Recently, we have seen the Governor, Democrats and liberal columnists running around like the sky is falling because Senate and Assembly Republicans have refused to cave in and go along with their schemes for higher taxes and higher spending.

But lost in their hysteria is the fact that this budget stalemate could actually be the best thing that has happened to California taxpayers and business owners in a long time.

If lawmakers and the Governor are unable to reach agreement on a budget before September 30, the Governor would be forced to follow through with his pledge and veto every bill on his desk.

This means some very bad bills will be vetoed by the Governor.

Imagine for a moment some of the terrible bills that will be sent to the Governor that could be killed if the budget is not resolved . . .

Drivers licenses for illegal immigrants (Senate Bill 60 – Cedillo) Financial aid for illegal immigrants attending California’s public colleges and universities (Senate Bill 1301 – Cedillo) A new scheme that will pave the way for … Read More

Recently, we have seen the Governor, Democrats and liberal columnists running around like the sky is falling because Senate and Assembly Republicans have refused to cave in and go along with their schemes for higher taxes and higher spending.

But lost in their hysteria is the fact that this budget stalemate could actually be the best thing that has happened to California taxpayers and business owners in a long time.

If lawmakers and the Governor are unable to reach agreement on a budget before September 30, the Governor would be forced to follow through with his pledge and veto every bill on his desk.

**There is more – click the link**

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The problem with stories about California’s prison system is they are based on fiction more than facts; hyperbole more than rational thinking.

But high drama sells newspapers far more than just telling the boring truth. And everyone knows that newspapers – including titans of yore like the Sac Bee – are struggling.

So Californians are led to believe that our prison system is wildly out of control and filled with non-violent offenders who are nothing more than victims of medieval laws brought forth by Republicans.

First, California’s prison population has increased by 13,000 between 1998 and 2008, from 158,000 to 171,000. This 8% increase is far slower growth than the general population increase for that same time period. California’s state population grew almost twice as fast from 33 million people to over 38 million people in the past 10 years.

Furthermore, all of the prison growth can be attributed to inmates committed for violent crime including an increase of 6,300 for homicide, 2,500 for child molestation, and 2,400 for robbery. During the same period, the population of inmates committed for property and drug crimes declined by… Read More

Here are some thoughts for FR readers from our Republican Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner:

“There has been a media frenzy this week in St. Paul over the new darling of the Republican Party Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. I’ve done more than a dozen interviews and it’s one of the subjects that always come up.

Let me start off by saying that my heart goes out to the Palin family. As a fellow elected official, I know that the families of candidates often suffer unwarranted media attention on issues that are frankly none of anyone’s business. Her record is fair game, but the actions of her teenage daughter are not.

So let’s talk about the substance of Gov. Palin. When Sen. McCain wisely chose her as his Vice President, I did some research. The more I discovered, the better I liked her.

She’s tough and a reformer. She’s taken on the state party chair and won. She’s taken on the state’s attorney general. She beat a sitting governor en route to the Governor’s mansion. She worked to stop the bridge to nowhere.

She’s rooted out corruption even when it’s in her… Read More

We’ve had a lot of great speakers tonight here in the ExCel Center. Romney hit it out of the park — and former Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele was awesome. Right now I am outside of the main hall, as I exercized my right to walk out on Mike Huckabee, whom FR readers know that I consider to be a fraud. We don’t need “Christian Liberals” as party leaders, who believe in bigger government in the name of social justice. He’ll be done soon and I will head in for Giuliani and the big speech by Alaska Governor and VP candidate Sarah Palin!”… Read More

There is overwhelming agreement here in Minneapolis — Alaska Governor Sarah Palin delivered the address of her life, and nailed it. We’ll see a lot of reviews about it tomorrow, but with high expectations, she exceeded them!… Read More

I think I may have just witnessed the most defining moment in the history of the women’s liberation movement, and it happened at the RNC Convention!As long as I live, I know I will never forget this night.

Sarah Palin made me so proud. She’s a mom, a wife, a sister, a leader, a friend, and a steadfast advocate for others compelled by a strong moral compass.She was the embodiment of everything a woman can be…a strong political leader, a fearless champion of truth, a tender mother rocking her baby, and a loving wife who adores her husband. Her effortless demonstration of all these qualities tonight brought tears to my eyes as I watched her emerge intonew purpose. And she did so with eyes wide open, clearly cognizant of the intense ire that she would bear in order to fulfill that purpose. That’s bravery and courage.

I remember when I was just a little girl in Girl Scouts, we learned the words to"I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar," at a Girl Scout sleepover one night. How could I… Read More

I’ll have to admit – I miss being at this convention. I haven’t missed one since 1996 and I didn’t pick McCain, so I’m not a delegate. There’s nothing like being on the floor on Wednesday and Thursday night and feeling the electricity. it’s awesome. This year, I’ve found both conventions to be fascinating. Watching tonight’s speeches with myeleven year old son, Grant, was especially fun.He’s interested in all of it, and better yet, he seems to be especially sympathetic to the conservative side.

The Obama campaignreminds of a major league baseball team with a 17 game lead in July that goes into a funk and hits a couple of losing streaks. To stop their slide, they bring in an aging, but known quantity for the stretch run and it just doesn’t help. They slowly losetheir 17 game lead and wind up tied in September and heading for the home stretch without the momentum or inevitability they once had, and now, its anyone’s race. Meanwhile, the team catching up to them is full of old veterans who have stumbled badly– but seem to have one more stretch runin them. And what… Read More