Having been around politics my entire adult life, I know that it is a business that produces winners and losers. On occasion, those who lose are sore. And on even fewer occasions, some reporter eager to highlight division in the party gives the sore losers a platform. That’s what I see here.

This morning in the Sacramento Bee is such a story that I frankly would not link to this morning, finding it that lacking it news worthiness, but for the fact that having seen the full statement provided to the Bee reporter by CRP Chairman Ron Nehring, and how key parts of it never were included in the story, I thought it important for Nehring’s complete statement to be available for public consumption.

If you read the story, take note of Ron Nehring’s full statement below…

— Flash … Read More

This just in from U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina…

“Today we remember the birth of President Ronald Reagan, a leader whom I admire most because he was clear, because he was an optimist and because he knew that big government is the problem, not the solution. He led our nation through stormy economic times with policies that encouraged the growth of small businesses and allowed entrepreneurs and innovators to do what they do best – create jobs. His leadership and vision also expanded the reach of democracy in the world and made Americans more secure.

President Reagan was truly a pragmatic leader with a common-sense approach to politics who brought people together to carry the nation through difficult times. He held strongly to the values of limited government and individual responsibility. He was a great optimist who believed in the strength of the American people. He understood that the American Dream was something worth protecting.

As conservative leaders we must look to the approach to leadership that President Reagan so strongly demonstrated as a guidepost for our own solutions to the challenges we face today. We can do… Read More

Just received word that Ethie Radanovich, the wife of U.S. Representative George Radanovich, passed away last night. She had been fighting cancer for some time. Our prayers go out to the Congressman, his family and their close friends. Very sad news, indeed.… Read More

The Sacramento Bee is reporting the California Teachers Association is busy qualifying a measure to repeal about $1.7 billion dollars in tax benefits for corporations currently in place, or about to go into effect in the next budget year. First and foremost, for the record, repealing these benefits is a bad idea. Right now we need to be freeing up the capital of corporations so that they can grow, thrive, and create private sector jobs.

Now, that having been said, the bulk of the tax benefits that are targeted by the CTA are, in my opinion, ill-gotten gains from the February 2009 budget deal where taxpayers got slammed with $16 billion dollars of income, sales and car taxes, as well as loss of some of the dependent tax credit, and also the same deal spawned a ballot measure that would have doubled the length of those tax increases. Somehow as part of the deal, while taxes went up on the people of California, big-business got a bunch a tax breaks. And, go figure, the "business community" rallied around the deal, which in my opinion, stunk. It was… Read More

I have many fond memories associated with South Lake Tahoe – renting a cabin with friends, a couple of weddings, a couple of rowdy New Years Eves… I’m sure I’m not alone in having a lot of great times at this great postcard perfect vacation spot. But while many of us visit South Lake Tahoe, believe it or not there are nearly 35,000 people who call that city their home.

Whether a visitor or a year round resident of South Lake Tahoe, everyone sees the signature “Go Blue” public buses that zip all around town. For someone like me who doesn’t like to drive in the snow, I’ve hopped on them a time or two.

The reason why I bring this up is because today I am going to devote my column to exposing the bizarre story of John Andoh. John Andoh is the Big Kahuna of the Go Blue public bus transit system – in… Read More

I consider myself a ballot designation junkie. My firm has polled extensively on which ballotdesignations work best for which types of office andin which parts of the state. I enjoy the creativeprocess of coming up with the best three words. Note: Most other states we don’t have ballot designations.

It is usually the third question I ask a candidate after, "Can you really raise money?" and "Whowas your favorite player on the1986 World Series Championship Mets?"

"Whatwill you use for a ballot title?"Actually, the questionsjust got a little more complicated.

Thankthe good folks at Reed & Davidson, some of the top political attorney’s in the state for their quick analysis of the recent changes to the regulations that govern ballot designations. According to an email they sent out today there are several things to watch out for:

-The ambiguity surrounding the use of appointed titles such as mayor and mayor pro tem in cities where those positions rotate among the city council, no longer exists. You can use thedesignationIF they do not… Read More

News reports today informed us that Mission Viejo City Councilman Lance MacLean, the current appointed Mayor, was recalled by the very narrow margin of just 19 votes in the city recall election held last Tuesday. After spending the extraordinary amount of $105,000 to oppose the recall (or about $15 a vote) (one wonders who did the union’s polling!) and lose by just 19 votes, the Orange County Deputy Sheriff’s union might want to demand a "recount" just to satisfy any doubts individual union members might have about the results, or the wisdom, of dumping such a large amount of precious PAC funds down the drain on just this small part of the County.

If union members want a recount, however, they will have to pay for it, adding insult to injury. Under the law, a County Registrar may initiate a recount where he/she believes there has been a miscount of the vote. However, today’s news reports make it clear that the County Registrar’s office, through their spokesperson, has full confidence in their election count. Where the government does not initiate a recount, the law allows any "voter" in the district to request… Read More

Today you will be asked to vote on whether to approve or reject the nomination of your colleague, Abel Maldonado, to be elevated into the position of Lt. Governor of California. I have spoken with many of you, and know that there are a range of opinions on this subject within your caucus.

I have yet, in the context of this confirmation, to find a Republican Senator who has told me that they are enthusiastic about Abel’s nomination, and looking forward to having him as Lt. Governor. But unfortunately that does not mean that I have encountered unanimous and strong opposition to confirming Maldonado, either.

To be blunt, there seems to be a lot of agreement that for various reasons, Abel Maldonado, as a politician, is not well liked or respected. Some feel that he doesn’t keep his commitments, others object to his quest for attention, others resent his lack of commitment to any set of principles, and of course there is deep unhappiness stemming from his role in the budget deal last year.

The reason why there is not uniformity in voting no on such an unpopular politician has nothing to do with Maldonado personally, but rather everyone seems to be… Read More