Today the campaign of conservative State Senator Sam Aanestad will announce their endorsement by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association PAC — a major and significant endorsement in any race for public office in California, but an especially powerful one in a Republican primary.

This imminent endorsement should not come to a surprise to anyone who even remotely follows California politics because there are only two candidates running for the GOP nomination — conservative Republican Sam Aanestad and liberal Republican Abel Maldonado.

There is no need for us to lay out the case for why HJTA is backing Aanestad in this race, because HJTA’s President, as always, is quite articulate himself.

“Abel Maldonado received a generous “D” on our 2009 scorecard for his consistent anti-taxpayer votes and back room political deal he cut to increase… Read More

By now, many of you have probably heard or seen the numerous press reports on the President’s visit to the House Republican Retreat in Baltimore, Maryland last Friday. Having been in the room, here’s my analysis. This meeting occurred because the Republican caucus issued an invitation for the President to come. I think thatthis wasthe right thing to do, in fact I think we ought toalways invite the sitting President to our retreat, regardless of their party. The President accepted the invitation. But interestingly, he insisted that the meeting be open to the press and televised. This stands in stark contrast to the fact that his meeting with House Democrats at their retreat was closed to the press. It would appear then, that the President did not want you to hear what he said to Democrats, yet he did want you to hear what he said to us… Hmmmm. So was one a meeting and the other a show?

In any event, our caucus was very respectful. No outbursts or booing and such, and he was welcomed warmly. The message that Republicans were trying to give was that we actually have a lot of positive ideas and an agenda for the future, and that he is… Read More

So if you are a conservative in the California legislature, and you decide you want to seek higher (or lower) office – you can expect a few questions to come your way. As important as the no taxes pledge has rightfully become in GOP primaries because government at every level has expanded well beyond a sustainable level, the next big question will be – “How did you vote on the confirmation of Abel Maldonado as Lt. Governor?”

If you are a conservative in the state legislature, public policy positions taken by an official that you would place one-heartbeat (a very strong heartbeat, Governor) away from the state’s top job matter – in fact they matter a lot.

Who occupies this position also matters a lot for the messaging of our party. We already have the Governor who dismisses routinely GOP legislators in the Capitol – and with Maldonado we will have another “media darling” who will use his bully pulpit to attack conservatives.

I literally don’t have the space to list out all of… Read More

So if you are a conservative in the California legislature, and you decide you want to seek higher (or lower) office – you can expect a few questions to come your way. As important as the no taxes pledge has rightfully become in GOP primaries because government at every level has expanded well beyond a sustainable level, the next big question will be – “How did you vote on the confirmation of Abel Maldonado as Lt. Governor?”

If you are a conservative in the state legislature, public policy positions taken by an official that you would place one-heartbeat (a very strong heartbeat, Governor) away from the state’s top job matter – in fact they matter a lot.

Who occupies this position also matters a lot for the messaging of our party. We already have the Governor who dismisses routinely GOP legislators in the Capitol – and with Maldonado we will have another “media darling” who will use his bully pulpit to attack conservatives.… Read More

This just in from longtime FR friend (and fellow Vin Scully devotee) Rob Stutzman, Main thing you should know about Rob before reading the following is that his name does appear on the list of "well compensated" consultants to Meg Whitman’s campaign for Governor.

Who ever said politics wasn’t a contact sport?

Rob Stutzman: Poizner Can’t Win The War I can just imagine last Monday morning’s staff meeting at Poizner for Governor HQ. … Read More

Check out this new video… It is a "must watch…"

As FR readers know, we do not typically regurgitate campaign press releases. That said, the one below is from the Fiorina campaign and I am reprinting it for three reasons. The first — it’s an awesome release worthy of praise. The second is that the video above is SO GREAT that it seems appropriate to "reward" good work. And finally, as always, it’s easier to post their work then have to pen my own (although with the formatting it was a close call)…

I will give a shout out to FR friend and actor Robert Davi who does the voice over on the video above. You may recognize his familiar and distinctive voice. Way to go Robert! … Read More

Seems to me that while I have plenty of reasons for why conservatives should for sure not vote for Maldonado’s confirmation, I am struggling to figure out why Democrats would want the guy?

From a Constitutional perspective, if Democrats don’t confirm Maldonado, then it is another Democrat (Steinberg) who is in line to succeed the Governor should calamity occur.

But from a point of principle, and an important one — Democrats are equally victim of Maldonado’s blackmail scheme last February to force his so-called "open primary" onto the ballot. So it seems particularly humiliating to have someone rob you at gun point, and then to vote to give them a promotion.

Never mind the idea that every Democrat who votes for Maldanado is going to create headaches in their own future primaries, taking flak for supporting a Republican (well sort of) for the job.… Read More

I was kind of surprised by the number released in the 36th Senate District GOP Primary to succeed Dennis Hollingsworth.

I know this will be another shocker. I am biased towards the three candidates.

Assemblyman Joel Anderson is sure to be in the race. From October 2007 to December 2008 I was his Chief of Staff and I’ve known him for almost 20 years. I also know school board member Ken Dickson. Good man and a conservative. I have meet Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone and his sister once at the most recent CRP Convention.

But what stunned me was the Cash on Hand numbers for a primary just a few short months away. Anderson had $242,687.60, while Stone had only $84,944.13 and Ken Dickson was only 900 dollars behind that at $84,013.15.

This is significant because of geography in this race. In the 2002 GOP primary about 17% of voters were from the Riverside part of the district. The rest of the district is in Eastern San Diego County. In 2006 the Riverside portion climbed to a little over 19%.

Hollingsworth overcame the geography deficit by being the conservative candidate and he was only candidate from the Riverside portion of the… Read More