tell people it takes two things. 1. A Conservative Message 2. Enough money to get it out. You don’t need the most money, but a basic minimum level to be competitive

So what should the message be? Some will tell you that this cycle it is jobs, health care, the economy, anti-establishment, being the most conservative etc…

Here is a secret on communicating all that to GOP voters whether you are running for Governor or Assembly. Ready.

Attack the Governor.

That’s right not President Obama, but Arnold.

The last few months I have opened many presentations to GOP oriented groups (not just the hard core one) with something this like. “Governor Schwarzenegger is a failure.”

Guaranteed applause every time.

Of course it is a fact. His poll ratings are in the 20’s. He broke promise after promise and worse kept a couple. Arnold raised taxes, cost jobs with AB 32, grew government, signed nanny state legislation, and opposed Prop. 8, appointed bad judges,… Read More

While this site’s readers are primarily focused on events in California, I wanted to take a moment to draw your attention to a tragedy that occurred recently in West Virginia.

This recent mining tragedy is a devastating reminder of the strength and courage that our nation’s mineworkers demonstrate on a daily basis. My thoughts and prayers are with all of the men and women who work at the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia.

Like West Virginia, California’s 25th Congressional District is an area of the country that takes a tremendous amount of pride in its mineworkers and their families. I know I speak for the district when I extend my deepest gratitude for the tireless efforts shown by these men and women.

Please remember to keep the victims and their families in your thoughts and prayers throughout the coming weeks.… Read More

As California families struggle to make ends meet and unemployment in some counties tops 20 percent, you would think the Legislature would get out of the way of the free market and the entrepreneurs who provide job growth.

But you would bewrong. Instead, liberal Senators passed a bill yesterday in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee that will make batteries more expense. (By the way, I am a member of this board and voted “no” on the bill).

Senate Bill 1100 (Corbett) will create new fees on batteries, which will be handed down to the consumer to the tune of about $15 million per year. And since the fee in this bill has not been determined, the price could go higher.

This bill will alsoopen aPandora’s Box to further implementation on other maligned items like fluorescent light bulbs, medical sharps and paints.

In a TV report last night, ABC’s Nannette Miranda exposes the costs of this bill.… Read More

Radio Wars — In the first spot below, conservative icon and Congressman Tom McClintock, calling Steve Poizner "the only conservative running for Governor" says we don’t need a third term of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Below that, Whitman blasts Steve Poizner, again…

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