Late last night the US Senate passed the massive Wall Street bailout—which went from three pages a week ago to the size of a novel after Congressional input. Both of California’s US Senators, Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein, voted for the bailout. The courageous House Republicans, who just a few days ago stood up to enormous pressure to approve the bailout, will now be under even greater pressure from lobbyists and Wall Street to follow suit. But the reason many Republicans (and Democrats), including my congressman, John Doolittle, voted against the $700 billion bailout is because they were receiving unprecedented contact from their constituents. Fearful of losing their elections next month, members actually listened to those they were sent to Washington, DC, to represent.

The House of Representatives’ web site was overwhelmed because of all the hits and emails. The American People—thanks mostly to the new media—are informed and engaged and they want their voice heard on an act so monumental that it will impact our country for decades to come.

With so many constituents calling their… Read More

**A FlashReport Exclusive — We Had It Here First** One of Governor Schwarzenegger’s most senior staff members, and certainly the highest placed conservative in the administration, Cabinet Secretary Dan Dunmoyer, is leaving the administration. Replacing Dunmoyer will be another Republican, Victoria Bradshaw, currently the Secretary of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency. This change at the highest levels of the Schwarzenegger Administration will be publicly announced later this morning.

There will be a short transition, but as Dunmoyer told me in a conversation last night, “Vickie is already prepared to hit the ground running.”

In addition to be a current agency secretary since 2004, Bradshaw… Read More

**A FlashReport Exclusive — We Had It Here First**

One of Governor Schwarzenegger’s most senior staff members, and certainly the highest placed conservative in the administration, Cabinet Secretary Dan Dunmoyer, is leaving the administration. Replacing Dunmoyer will be another Republican, Victoria Bradshaw, currently the Secretary of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency. This change at the highest levels of the Schwarzenegger Administration will be publicly announced later this morning.

There will be a short transition, but as Dunmoyer told me in a conversation last night, “Vickie is already prepared to hit the ground running.”

In addition to be a current agency secretary since 2004, Bradshaw… Read More

It is rare, but sometimes technical issues cause a delay in the posting of our main page news links. This is one of those occasions. My apologies, and we're working with our development team (in Orlando) to get things back on track.… Read More

This morning I had a chance to speak for a few minutes with former California Governor Pete Wilson (pictured left), and with Captain Pete Hegseth, retired, a former combat soldier in Iraq. Both are veterans, both are leaders in a 401(c)4 organization, Veterans for Freedom. Hegseth is the group’s Chairman, and Wilson – well he describes his involvement in the group as, “a supporter, a volunteer and someone eager to see all of the efforts being made by these 30,000 combat veterans to educate the American people successful.”

Today Veterans for Freedom begins a saturation-level $2.2 million dollar, week-long media buy in all of California’s major media markets, featuring this ad… … Read More

Senator McCain, as he should, is going to be in Washington, D.C., to vote on the latest iteration of "taxpayers of America bail out Wall Street" — I suspect he will vote FOR it. But I strongly counsel him to vote against it. This is a great opportunity to show that the self-annointed "Maverick" is willing to buck the monied interests who are pushing for this particular bill, which is fundamentally flawed.… Read More

[Cross-posted from OC Blog]

Although what became Proposition 8 was already moving toward the November ballot, what really thrust same-sex marriage to the forefront of California and national politics was the state Supreme Court’s 4-3 decision creating it. Since then I’ve been perplexed by the attitude of a number of Republicans and small "l" libertarians to the court’s decision and the issue of same-sex marriage.

For example, the OC Register editorial page responded by expressing its support for the ruling, and Libertarian Party presidential nominee Bob Barr chimed in his approval.

It’s astounding to me that any libertarian would applaud a such a naked exercise of government power. Four judges took it upon themselves to use their power to re-define the fundamental unit of civilization in opposition to what it has been throughout recorded history. Such deep social engineering by judicial diktat should appall libertarians, not merit their approval.

Instead, libertarians and conservatives ought to be natural allies in the effort to pass Proposition 8.… Read More

We’ve got spirit, yes we do…

Today I stopped in at the Pleasanton Victory HQ, and talked with long time GOP pal, Judy Lloyd. We are both fired up for the debate tomorrow night, and can’t wait to see Biden vs. the Barracuda!!!

While in the office, I met Nathan Conrad, who is coordinating the Victory efforts in the Bay Area. I tried to get him to talk a little smack and lay down a challenge to his counterparts throughout the State. He told me that the Pleasanton office is making over 5,000 calls per week!

Impressive!

I got to see Justin Norell and Forest Tracy working the phones, and may I say…they are charmers! I don’t know how anyone could say ‘no’ if one of these gents asked them to vote for Senator McCain. Justin and Forest…you guys are awesome!

We need some precinct… Read More