If you haven’t done so already, be sure to join my new FaceBook group, "Never Elect Abel Maldonado To Anything, Ever Again," which launched late yesterday morning. We have more than 300 members and counting.

One byproduct is a message I received from Chris Tolles, the CEO of Topix, LLC. You can read it here.

Chris identifies himself as a Republican, but blasts those of us who oppose the massive tax hike as "obstructionists" who need to follow Arnold Schwarzenegger’s example if there”s to be any hope of growing the California Republican Party.

And in a startling example of cognitive dissonance, Tolles also exclaims — while praising the virtues of Arnold’s leadership — that we need to end public employee unioon control of state government.

Tolles is correct about the unions, of course, but how that meshes with devotion to Arnold doesn’t compute. Arnold apologized for his attempt to tame union power in 2005, and the unions have actually… Read More

The "ruling power" has carried the day against the ruled.

Sen. Abel Maldonado named his price for voting for a massive tax hike, and the Democrats (along with a few Quisling Republican) met it, reminding me of the famous story about Winston Churchill’s propositioning a woman.

First, let me thank Sen. Abel Maldonado for taking a large sum of money out of my family budget and handing it over to a reckless, thieving state government. My wife thanks you, Senator, and my four daughters thank you. After all, is there any sacrifice too large if it benefits Sen. Maldonado’s political ambitions? (This is sarcasm, in case anyone missed that)

Secondly, I invite all FlashReport.org readers to join my new FaceBook group, "Never Elect Abel Maldonado To Anything, Ever Again." Are we the party of lower taxes? Or the party of raising taxes little bit… Read More

H/T to Mark Landsbaum at Orange Punch:

As Dan Ackroyd said in "The Twilight Zone" movie, "Wanna see something really scary?"

OK, not so much scary as sickening. Either way, check out these Los Angeles Times photos of "Republican" Sen. Abel Maldonado and Roy Ashburn celebrating the inglicting of a massive tax hike on Californai citizens. Recoil at the sheer ecstasy in their faces as they vote to suck at least a thousand dollars out of the every working Californian and toss it down the state government rat hole — and collect their tax-free per diem in the process!

These guys are a disgrace. If the Senate Republicans have any self-respect, they’ll toss these them out of the caucus. That goes for the Assembly republicans, as well. First order of business is electing a new leader, and then exiling Assemblymen Anthony Adams, Roger Niello and Mike Villines. If those three are willing to put the interests of the government ahead of the interests of taxpayers and isde… Read More

These three Republican Senators: Roy Ashburn, Dave Cogdill, and Abel Maldonado all just vote to approve over $14 billion in new taxes, along with (of course) every Democrat.

It is a sad, depressing day indeed. Horrible for taxpayers, and terrible for the Republican Party.… Read More

From Capitol Alert:

This morning, Adams joined Assembly GOP leader Mike Villines and Assemblyman Roger Niello, R-Fair Oaks, as the three GOP votes needed, along with every Democrat, to pass the $40 billion budget deficit package in the lower house. The plan includes $15 billion in spending cuts, $12.8 billion in temporary tax increases, and $11.4 billion in borrowing.

By the time of the vote, Adams had gathered signed 2010 endorsements from every single Republican in the Assembly.

"While all the members may not feel the same way that I do about the matter, they are still very supportive of me and know that I’m doing this on principle and not for some giveaway or something like that," Adams said.

Un-fer-reaking-believable.

What does Adams have to do for his colleagues to yank their endorsements: Burn a picture of Ronald Reagan on the Assembly floor?… Read More

This weekend the CA GOP will gather in Sacramento for the Spring Convention and the power of the State Republican Parties and the National Committee men and women is made clear in this article just published in Politics Magazine. State and local party members have a real impact in setting our national agenda.

A cloud of potential ruin hangs Republicans and over the Democrats too. State Senator Maldonado’s sucker punch in the gut of organized political parties could destroy our party structure. The ‘top-two’ Primary System could see two Republicans face-off in a General Election.

Expect strong opposition to the measure this weekend.

http://www.politicsmagazine.com/plan-of-steele/… Read More

In the Assembly —

Republican Assemblymen Mike Villines, Anthony Adams and Roger Niello put up the necessary Republican votes to pass the $14 billion + in new taxes.

Oh — and to make matters even worse, Republican legislators flocked onto measure to place an open primary on next June’s primary ballot. Wonderful "reforms" team — taxes, and then a measure designed to destroy political parties.

I am tired, so you’ll have to wait to get more thoughts on all of this from me.

If you are bored today, you can call the Governor and ask him to veto the taxes that he wants and the open primary that he wants. But it would be a waste of time.… Read More

The SacBee has a calculator up that will allow you to estimate how much more you own under the New Maldonado Tax Plan.

Check it out.at http://www.sacbee.com/1098/story/1627728.html… Read More