Last Wednesday, Governor Schwarzenegger called for a meeting of the "Big 5" (Perata/Ackerman/Nunez/Villines/himself) to take place this afternoon… The topic — water bonds. Specifically, the Governor wants to see if he can work out differences between Democrats and Republicans that have thus-far kept an agreement from being reached.

The dynamics to put together a water deal are interesting. On the Republican side, to get a deal, you have to be able to get enough votes in an environment where the state’s fiscal crisis makes a vote to place another big bond deal on the ballot a tough vote (it’s hard enough to get GOP votes for bonds when the fiscal situation is rosy). That said, everyone acknowledges we have a water storage problem that needs attention. On the Democrat side, where normally everyone lines up (like a cattle call) whenever there are bonds discussed (Democrats are genetically wired to embrace spending increases), there is significant push-back from the eco-nuts who… Read More

In some of the more – uh – interesting political analysis seen in a long time, Fabian Nunez’s communications guru Steve Maviglio is promoting the embattled Assembly Speaker for Governor of California. In a blog post that Steve wrote for the The California Majority Report, he lists Nunez, his boss, as #8 on the list of Top Ten Democratic potential candidates for Governor in 2010. Incredibly, Nunez’s gubernatorial prospects have improved since the blog’s previous assessment of would-be Governors when the Speaker was ranked Number 10. Now that’s what we call spin. Talk about failing upward.

Since Maviglio’s last handicapping of Nunez’ odds at being the next Governor of California, a few things have taken place…

In some of the more – uh – interesting political analysis seen in a long time, Fabian Nunez’s communications guru Steve Maviglio is promoting the embattled Assembly Speaker for Governor of California. In a blog post that Steve wrote for the The California Majority Report, he lists Nunez, his boss, as #8 on the list of Top Ten Democratic potential candidates for Governor in 2010. Incredibly, Nunez’s gubernatorial prospects have improved since the blog’s previous assessment of would-be Governors when the Speaker was ranked Number 10. Now that’s what we call spin. Talk about failing upward.

Since Maviglio’s last handicapping of Nunez’ odds at being the next Governor of California, a few things have taken place…

Today we are pleased to present this great commentary from Peter Foy, who was elected to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors last year. He replaced Judy Mikels, a "Republican In Name Only" — and as you will see from reading Foy’s piece below, we have a vast improvement in terms of ideological firepower on the Board of Supes…

California’s Universal Misstep Peter Foy

The Assembly is expected to pass its new health care bill, AB 1X, as early as Monday, and the Senate could pass it later in the week. Governor Schwarzenegger, despite some disagreements, may sign it into law, handing California taxpayers enormous new taxes, including a payroll tax that will hit all California workers, a hospital tax, and a two-dollar per pack cigarette tax hike.… Read More

Just a couple thoughts before our household members dash out to church this morning, ["dash", a term used loosely]

As we finish up the Thanksgiving weekend, we had a chance to visit family and our states’ Central Coast. We really do have a wonderful place, this California. The missions, the Hwy 1 and 101 corridor,the shoreline, thestrings of pelicans flying overthe surf, dipping just up and over each wave. It’s encouraging to go visit it, as messed up as our state politics is, seeing it all is areminder of why we fight for it. Lets hope the Coastal Commission doesn’t completely bar us from using and enjoying it.

Up here in Tehama County a recent ban on Santa Claus has some folk stirred up. You see, Santa can be construed as a "specific religious figure" and this could cause the public, when entering county buildings "to feel pressured to conform to religious traditions" to receive services. [Nothing like the pressure of conforming to what Father Government requires you to do receive the services of a permit to build a redwood deck on your home]

The ‘logic’ being… Read More

I read today’s article about the State GOP having to eliminate funding for local County party operations and it confirmed to me what I have believed in every cycle since 2002 – the State Party literally has nothing to do in 2008.

There is no statewide election. Neither side will contest the Presidential race in California. There are maybe five State legislative seats that could change hands either way – although none of them have in the past two election cycles. Some in leadership have to pretend to like what the Governor is doing although nobody really does.

This isn’t the fault of current or past State GOP leaders, and this isn’t, and never had been about social issues. California’s demographics have stampeded right over the top of the GOP and there is nothing we can do about it. Although the citizens of the State showed in 2003 that they have a pain tolerance level, and Gray Davis exceeded it, they don’t seem to be nearly alarmed at what the current Governor has allowed to happen to State finances. The GOP won’t be able to use financial… Read More

This holiday season chances are your credit card is going to get an extra workout.

Despite those that seem to actually want our economy to be in the doldrums – it isn’t.

We’ve just had our 50th consecutive month of job growth in the United States (the longest on record) – and we had an impressive 3.9% growth in our GDP in the third quarter of this year.Who says those Bush tax cuts don’t work :-)

You can get some more info about our economy here.

I know those of us in the Golden State have some economic challenges – believe me, I’m watching our state budget deficit get worse every day. But, if the shopping frenzy this past couple of days in my area is anything like the rest of the state – some credit cards are going to melt.

Lots of consumers are going to hand over their cards to clerks. People will happily begivingtheir numbers over the phone and, of course, those credit card numbers will be flying over the internet.

All of that is good. Great, actually. Our free market economy is based on robust… Read More

As FR readers are well aware, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore this year authored a ballot iniatiative that, if passed, would allow for the construction of new nuclear power plants in some parts of California. Despite the fact that this source of power has proven to be safe (there have been no significant radiation leaks from reactors in a very, very long time and the technology used in these plants only gets better), and despite the fact that nuclear power is among the sources of energy that contributes the least to the amount of human-produces carbon into the air (for those who buy the global warming alarmist spin), DeVore was unable to garner sufficient support to move this measure forward for the 2008 election. I asked the Assemblyman to share with FR readers his thoughts…