In this morning’s Sacramento Bee, there is an article with the headline, Cap Will Prevent Future Deficits, Governor Vows.

My response, just from looking at the headline, was to roll my eyes.

In one of my shortest commentary’s of the year, let’s lay out, in simple terms, three reasons why Arnold Schwarzenegger’s credibility is lacking.

1) The Governor ran for office, twice, pledging to oppose new taxes. He has now signed into law the largest tax increase in the history of any state, and is advocating the passage of Proposition 1A, which contains $20 billion more in taxes on Californians.

2) In 2004, the Governor campaigned for Propositions 57 & 58,… Read More

Trust me when I tell you that the Orange County Republican Party’s governing Central Committee is anything but monolithic. While certainly dominated by conservatives, the Committee of around seventy members most of whom are independently elected from Assembly Districts all around the county, is a dynamic group that includes GOPers of all stripes. I say this because last night, in a packed meeting with over two hundred people in attendance, the Orange County Republican Party Central Committee formally opposed all six ballot measures that will come before voters in the upcoming special election in May, Propositions 1A through 1F – and the vote was unanimous – when OC GOP Chairman, former Assembly Republican Leader Scott Baugh, called for the two voice votes (there was a motion to oppose 1A and 1B, and a separate motion to oppose 1C, 1D, 1E, and 1F), the large crowd voted to oppose them all, with not one “nay” to be heard when opposing votes were called for.

Orange County Assemblywoman Diane Harkey flew down from Sacramento to give a rousing speech in support of the motion to oppose… Read More

Kudos to Congressman Darrell Issa for asking the obvious questions. Amidst all the pontification coming from the pres and senior staff on the AIG bonuses, what was known in advance? Might the outrage have been pro-active and thus pre-emptive, or is it simply now reactive, with a wet finger in the air (while also on the pulse of an irate public)?

From Issa:

Issa to White House: When did you learn of AIG Bonuses? WASHINGTON. D.C. – House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA) today, in a letter to President Barack Obama, requested that the Administration provide information about when senior administration and White House officials first became aware of imminent bonus payments to AIG executives.

“Given your recent expressions of outrage about bonuses being paid to AIG executives, I am concerned that members of your Administration may not be bringing critical information to your attention in a timely manner,” said the letter from Issa. “There is good reason to believe that White House officials have long known about impending bonus payments to AIG… Read More

Trust me when I tell you that the Orange County Republican Party’s governing Central Committee is anything but monolithic. While certainly dominated by conservatives, the Committee of around seventy members most of whom are independently elected from Assembly Districts all around the county, is a dynamic group that includes GOPers of all stripes. I say this because last night, in a packed meeting with over two hundred people in attendance, the Orange County Republican Party Central Committee formally opposed all six ballot measures that will come before voters in the upcoming special election in May, Propositions 1A through 1F – and the vote was unanimous – when OC GOP Chairman, former Assembly Republican Leader Scott Baugh, called for the two voice votes (there was a motion to oppose 1A and 1B, and a separate motion to oppose 1C, 1D, 1E, and 1F), the large crowd voted to oppose them all, with not one “nay” to be heard when opposing votes were called for.

Orange County Assemblywoman Diane Harkey flew down from Sacramento to give a rousing speech in support of the motion to oppose Propositions 1A and 1B,… Read More

Longtime FR friend penned some exclusive thoughts for FR readers on why he endorsed Meg Whitman for Governor….

From today’s Wall Street Journal Political Diary… John Fund remembers actor Ron Silver, who passed away yesterday… (We added the photo…)

Silver Was Pure Gold

Actor and liberal-turned-conservative activist Ron Silver knew how to live — and also how to deal courageously with the cancer that claimed his life yesterday at age 62.

When I last saw him at a lunch in New York a few months ago, I asked him how his health was. "Not good," he replied philosophically. "I’m probably not going to make it, but I’ll go down fighting."

Not much you can say to that, except to… Read More

As the Governor is out selling Proposition 1A, the tax extension measure with a “spending cap”, it may be time to remind voters of other promises he made them.

Anyone remember Proposition 58? Only 5 years ago. The Governor was touting his post recall plan for California. The budget deficit was ..gasp… over $20 billion.

Prop. 58 along with his economy recovery bond Prop. 57 would restore California to fiscal health.

The Governor got the CRP to support the measure. (CRA did oppose.)

Here is my favorite part from the official ballot argument in favor.

“State government spending in California is out of control. Over the past three years, state spending has significantly exceeded state revenues. Proposition 58 will require the Governor and the California State Legislature to ENACT a BALANCED BUDGET. Right now, the Governor is only required to propose, not enact, a balanced budget. This loophole has led to the huge budget deficits that plague California.

The California Balanced Budget Act:

WILL require a BALANCED BUDGET;

WILL require that

Last Friday the Board of Directors of the Lincoln Club of Fresno County voted unanimously to oppose all of the May ballot initiatives being proposed out of the already failed budget deal worked out between the Governor and Legislature. Board Secretary Jeff Reid prepared a devastating, and irrefutable critique of the initiatives.

Tonight, Jeff Reid and myself took to the podium at the Fresno County Central Committee meeting. Reid presented his analysis of the initiatives and his findings were met alternatively with gasps and disbelief from the members and audience on hand.

I appealed to the members on several levels, not the least that it is regrettably time to part with our friends in the Legislature if they betray our core values. There was more to my remarks, but I will spare the details. The resolutions opposing the ballot initiatives passed overwhelmingly, a bit later duringclosed session. There wassome clamoring for "equal time" for initiative proponents but those in favor of such equal time should be glad they lost their argument, as the proponents would have been thoroughly and completely humiliated.

Other Lincoln Clubs and… Read More