Congratulations are due in Newport Beach to political consultant Scott Taylor and proponents Bill Ficker, Marion Bergeson, and Jack Crowl on their victory last night with the Charter Amendment known as the "City Hall in the Park" Initiative, which will site a new City Hall in Newport Center near the main library and save taxpayers millions. I was pleased to write the proposed law for them and successfully defend it in court. The 5.5% margin of victory must have made for a sweet night, Bill Ficker!

That said, theCity of Newport Beach hasone of the most threatening and unconstitutional campaign ordinances on its books I have ever seen, and thefree-speech loving Republicans on that council need to repeal this law before the next municipal elections to avoid getting slapped with a civil rights suit they are certain to lose, and certain to pay for. The law, which can be found on the City’s website at Municipal Code section 1.30, criminalizes all "writings," direct-mail and flyers distributed to 200 or more people in Newport Beach within 14 days of an election, unlesscopies are filed with the City Clerk within 2 hours of… Read More

Just off the transom, State GOP Chairman Ron Nehring issued a hearty "congrats" to Senator McCain for his big win here in the Golden State:

It’s turned out to be a lot closer than anyone thought, but Proposition 93, the Fabian Nunez Term Limits Weakening Initiative, The Big Lie, has been defeated.

Currently there are 62.2% of precincts reporting, and the margin for the NO side is approaching 300,000 votes. It has been trending slowly all night away from 93, with the NO margin growing steadily.

Right now, it is 2,189,417 (46.9%) YES and 2,469,696 (53.1%) NO.

This is great news — more on this later this morning, after I get some shut-eye.… Read More

UPDATE 6:44AM – With more results in, it looks like Romney tripled his expected take, to NINE delegates. In additional to CD 21 mentioned below, he has taken CD 3 (represented by Dan Lungren in Congress) and CD 52 (represented by Duncan Hunter in Congress). So, congrats to these Romney delegates: CD 3… Read More

Ninety seven years ago today, in the small town of Tampico, Illinois, a future president of the United States entered the world. Ronald Wilson Reagan, born in very humble surroundings, ascended to the heights of international leadership and power. Today we honor the man who inspired and lead the Conservative movement.

Last week the Republicans held a debate at President Reagan’s library in Simi Valley. As I watched the debate, I was struck once again at how Reagan’s legacy is still such a powerful influence on our party—twenty years after he left office. Every Republican candidate for public office, from president to city council, seeks to wrap themselves in the Reagan mantle. Romney, McCain, Huckabee—and all the previous candidates for president—have listed their conservative credentials in an effort to appear the most “Reaganesque”. But simply touting your presence at the Reagan Revolution or recounting the actions that verify your commitment to conservative ideology is not… Read More

Fox and CNN call CA for McCain some time ago. But, it’s the apportioned delegate count we’re all interested in…

McCain looks to be carrying every district in the state in the 40-50% range against Romney’s 20-30% range.

CNN election tracker at present has it McCain, 475 delegates, to Romney’s 151. But, that’s with only 11 CA delegates included for McCain. Add to that another 160+ from CA alone, and McCain is nearing the threshold numbers John Lewis indicated this morning (see post) to make this thing virtually inevitable.

Some would say it’s still early. Put a fork in it.… Read More

With the early returns rolling in for Super-Tuesday, the race for the White House is reaching full steam.

In the Caucuses in West VA, Huckabee racked up 18 delegates (the balance will be awarded in the May Primary) and won his home state of Arkansas and in Alabama, which apportion their delegates 34 and 48 delegates respectively.

McCain posted wins in the winner-take-all states of New Jersey (52), Delaware (18) and Connecticut (30) and leads in Illinois, which apportions its 70 GOP delegates. McCain is also likely to win in NY (101) and Arizona (53).

Romney won his home state of MA, which apportions its 43 delegates; and is likely to win in Utah, CO, and North Dakota (apportioning 36, 46 and 26 delegates respectively).

Returns from winner-take-all states MT, MO and apportioned states CA, OK, GA, MN, TN and AK will continue to roll in (Alaska reports last for this round), so tons of delegates are still up for grabs.

The largest state in the Union has recieved unprecidented attention from both parties, that alone should revive the… Read More

Just in from Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman on a very important issue…

Completion of the Orange County Toll-Road — a Statewide Benefit that Needs to Move Forward Now

By Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman (R-Tustin)

With the State in a Fiscal Emergency, California Can Lead by Taking Advantage of this Public-Private Partnership California faces a golden opportunity. With worn down roads, congested traffic and a $14 billion budget deficit, we need alternatives to fund critical infrastructure projects. Our golden opportunity? We can take advantage of a public private partnership by supporting the completion of State Route 241 and Orange County’s system of Toll Roads. The Transportation Corridors Agencies are offering California two smart solutions to our statewide challenges of relieving traffic congestion and building costly infrastructure. They would build State Route 241 at no cost to California taxpayers, and give $100 million to improve California State Parks. This equals one-fourth of the State Parks Department annual operating budget, and given the State Parks… Read More