I’ve been “back in the saddle” here in Washington for 3 weeks now, and I can’t believe what I am seeing. I am angry. Angry because of the direction in which this Congress and this President are taking the nation; angry because the atmosphere here is so poisonous; angry because it seems so many leaders here are still campaigning when we have a crisis that demands responsible leadership.

But I am also sad. Sad because the policies being put in place and proposed will leave so many out of work for so long. Sad that opportunities may be limited for a decade.

And I am scared. Scared because things may still get worse before they get better.

Over the next several days, I will give you some very personal reflections on what is happening, but first, the AIG debate.

Oh, and to preempt the inevitable question, I was not invited to President Obama’s campaign rally in Costa Mesa this week, even though my district is only about a mile from where he spoke. I use the words “campaign rally” rather than “town hall” intentionally.… Read More

The city of Irvine has had a moratorium on new wireless sites for almost a year. At a time when so many people are abandoning their home phones in favor wireless, its just not logical to prevent carriers from expanding their networks to serve their customers.

My column on this issue appeared in the Orange County Register’s Irvine World News today. Check it out here.… Read More

[Cross-posted from OC Blog]

Although I rarely contribute to candidates, that doesn’t stop a steady stream of fundraising invites landing in my mail.

Yesterday, I received an invitation to "an Elegant Evening with Assemblyman Anthony Adams and Guest of Honor Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger."

Readers will recall Adams is the San Bernardino County assemblyman who was on of the three Assembly Republicans who provided the votes necessary to inflict a massive tax increase on the people of California.

It’s no surprise to see Arnold as the headliner. It’s like the British throwing a fundraiser for Benedict Arnold.

What is extremely disappointing is to see the name of OC’s Senator Bob Huff at the top of the host committee.

Adams not only provided one of the votes to pass the tax increase, but… Read More

Over the years, I have had my share of hands-on campaign experience. Besides my term as Executive Director of the California Republican Party, I was intimately involved in key positions in campaigns for a statewide candidate and a ballot measure (one won, one lost), as well as numerous campaigns for Congress and the State Legislature. This is relevant because I want make it clear that when I write about political strategy and tactics, it is not from the perspective of a conservative columnist, but rather from the perspective of having over two decades of hands-on involvement in the “contact game” of politics.

Yesterday State Senator Jeff Denham (pictured to the right) announced that in the pursuit of the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor that he has successfully reserved (or “locked up” as we say in the biz) 14 of the major GOP slate… Read More

I was a little taken aback this morning when I read in the Stockton Record that the City of Stockton, or shall we say the City Manager (since it seems from the article that none of the elected officials on council were aware of what was going on), is attempting to cobble together a way to purchase the Stockton Thunder hockey team from owner Michael Reinsdorf. The excuse is that because they feel they have an unfavorable lease that the city can then either keep the team or re-sell it to ownership with a lease agreement that is favorable to the city. The only person on council who opposed it immediately was uber-left councilwoman Susan Eggman.

As many of you know, I am a rabid hockey fan. I have also been an active participant in the debates over public financing of sports teams and facilities. It is a much easier case to make in spending public dollars for facilities than it is to actually BUY a franchise.

The interesting side to this story is the dramatic success of the Stockton Thunder hockey franchise that has become the crown jewel of the ECHL with attendance that other franchises could only hope for. This success has led the ownership to upgrade… Read More

Over the years, I have had my share of hands-on campaign experience. Besides my term as Executive Director of the California Republican Party, I was intimately involved in key positions in campaigns for a statewide candidate and a ballot measure (one won, one lost), as well as numerous campaigns for Congress and the State Legislature. This is relevant because I want make it clear that when I write about political strategy and tactics, it is not from the perspective of a conservative columnist, but rather from the perspective of having over two decades of hands-on involvement in the “contact game” of politics.

Yesterday State Senator Jeff Denham (pictured to the right) announced that in the pursuit of the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor that he has successfully reserved (or “locked up” as we say in the biz) 14 of… Read More

From today’s Wall Street Journal Political Diary e-mail. Red font added by me.

Escape from Pelosi Island

… Read More

Just minutes ago, embattled Republican Assemblyman Anthony Adams resigned his position as Chairman of the San Bernardino County Republican Party. According to a FR source at the meeting, it was pretty clear that if Adams had not stepped down, the votes were there to remove him from his post.

This action by Adams' local committee is a sign that there is still a lot of angst over Adams' deciding vote for the largest tax increase in the history of this or any state. Adams had voluntarily signed the Americans for Tax Reform “No New Taxes” pledge in his campaign for office.

Conservative Ken Willis is the new Chairman, and Larry McCallon, who serves as the CRP Inland Empire Vice Chairman, is the new SBGOP Vice Chairman.

The San Bernardino County Party has joined with the Santa Barbara County GOP as being the latest party organizations to formally oppose Proposition 1A.… Read More