This morning on our main page, we featured two new ads released by the Steve Poizner for Governor campaign. We just received this web ad from the Meg Whitman campaign, that really needs no introduction… I can’t imagine that similar videos to this, from Poizner critiquing Whitman, are far behind… To quote my friend Eric Hogue from his column this morning, it’s "game on" for sure…

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It is an honor to have been asked by Jon Fleischman to write for the FlashReport. I look forward to regularly contributing posts to this top news site covering national and state politics.

As I make frequent trips back and forth from Santa Clarita, CA to Washington, DC, I get to witness firsthand how the policies of Washington affect usback home. It is my hope this column will serve as a direct line from my computer to yours (or BlackBerry, iPhone…) to discuss these important policies and their impact on California. These posts will be unedited by Jon or FR editors and will be unaffiliated with the other regular contributors to this blog.

I continually speak with constituentsin the 25th Congressional District who share their views about health care, unemployment, the economy and national security, and are passionate about events and legislation in Congress. Sometimes news reports fail to cover the various complexities of these political issues, and the FlashReport is the perfect venue toopen that discussion online.

I look forward to writing and to hearing your feedback.

Buck McKeon… Read More

This just off the transom from longtime FR friend Brian Johnston of the California Pro-Life Council… State’s Largest Pro-Life Organization Takes on Meg Whitman’s Reagan Posturing SACRAMENTO, CA — In response to Meg Whitman’s blanketing of the airwaves and posturing as a ‘Reagan conservative", Brian Johnston, the Director of the California ProLife Council, explained his organizations concerns. Meg Whitman is no Ronald… Read More

It didn’t take long this morning before an inquisitive FR reader asked about my endorsement of Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate in Florida, and whether I am obliged to stay neutral in his showdown against liberal GOPer and Florida Governor Charlie Crist.

I checked in with the California Republican Party’s legal counsel on this very point. Bell assured me that the bylaws of the State GOP prohibit elected CRP Officers from endorsing in contested partisan primaries here in the Golden State — but do not keep us from endorsing Republicans in primaries outside of California.

Good to know!… Read More

[Cross-posted from RedCounty.com]

I’ve learned that Anaheim Councilwoman Lucille Kring visited the OCRegistrar of Voters office earlier this afternoon and pulled papers to run against Democratic incumbent Sen. Lou Correa in the 34th Senate District.

This is bad news for the vulnerable Correa, who was getting tantalizingly close to avoiding a real opponent in what promises to be the worst year for Democrats in a long, long time.

You can read the rest of the post here.… Read More

The race for California Governor "officially" now has a candidate – Steve Poizner. This morning the Insurance Commissioner filed his papers making his candidacy official. Courtesy of his campaign, here is some local MSM news television coverage of his filing…

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The speculation has lasted for several months whether appointed incumbent San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/Clerk David Butler would seek election in his own right.

Appointed by the Board of Supervisors last year after 25-year office holder Greg Smith resigned in late 2008, Butler offficially announced today he will run for the seat. Very officially. After all, what better way to get the word out than by letting County employees know through use of the publicly-owned email system?

His first campaign missive has established Butler’s efficiency! Why develop your own campaign distribution list, when the taxpayers’ system is already in place?

Okay, some might say that the message below from Butler doesn’t actually say anything akin to "Vote for me," or direct anyone to a campaign website. It could be construed aspertinent information for the office. Yet, it does include items for which he is taking credit, while titling them "Critical Long Term Projects," the implication clearly being they are important enough that Butler needs to continue to serve.

After the recent Walt Ekard flap over his email… Read More

To conclude that the state is bankrupt is to suggest that the state is unable to pay its debtors even after selling all its assets and giving up all its income. That is simply not true. The reality is that the state is choosing to spend more than it takes in, which is a policy choice that needs to change, but those who believe bankruptcy would make Sacramento face reality would not like the result.

In the past I have been loose with the word ‘bankrupt,’ but even if some court could have bankruptcy jurisdiction the state would still not be insolvent to file for relief. To be insolvent is to have debts greater than assets. Our debts are roughly $131 billion in General Obligation Bonds (issued and eligible) and leasing arrangements, plus around $500 billion in present and future pension and health liabilities, for a total of around $630 billion. On the asset side, the PERS account (underfunded but still substantial), plus all state property – the buildings, state parks, beaches, oil leases etc and other investments – is greater than $635 billion. As far as debt service, according to the Treasurer’s 2009 report, our annual total debt service is around… Read More