Members of the California State Assembly are traveling today to the State Capitol. 47 of them will arrive to cast what must be the dumbest vote in the history of California politics and policy — political theater at its worst. That would be the Assembly Democrats who apparently will follow the unwise bidding of Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and the group of left-wing ideologues at the center of his leadership team. For Nunez, passing a massive government-growth health care proposal is a feather in his Loius Vuitton cap. For the others in his cabal, it is about their fervor to expand the size and scope of government — a need to expand the "social contract" between government and the people through and ever expanding redistribution of wealth. Whether blinded by pride, like Nunez, or by ideology like his Lieutenants, Democrats are prepared to pass legislation that would be the framework for a massive $14 billion ++ entitlement program. This when… Read More

I’ll wager this is the first time in history that the Gay & Lesbian Times’ Person of the Year has also been a current Republican Party of San Diego County-endorsed candidate. Tell me if I’m wrong.

I’ll let other pundits weigh in as to whether Mayor Sanders or Steve Francis views the pick as the greater holiday gift.… Read More

Just over a week ago, I penned a commentary that included some analysis of FR friend Jim Brulte’s endorsement of Proposition 93, authored by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, which if passed would loosen California’s current term-limit restrictions for state legislators. Today I am pleased to offer this perspective from Senator Brulte about his support for 93.

People try to personalize initiatives rather than looking at the whole picture. I am not supporting the initiative simply to keep Fabian Nunez or Don Perata in power anymore than my fellow conservatives are opposing it to keep Senator… Read More

If blogs had existed in the 1980s or early 1990s, Jim Johnston would have been mentioned frequently in those of a political nature. He and partner David Lewis were among the best campaign consultants of the era.

So, it is noted with sad irony that Johnston’s recent passing resulted in barely a mention in the political weblogs, save for a brief Red County/San Diego tribute. None of the frequent Red County commenters and castigators had anything to add to the post, quite frankly because very few in the blog-reading genre of activists have likely heard of the firm Johnston & Lewis. In the political world, it seems, anything of 15 years ago is ancient history.

It reminds me in a way of the new crop of pro ball players, many with loads of talent and millions in cash but little in knowledge, taking no interest in the history of the game and those that came before them, not recognizing names like Ernie Banks, Bill Russell or Fran Tarkenton.

Sports analogies aside, I was glad to see the Wednesday Union-Trib column dedicated to Jim Johnston. Written by Gerry… Read More

Just over a week ago, I penned a commentary that included some analysis of FR friend Jim Brulte’s endorsement of Proposition 93, authored by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, which if passed would loosen California’s current term-limit restrictions for state legislators. Today I am pleased to offer this perspective from Senator Brulte about his support for 93.

As this year winds down, it is only appropriate that we have the ultimate wasteful story to help us go out with a bang. Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner deserves many thanks for providing this story. If it weren’t for his direction of the Department of Insurance, hundreds of millions of dollars may have been squandered without notice. Fear not, “the Ghost of State Fund Past” has now come to haunt former Insurance Commissioner and current Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi in the form of the biggest audit released this year.

According to the Los Angeles Times (December 11, 2007), a hard-hitting state audit reveals that "California’s scandal-plagued government-run workers’ compensation insurance company spent more than half a billion dollars over the last decade for outside marketing help that often provided ‘minimal services’….[T]he report paints a picture of an obscure rogue operation with more than $22 billion in assets, little oversight, minimal public checks and balances, and indiscriminate spending with little attention until… Read More

John Zeigler, who until recently hosted a talk show on KFI Radio (his website is here) sent over this piece he penned. It is notable for his support for Fred Thompson. It is readable because John’s gift of communicating comes through loud and clear. A great conservative, it’s a pleasure to feature some thoughts from him for our readers…

Why Not Fred? The most mysterious reality of an utterly baffling race for the Republican Presidential nomination (Mike Huckabee is a frontrunner??!) is undoubtedly the failure of Fred Thompson’s campaign to gain any traction. … Read More

Actually, there are a thousand things you need to know about this budget crisis, but let’s do three, real quick:

1. We haven’t even sold the "infrustructure" bonds passed last November, and now we really can’t due to our budget situation. This is why the Lincoln Club of Fresno County opposed the bonds in the first place. Most journalist don’t know what a bond is, so this isn’t being mentioned in budget crisis coverage.

2. Working on a "health care deal" during this crisis isn’t even stupid – its just plain political malpractice. The resulting ballot initiative in November, 2008, aimed at raising our taxes, will be a defining issue for the GOP and actually give the State GOP something to do this year. Yes!

3. Assembly Leader Mike Villines yesterday to me: "tax increases are dead on arrival in the State Assembly, there isn’t a revenue problem." The Governor better get his meat cleaver out. Villines told me yesterday that even termed out Republicans won’t support new taxes.

Even the most elemental analysis of the state budget over the past several… Read More