FlashReport Exclusive…

Here are some excerpts from the statement that Congressman Radanovich is making to his friends, supporters and to the public… Read more details about the Congressman’s retirement and his choice for a successor in the blog post below this one… "During the past 15 years that I have been a Member of Congress representing my friends, family and neighbors from our Central Valley, not a day goes by that I don’t feel a sense of pride and honor in being their voice in our nation’s capital…" "Every… Read More

From 1995 to 2000 Brian Bilbray (pictured, right) served in Congress representing what was then California’s 49th Congressional District in San Diego County. The seat was a competitive one, and in 2000 Bilbray ended up losing his re-election to now Democrat Congresswoman Susan Davis. Fast forward to 2006 — and the high profile disgraced Duke Cunningham is forced from the House of Representatives for, in essence, selling America for personal gain, leaving a vacancy in the more Republican 50th District. Bilbray jumped into the race to succeed Cunningham, and was successful. Bilbray one the special election in 2006, and then handily won re-election in 2008.

Is there a potential parallel between Bilbray’s return to Congress, and potential aspirations for conservative Richard… Read More

Candidates are already jockeying for position to run to replace George Radanovich in the 19th Congressional District. As currently constituted, the 19th is a safe GOP seat, so all the action is in the primary this June. Rumored candidates are State Senator Jeff Denham, Former Fresno Mayor Jim Patterson, and current Fresno City Council Member Larry Westerlund.

The Lincoln Club of Fresno County is presently considering opening a federal committee in order to participate in Congressional races in 2010. If we do, I can assure you, those that we interview for Congressional District 19 will come out of a meeting with us bleeding. There will be demands placed on whoever the candidates are that they legislate with conservative credentials – period.… Read More

**BREAKING NEWS**

FlashReport sources have confirmed 15-year veteran Republican Member of Congress George Radanovich, who represents a safe GOP House seat in the Central Valley, will announce shortly that he is retiring from office at the end of this term — he has spent the morning breaking the news privately to key supporters. Congressman Radanovich’s wife, Ethie, is apparently very ill and Radanovich will be leaving Congress to spend more time with his wife, and family. (Radanovich is pictured, right)

Radanovich was swept into Congress in the infamous 1994 Republican wave that brought a GOP majority to the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time in a generation. That year Radanovich was selected by his very large group of fellow GOP Freshman to be… Read More

A rare story about a prison assualt – as reported on Sacramento’s KXTV News 10’s website yesterday:

Guard Stabbed in New Folsom Prison Attack

FOLSOM, CA – A correctional officer employed at California State Prison-Sacramento (new Folsom Prison) is recovering after being slashed in the neck Sunday night by an inmate, according to a prison spokeswoman.

The 33-year-old officer was cut on his neck, jaw and ear and required 68 stitches, said Rhonda Carter. He was taken by ambulance for treatment at an area hospital and released later Sunday night.

Carter said Jonathan McClaurin, 39, is accused of using a homemade weapon in the attack. McClaurin, behind bars since 1997, is serving 135 years to life for three counts of first-degree robbery, vehicle theft and disregard for safety.

Carter said the prison is investigating the stabbing, which took place in a maximum security unit at about 7 p.m. Sunday, as attempted murder.

The guard has been employed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for 3 1/2 years, Carter… Read More

This morning the Sacramento Bee and Calbuzz carry obituaries of Bill Cavala. Bill was a legendary Democrat professional and activist who, among other things, worked for decades at the side of former Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, Jr, helping him to secure innumerable political victories.

Needless to say, Bill and I had little in common in terms of ideology or issues. Despite this, over the past decade, and especially since I launched this website in 2005, Bill and I became friends. We have a string of emails going back and forth that must number in the hundreds. We joked, shared analysis — and regularly called each other out if our rhetoric overshot reality (ok, that was mainly him schooling me).

Bill and I both began our road down the path to politics in high school as members of the Junior Statesmen of America (where I now serve… Read More

“As California goes, so goes the nation,” as the old saying goes. America, please don’t do what we are doing. Last week, Americans witnessed the U.S. Senate adopting the schedule that the California Legislature uses for its all night legislative slumber parties in our State Capitol. Americans had to wait until 1:00 AM eastern time to watch the Senate vote on the healthcare system’s destruction.

Back here at home, many of our state’s most important decisions over the last few years have also been completed well after last call in any neighborhood bar. And judging by the government spending sprees of late, both groups of late night patrons had similar decision-making capabilities: an explosion of new spending on bonds, budgets that are BILLIONS out of balance before the photocopies of the legislation have cooled.

All this was voted on by California legislators after an attrition strategy by their leaders to delay votes until near dawn. The California Legislature would often convene in late-night session after CalSpan is off the air, thus avoiding their handy work being exposed to “We The People.” After seeing votes scheduled for 1:00 am,… Read More

“As California goes, so goes the nation,” as the old saying goes. America, please don’t do what we are doing. Last week, Americans witnessed the U.S. Senate adopting the schedule that the California Legislature uses for its all night legislative slumber parties in our State Capitol. Americans had to wait until 1:00 AM eastern time to watch the Senate vote on the healthcare system’s destruction.

Back here at home, many of our state’s most important decisions over the last few years have also been completed well after last call in any neighborhood bar. And judging by the government spending sprees of late, both groups of late night patrons had similar decision-making capabilities: an explosion of new spending on bonds, budgets that are BILLIONS out of balance before the photocopies of the legislation have cooled. All this was voted on by California legislators after an attrition strategy by their leaders to delay votes until near dawn.

The California Legislature would often convene in late-night session after CalSpan is off the air, thus avoiding their handy work being exposed to “We The People.” After seeing votes scheduled for 1:00 am,… Read More