New Hampshire is a cool 39 degrees and politics is in the air. I came here to observe the first in the nation Primary and support my candidate–Mitt Romney. With me here at the Romney HQ are dozens of California major donors and politicos.

Watching the results with me are former Assemblyman Tony Strickland, OC GOP Chairman Scott Baugh, private equity guru John Clarey and insurance executive John Carvelli.

It looks like Mitt is the only constant in the race for president. Taking silver twice in a row.

While the media wants to anoint the nominees, this race is wide open still.

On the car ride into NH from Boston we talked politics with our driver. Everyone here follows politics here, at least every four years they do.

Having known Governor Romney for four years, I have seen him in action and have studied his background. I am hoping our campaign and the media better communicate that Mitt Romney is the greatest agent of change in the race for president – running from either party.

Tomorrow we get on the phones and raise money.… Read More

Tomorrow morning I will have a bit lengthier critique of the Governor’s State of the State Address, but I thought I would post some immediate reaction, along with the full text of the speech (below) so that you have an opportunity to read it for yourself.

I think that I will preface my immediate comments by quoting an excerpt from the analysis given by Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Weintraub on his blog (free registration required), because I found these lines to be quite insightful:

It’s simply impossible anymore to categorize Schwarzenegger politically or ideologically. He is a fusion politician, taking ideas from the left and the right and the center as he sees fit. He is one of a kind.

Credit where credit is due: Schwarzenegger proposed the serious budget cuts that need to be made in order to protect the vital services that California provides to millions of families, students, employees and employers.

How does the Liberal Senate and Assembly Democrat leaders respond? Class warfare rhetoric and empty platitudes. When will the Democrats of this state ever get their heads out of the sand and realize that a California in budget crisis is useless to everyone!

Schwarzenegger called on us to work together, and to do so without raising taxes. I, for one, stand with my Republican colleagues ready to do just that.… Read More

"State legislators exchanged hugs, handshakes and kisses Monday as they returned to the Capitol for another year of doing whatever it is that they do – which usually isn’t much and may be even less this year." – Dan Walters (http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/617034.html)

It is amazing how much this sentiment is repeated by the pundits and talking heads of the Sac Capitol scene. The usual overtone is that Sacramento has failed to deliver because the "legislature" has done nothing. Allow me to disabuse you of that thought if it rings truewith you.

As long as the Democrats are in charge of the Legislature, their failure to do anything is a huge victory for Republicans. As Republicans, most all of us draw great joy from the "gridlock" of Sacramento.

Why? Because the Capitol Democrats in charge are principally hard core liberals who, despite their warm and fuzzy sentiments to the contrary, believe that anything that twitches deserves to be taxed, that personal responsibility is something reserved only for members of the legislature and should be… Read More

For months know, rumors have circulated around that Congressman John Doolittle who represents California’s 4th District, east of Sacramento, was going to announce his retirement. The Congressman has been been in a tough political battle, that must be very frustrating for him. You see, he is battling against a federal investigation of him that has been very high profile, but has yet to actually result in any formal charges. Yet, in the court of public opinion, Doolittle clearly has problems. In a district that was literally drawn to elect a Republican, he barely won re-election in 2006. His former opponent, military veteran Charlie Brown is running again, and I have seen polling data that shows it would be a very uphill battle for Doolittle to get re-elected. The taint of the FBI probe has also had a significant and negative impact on the Congressman’s ability to raise needed funds for re-election, and has also caused a severe financial drain as potential resources for a re-election bid are diverted to pay legal bills.

I know John Doolittle well — and he is a good and honorable man. I find it hard to believe that he has broken any laws, and… Read More

Dan Borenstein, who these days is a columnist at the Contra Costa Times, is a seasoned veteran when it comes to California politics and policy. He has penned an oustanding read today, that begins thusly:

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Sac County Supervisor Roger Dickenson (sic) announced this week (via a news release), that he will introduce a resolution calling for a withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.

Wow – I didn’t even know that Sac County had a Foreign Policy office…or expertise…or jurisdiction…

Regardless of how you feel about the war, Dickenson’s (sic) move smacks of little more that political grandstanding – another search for headlines. Perhaps after getting spanked at the polls so many times running for "higher" office, he’s trying to reinvent himself for yet another run.

Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan – who has become the articulate voice for conservative issues on the BOS – called the move for what it was – inappropriate. While I might have used a more color metaphor, MacGlashan, being more civil and polite than I, hit just the right note.

(photo of… Read More

Selecting our FlashReport State Senator of the year for 2007 was not an easy task. There are a great group of conservatives in the California State Senate, and many of those are deserving of much praise. When we look back at 2007, there was one most-defining event for the State Senate – the budget battle of last summer. Senate Republicans demonstrated solidarity in holding out on voting for a bloated budget, with their actions ultimately, predictably, and unfortunately having been proven to have been right on the mark. Ultimately, Senate Republicans should have held out for more extensive and meaningful spending reductions – but, hind sight is 20/20. During the budget standoff, I had the opportunity to dialogue directly with many of the Senate Republicans, and as such have what I believe is a pretty accurate of the machinations that take place “behind closed doors” during that kind of stressful and epic showdown.

While the budget situation last year was perhaps the pinnacle moment for conservatives in the Senate to show their commitment, we also look for a Senator who maintains a solid record against bills that grow the size and scope of state… Read More