Next weekend the Republican faithful of California will descend upon San Francisco for our spring convention. In the last few weeks, delegates have been treated to a deluge of emails and letters encouraging us to vote on leadership positions and various issues coming before the convention. All the matters we will consider are very important not only to the future of our party, but our state. However, the most important matter we will debate is the content of our party platform.

A party’s platform is its heart and soul. It is what unites a diverse group with various interests towards a common goal. Based on a platform’s content, and the adherents’ fidelity to its content, voters are drawn to political parties. The ability to clearly and succinctly communicate our Republican platform is what made President Reagan our finest spokesperson.

When it comes to governance, debates over ideology and political philosophy will inevitably produce heated arguments. Consider the founding of our nation. While all of our Founding Fathers shared the common vision of free and united states, the debates over the document that would bind the nascent republic were incredibly… Read More

As the publisher of this website, on many a day, I am personally scouring over 80 websites to pull together our well-read main news summary page. But there are a number of days, like today, where the "elves" tirelessly put the site together and I get to enjoy the website as a "normal" reader, just like you.

One of the thinks I enjoy about the FR main page is that when there is a big news item, we will cluster together all of the stories written on the subject from the major California dailies. A great example would be today, where a host of stories appear under the banner of "State Fiscal Emergency."

I read through most of the stories (only the most obtuse political hacks care to see how different reporters from different papers cover the same story), and I actually ended up reading the Los Angeles Times story by Evan Halper not once, but twice. It struck me on reading it that a casual reader in L.A., perusing the paper over their Wheaties this morning, would have to… Read More

That was the theme of part of the debate between Larry Dick and Curt Hagman at the SGV Lincoln Club Friday.… Read More

This op-ed appears in today’s Press Enterprise who has been highly critical of the 215/60/91 interchange reconstruction progress.The projectrepresents one of the largest and most complex uses of design sequencing construction ever attempted. There have been problems and delays; however, I believe Mr. Kelley is right on in his following assessment that we throw out this innovation at our community’s peril. But, we must continue to improve upon the application of it.

Don’t drop faster road-work approach because it faltered in Riverside

By NORMAN KELLEY

The Press-Enterprise has been very harsh in its coverage of Caltrans experimenting with design sequencing at the 60/91/215 interchange project in Riverside.

It is undoubtedly correct that design sequencing has delayed this particular project.

On the other hand, we should understand that design sequencing is a successful technique for many products. This is not a new concept, but it is new with respect to Caltrans’ established practices.

There is… Read More

When asked why he robbed banks, the infamous “Slick Willie” Sutton replied, “"because that’s where the money is.” Here in California , the Republican National Committee has put Sutton’s law into full effect. It is clear, based on our analysis, that over the past decade the RNC has engaged in Highway Robbery of the Pacific Coast .

It’s no secret that political candidates and parties routinely rob the Golden State ’s vast resources for political contributions. California acts as an ATM machine where money is taken from here to use elsewhere — campaigns come to California to raise money, but then spend Golden State dollars in other states.

However, the FlashReport’s in-depth analysis of FEC campaign reports reveals a perpetual plundering of California Republicans’ resources for national causes. In 2006, California Republicans returned less than 2¢ for every dollar sent to the Republican National Committee – and that is very unfortunate, and over a period of time, has had a devistating effect here..

**There is more – click the… Read More

When asked why he robbed banks, the infamous “Slick Willie” Sutton replied, “"because that’s where the money is.” Here in California , the Republican National Committee has put Sutton’s law into full effect. It is clear, based on our analysis, that over the past decade the RNC has engaged in Highway Robbery of the Pacific Coast .

It’s no secret that political candidates and parties routinely rob the Golden State ’s vast resources for political contributions. California acts as an ATM machine where money is taken from here to use elsewhere — campaigns come to California to raise money, but then spend Golden State dollars in other states.

However, the FlashReport’s in-depth analysis of FEC campaign reports reveals a perpetual plundering of California Republicans’ resources for national causes. In 2006, California Republicans returned less than 2¢ for every dollar sent to the Republican National Committee – and that is very unfortunate, and over a period of time, has had a devistating effect here..

We set out to dig into this issue because of a lot of numbers being thrown about in our very "colorful"… Read More

Every legislative session there are a few bills that really grab the public’s attention. Of all the high profile bills from last session, perhaps the most controversial for the general public (not policy or political wonks) was Lloyd Levine’s proposal to require every cat and dog in California be spayed or neutered (AB 1634). In fact, some lawmakers stated that they received more letters on this issue then any other issue debated last session. Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa humorously and effectively proved this fact during one assembly appropriations committee hearing by presenting a two-foot high stack of some of the letters his office had received opposing AB 1634.

Ultimately, despite heavy lobbying from the likes of Bob Barker, Pamela Anderson and William Shatner, the bill stalled before session ended. Mr. Levine learned the hard way that people are very protective of their four-legged companions. The bigger issue with this bill is that it—like many of the bills Mr. Levine proposes—seeks to control the lives and freedom of individual citizens. Yes, there is a problem with overcrowding in local animal shelters and we are euthanizing thousands of… Read More

The CCPOA’s coverage of my commentary this morning is pretty funny.… Read More