I am just arrived in Berlin todayfor a round of meetings to advance Mike Reagan’s trip here in early July. Mike will bebroadcasting his daily radio talk show from here. I am also on a secret mission,working on a project for Mike,which, if successful, will also be announced by him on his trip here.

The history of Berlin, particularly the more contemporary history, is both fascinating and heart-breaking. And Berliners really care about it. On a short walk this morning from Potsdamer Platz to Pariser Platz, the enormity of the confrontation between East and West that resulted in the creation in 1961 and destruction in 1989, of the Berlin Wall, is literally pushed into your face.Good for Berlin!

The street I walked along connecting the two traffic circles was itself literally ground zero of the Berlin Wall. At Potsdamer Bahnhof, where I started my walk, amidst a beautiful open-air shopping area, I encountered about 20 yards of the real wall, reconstructed as a monument to that grim time, for all to see. The Berlin Senate includes discriptive signs along with the pieces of the wall, and stories and pictures of its… Read More

The California Republican Party has graciously helped Senator Oropeza and Sacramento Democrats properly index their “Appetite For Higher Taxes.”

In honor of Senator Jenny Oropeza’s SB 1443, which tells caterers what they must do with their leftover food we proudly bring you: Aunt Jenny’s Catering Menu. (See the full size version here.)

… Read More

Longtime FR friend Frank Schubert writes a weekly column on his website, Frank’s Rants. When I read his latest one, I thought it was a perspective definitely worth sharing, and Frank gave me a green light to reprint it, in full, here. A "must read" for every Republican legislator in the Capitol — especially those in the State Assembly – Flash

Caution Assembly Republicans: Following Governor Schwarzenegger Could Be Fatal To Your Career By Frank Schubert

Governor Schwarzenegger is barnstorming the state telling anyone who will… Read More

Longtime FR friend Frank Schubert writes a weekly column on his website, Frank’s Rants. When I read his latest one, I thought it was a perspective definitely worth sharing, and Frank gave me a green light to reprint it, in full, here. A "must read" for every Republican legislator in the Capitol — especially those in the State Assembly – Flash

Caution Assembly Republicans: Following Governor Schwarzenegger Could Be Fatal To Your Career By Frank Schubert

Governor Schwarzenegger is barnstorming the state telling anyone who will… Read More

OC and Riverside Congressman Ken Calvert will appear on CNN with Lou Dobbs tonight at 7pm.

I wonder if Lou will talk about illegal immigration.

Calvert is the author of the Basic Pilot Program that has allowed employers to check and make sure names and social security numbers provided by job applicants match. It has been a great tool in preventing fraud. The program also makes it much easier for employers to identify illegal aliens before they hire.… Read More

The city of Seal Beach Monday ended a two-year battle over home improvements in a portion of town and their decision is bad for property rights.

At issue was zoning that allowed homeowner to build up and make their homes as high as three-stories. The city council voted on Monday to change the zoning and ban these home improvements.

I wrote on this issue way back in January 2007 and I thought the good guys won, but the vote on Monday was 4-1 (thank you councilman Mike Levitt for standing up for the cause of liberty). Councilman Ybaben apparently couldn’t take the heat and recently resigned from the council, his successor was not as wise nor as friendly to the rights of property owners.

The Orange County Register reported: James David, who lives in a one-story home in Old Town between two three-story homes, said his property rights are violated because there is too much shade cast on his home by one of the three-story… Read More

This week’s announcement that a group of large Republican donors are getting together to redo the image of the Republican Party is a tune that has been sung before. About once every three to five years, several donors say they are going to get together and try and rewrite who the Republican Party is by using their money and their influence to change "the direction of the party." The usual announcement is followed by a number of newspaper stories announcing the formation of the group, the newspapers call Allen Hoffenblum, a political consultant who hasn’t been involved in Republican politics in twenty years (except to criticize Republicans) who criticizes conservative Republicans and the effect they have had on the party, and then a series of columns by liberal Democrats, like George Skelton, congratulate these Republicans on their insight into the problem with Republicans. The biggest problem, according to George, is that Republicans are not like Democrats, and, so says George, if they were just like Democrats, they would win elections. So, any Republican that tries to reform the Republican Party to make it more like Democrats must be right.… Read More

" The Obama campaign has simply not done a very effective job connecting with blue-collar and middle-income voters, and they are the heart and soul of the Democratic Party."

So states, Clinton’s campaign pollster Geoff Garin yesterday in a conference call with reporters.

Garin added Obama’s "appeal among white voters typically has been among the people who are the most affluent."

The LA Times reporter opined that " It is unusual for the campaign to talk so directly about racial divisions among Democratic voters. "

… Read More