It’s the hot topic on political talk shows and it’s discussed ad nauseum in Republican circles: where is the GOP headed? Recent public setbacks, including the loss of Congressional majority, have many Republicans questioning the direction the party should take in order to rebuild.

Monday evening I had the pleasure of participating in a panel discussion at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. The topic of the evening was—you guessed it—“The Future of the Republican Party.” Fellow panelists Congressman Devin Nunes (R-21) and Nicholas Romero, California Young Americans for Freedom communications director, and I discussed our opinions on the subject. Many insights were shared, mostly regarding Republicans’ need to articulate conservative principles and then execute once in power. This is the crux of the problem for current Republicans, but when it comes to the party’s future, the focus should be recruiting young people—future voters.

Fox News Channel recently aired a special called “The Y Factor” that reported on the potential impact the Millennial generation could have on the November election. Millennials, age 14-28, are approximately 80… Read More

That hissing you hear is more air leaking from anti-241 Toll Road arguments advanced by the Surfrider Foundation, one of the formations of the Environmental Left leading the charge against completing this Orange County tollway.

Transportation Corridor Agencies hired Scripps Institution of Oceanography research engineer Richard Seymour to examine TCA and 241 opponents’ studies on whether and how the proposed route would effect surfing at Trestles. A primary quiver in 241 opponents efforts is their argument that completing the 241 will destroy surfing at Trestles.

Seymour’s report eviscerates the Surfrider studies. You can read the report here.

The Surfrider Foundation, of course, lamely accuses Seymour of being off-base, but it’s obviously the latest in a series of actions that are chipping away at the anti-241 forces various bogus arguments against completing the road.… Read More

Today I want to take a moment and honor one of the world’s most preeminent advocate for free markets and personal liberty, Milton Friedman. Over his lifetime, Friedman helped shape fiscal policy across the world. Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Brian Mulroney all sought his advice.

Milton Friedman did not invent free markets, but he proved that laissez-faire policies must be at the foundation of any free society. Friedman was a statistician, economist, and public servant who advanced the idea of freedom based on minimizing government involvement to achieve economic, social, and political freedom.

Friedman received his Bachelor’s degree in 1932 from Rutgers University, a Master’s Degree from the University of Chicago in 1933, and a PhD from Columbia University in 1946. Friedman is a Nobel Laureate, a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the National Medal of Science.

The Nobel Laureate redefined the way we approach government regulation and economic structures, and has done more to diminish Keynesian, big government approach to economic theory more than any other economist. His ideas and writings have not only reshaped… Read More

I really like the State of Nebraska. Great people. Great sense of community.

Every time I watch US Senator Chuck Hagel on one of the national news shows I am thankful he does not represent me. I just watched Face the Nation from this past Sunday. This guy is the Paul Horcher of the US Senate.

This two term United States Senator would not even answer the question of the candidate he would vote for for President of the United States. He has served with Senator McCain and Senator Obama for years. He has dealt with national policy for decades and he can’t decide or doesn’t have the guts to say who he is going to support for President?

This may be the first time I appreciate Senators Boxer and Feinstein. At least they are willing to tell people the candidate they support for President — even if it the wrong candidate they will at least answer the question.

This guy was actually thinking about running for President of the United States of American. What a joke.… Read More

They kind of go together like babies and puppies.

And yet there is an increasing volume from opponents of the system we have here in California that allows the voters to affirm, elect and re-elect judges. Or to turn them out in favor of another candidate. Opponents of this system suggest that judges should be beyond the political gamesmanship and not have to face the voters.

I think this is a great idea if the alternative was the system in place in El Salvador where attorneys nominate judges.

But back here in California a better idea is to encourage greater voter participation.

Orange County provides several great examples of how voters were informed and did the right thing. Back in 2002 Judge Ronald Kline had been charged with possessing a personal stockpile or child pornography AFTER filing had closed. Judge Kline had drew no opponent as is the case in most judicial races and so he was to be unopposed. But numerous media and party officials and write-in candidates waged a battle and John Adams a local business attorney was elected by write-in vote. I along with others advised Adams on his campaign. The voters got it.

Likewise… Read More

They kind of go together like babies and puppies.

And yet there is an increasing volume from opponents of the system we have here in California that allows the voters to affirm, elect and re-elect judges. Or to turn them out in favor of another candidate. Opponents of this system suggest that judges should be beyond the political gamesmanship and not have to face the voters.

I think this is a great idea if the alternative was the system in place in El Salvador where attorneys nominate judges.

**There is more – click the link**

View Full Commentary… Read More

The Los Angeles City Council has decided to ban new fast food Restaurants in South Los Angeles.

Recently, I challenged the Governor to ban fast food restaurants as a way to eliminate distractions for drivers.

Little did I know that Councilwoman Jan Perrywould take the ball and ban new fast food restaurants.

See the people of South Los Angeles when left to their own devices like fast food. Jan Perry knows that if they ban new ones, then suddenly the residents of South Los Angeles will sit down and take the time to eat Alfalfa sprouts with alight vinaigrette.

Jan, it may not be targeting fat people instead of cell phones, butyou got more guts than the Governor.… Read More

They say that only in the face of adversity can you take full measure of someone’s performance. Well, the multi-year overspending crisis that has created such a chasm between state spending and available tax revenues has really given State Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill and Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines an opportunity to demonstrate that they are great leaders.

Republican and anti-tax leaders and activists up and down the Golden State have taken note of this “GOP Dynamic Duo” – their leadership has the two Republican Caucuses working in tandem in a way that hasn’t been seen in many years.

Let’s remember that Cogdill and Villines are politicians in a Capitol that is overflowing with special interests and consumers of government — yet they are able to keep their grounding, and understand that their job is to represent all Californians. They have both demonstrated an understanding that growth in state government flies in the face of an American tradition of a truly limited role for the central state. They have also repeatedly made it clear that from a pragmatic point of view that increasing the… Read More