From today’s Wall Street Journal Political Diary:

The Sun King

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, a California Republican, thinks he has a partial solution to America’s dependence on high-priced foreign oil. But he says liberals and environmentalists are rejecting it.

Mr. Rohrabacher — who notes 130 pending applications for solar power projects on federal land administered by the Bureau of Land Management — has introduced a bill to allow the building of such plants without environmental-impact studies. He tells me that though the BLM has lifted a moratorium on new solar projects on public land that it imposed in 2005, applications are still being clogged up in a bureaucratic pipeline and no new permits have been issued to date. "We need… Read More

Charlie Gibson interviewed Alaska Governor Sarah Palin for ABC’s Nightline. I found it to be an interesting exchange, and worthy of sharing. You can see it here. Since she can pronounce "Ahmadinejad" — she’s certainly more qualified than me to serve in the White House…… Read More

California’s 10th Assembly District was one of the top three Republican ‘defense’ seats during the 2002 legislative elections. But, after handily carrying the district, incumbent Alan Nakanishi has had little problem holding the seat in subsequent elections.

That is all likely to change this year. The Democrats have moved the 10th Assembly District near the top of their wish-list, and for good reason. First, the seat is open, which always makes for a more interesting contest. Second, a once six-point Republican partisan voter registration advantage has shrunk to just two points.

The 10th District is located in the San Joaquin Valley, split over four counties — El Dorado, Amador, Sacramento and San Joaquin. Compounding matters for Republican strategists, not only was there a pretty brutal GOP primary contest back in June, but this seat… Read More

California’s 10th Assembly District was one of the top three Republican ‘defense’ seats during the 2002 legislative elections. But, after handily carrying the district, incumbent Alan Nakanishi has had little problem holding the seat in subsequent elections.

That is all likely to change this year. The Democrats have moved the 10th Assembly District near the top of their wish-list, and for good reason. First, the seat is open, which always makes for a more interesting contest. Second, a once six-point Republican partisan voter registration advantage has shrunk to just two points.

The 10th District is located in the San Joaquin Valley, split over four counties — El Dorado, Amador, Sacramento and San Joaquin. Compounding matters for Republican strategists, not only was there a pretty brutal GOP primary contest back in June, but this seat… Read More

This morning it is my unfortunate duty to unveil a new website address for the so-called California Taxpayers Association. Until now, you could only access their website by going to www.caltax.org. But we here at the FlashReport officially unveil www.taxcal.org, which will take you straight to the home page of this group which has endorsed huge multi-billion dollar sales tax increase proposed by Governor Schwarzenegger as part of a “compromise budget” that seeks to punish California taxpayers for years of massive over-spending.

It speaks volumes about TaxCal (our new name for the group) that now, during a time when pro-taxpayer groups are rallying behind our strong Republican legislators, that they have broken ranks and embracing bigger, fatter state government. This is exactly the time when you get to learn who are real taxpayer advocates, and who are not.

The decision to endorse the Governor’s tax plan was made by TaxCal’s super-top-secret Board of Directors. Well, I don’t… Read More

This morning it is my unfortunate duty to unveil a new website address for the so-called California Taxpayers Association. Until now, you could only access their website by going to www.caltax.org. But we here at the FlashReport officially unveil www.taxcal.org, which will take you straight to the home page of this group which has endorsed huge multi-billion dollar sales tax increase proposed by Governor Schwarzenegger as part of a “compromise budget” that seeks to punish California taxpayers for years of massive over-spending.

It speaks volumes about TaxCal (our new name for the group) that now, during a time when pro-taxpayer groups are rallying behind our strong Republican legislators, that they have broken ranks and embracing bigger, fatter state government. This is exactly the time when you get to learn who are real taxpayer advocates, and who are not.

The decision to endorse the Governor’s tax plan was made by TaxCal’s super-top-secret Board of Directors.… Read More

Update: Wednesday Morning

1. Barack-Backpedal from lipstick on a pig statement

2. Joe-Backpedal from the great idea of he [instead of Hillary] running for VP with Barack

3, Barack and Joe-Keep distance from supporters comparing the top of ticket to the Messiah, and from Guv. Palin’s never having an abortion being her primary qualification.

4. Barack and Joe-Thursday’s "Dumb Things" list-Try not to screwup on 9/11

Tuesday Morning 1. Barack-Insult at least 51% of the U.S. population by comparing Gov. Sarah Palin to a lipstick wearing pig.

2. Joe-Insult at least 51% of the U.S. population by telling the press that Gov. Sarah Palin running for VP is a setback for women.

3. Barack and Joe-thoughtfully prepare Wednesdays "Dumb Things" list… Read More

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger met yesterday with legislative Republicans. When he went to go speak to a closed meeting of Assembly GOPers, they were all wearing name tags, with Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines pointing out to the Sacramento Bee (I read it on the Capitol Alert e-mail) that some of his caucus members had yet to meet their Republican Governor.

Well, this played right into a quote that the Governor gave in an interview to a German magazine, where he talked about how he barely ever talks to Republican leaders in California. These legislators are our leaders, and it is unfortunate that the Governor was dismissive of them in that interview.… Read More