Back in the early 1990’s all I heard about was how the Republican Party needed to be a “big tent.” The idea was to embrace anyone who wanted to be a Republican regardless of what that person stood for.

Of course that is how we get tax raising Governors like the one here in California. But what you also get are politicians that will put a bullet in your back as soon as the going gets tough.

Let’s look at John McCain. John McCain is no conservative. There are many issues where he went “maverick” rather than the generally excepted conservative position. Joe Lieberman reminded us of all those things during the RNC Convention.

So who stabbed him inthe back? Was it conservatives?

Collin Powell. This guy was made by Ronald Reagan and then the Bushes (not conservatives either). An enormous amount of Republican resources were spent promoting the General. Unfortunately, he isn’t the only one.

Former Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee, and Sen. Charles Mathias Jr. , Former Congressmen Jim Leach, Cong. Wayne Gilchrest and Former Mass. Governor Bill Weld all joined the team. How much did the Republican Party spend on behalf of these guys?… Read More

Day after thoughts on some local “stuff”….

SD City Attorney… Aguirre is evacuated, victim of his huge mouth and even larger ego, mixed in with delusions of grandeur and a tad paranoia. Jan Goldsmith will make a great city attorney.

52nd Congressional… Congrats to Duncan D. Hunter (now simply Duncan Hunter). Registration was tough enough to beat, add the name factor and the combo was lethal. Virtually everyone knew this was over a year ago, except for a handful of Mike Lumpkin supporters that became constant commenters on GOP blogs. And, every moment spent trying to convince GOP activists on a center-right leaning blog that Lumpkin had a chance was time that could have been used with real swing voters. And, they say the blogs have no impact.… Read More

On this election day, much will be decided across this country. The next President and Vice President will be elected. Republicans will certainly lose seats in the United States Senate, but will we be able to retain enough seats to filibuster against egregious, left-wing legislation? Pundits estimate House GOP loses in the neighborhood of 20-30 seats (some say that Tom McClintock’s bid for Congress is in peril, and that once-thought-safe incumbent Members of Congress like Dan Lungren are no longer assured reelection).

As the State Legislative level, it is unclear whether the sizable lead of Barack Obama in California will sweep Democrats into an even greater lock-hold on the Senate and Assembly, or whether, like in 2006, the Democrat wave will crash at the border (no state legislative seats changed parties that year).

In the State Senate, only one seat – the 19th District – is really in… Read More

On this election day, much will be decided across this country. The next President and Vice President will be elected. Republicans will certainly lose seats in the United States Senate, but will we be able to retain enough seats to filibuster against egregious, left-wing legislation? Pundits estimate House GOP loses in the neighborhood of 20-30 seats (some say that Tom McClintock’s bid for Congress is in peril, and that once-thought-safe incumbent Members of Congress like Dan Lungren are no longer assured reelection).

As the State Legislative level, it is unclear whether the sizable lead of Barack Obama in California will sweep Democrats into an even greater lock-hold on the Senate and Assembly, or whether, like in 2006, the Democrat wave will crash at the border (no state legislative seats changed parties that year).

In the State Senate, only one seat – the 19th District – is really in… Read More

This just in from Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association… HJTA has released itsannual Legislative report card based on the votes and/or abstentions on 29 bills introduced in the California Legislature. These bills include proposals which either directly diminish the protections of Propositions 13 or 218, or are “tax like fees” that should require voter approval per Proposition 13. 2008 saw an overall lowering of grades as several bills (including what is now Proposition 1A (High Speed Rail) were passed with bipartisan support despite our strenuous objections. The number of A grades received (28) is the lowest ever. The number of B grades received is our highest ever (14).We’d also like to commend the four legislators who received perfect scores in 2008: Joel Anderson, Ted Gaines, Audra Strickland, & Mimi Walters.Especially on Election Day, it is important… Read More

The entire Congressional delegation will be re-elected. There was some media reports that caused concern over Rohrabacher and Calvert.

No surprises in the legislative races.

Supervisor Janet Nguyen’s chief of staff, Andrew Do is on top for election to the Garden Grove city council, but late mail could have an impact.

Assemblyman Bob Huff’s district director, Tim Shaw is the top vote getter among absentees for the La Habra city council.

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido is set to win another term, it will be his seventh term. Terms are two years.

It does not look like Orange County will have a 35th city. Rossmoor cityhood is failing 73% to 28%.

See OC Registrar results updated here.… Read More

The fine folks over at Politicker are reporting that House Republican Leader John Boehner is preparing to campaign for re-election to his leadership post…

Huh?

That is quite possibly the dumbest thing I have ever heard. The only thing that would be more stupid would be his colleagues offering Boehner, or anyone in the current House GOP Leadership, any support — except out the door.

It is so clear that we need fresh faces in our leadership for Republicans in the Senate and the House.

Boehner and his team can point to no meaningful policy victories whilst in the minority (Oh, except Boehner supported the outrageous government bail-out of Wall Street, but so did Pelosi. That wasmore a victory, with Pelosi, against conservatives and cautious taxpayers). And it is very clear that Boehner will have presided over historic losses of Republicans during his tenure.

Exactly on what "platform" does Boehner think he could run for another term? The reality is that Boehner’s election… Read More

Here at the FlashReport, we’ll be live-blogging election results for California. I am at the Hyatt Hotel in Irvine, site of the California Republican Party’s election night party, safely sequestered in the "war room" were election contests across the country and especially here in California will be closely monitered.

… Read More