One of California’s most capable political consultants, Wayne Johnson (a principal in JohnsonClark — click on their ad!) has spent years giving of his time as a leader in the National Association of Political Consultants, and he just recently finished up a two-year stint as that group’s President (he now serves in the role of Immediate Past President and Chairman of the AAPC)..

Right now, Johnson and his business partner, Tim Clark, are in Bali, Indonesia for the 40th Annual World Conference of the International Association of Political Consultants (IAPC).

I heard from Wayne, who had just, along with a colleague and fellow California political consultant Ben Goddard (partner on Goddard Clauseen – okay, click on their ad, too!) participated in a private meeting with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to discuss Indonesia’s remarkable… Read More

It would probably be a bit impish of Senate Republicans to do an "I told you so" dance around the Capitol — but they really do deserve to do one… Except for the fact that because they were so right-on about the fiscal woes facing California, that there is no time, and no reason to celebrate. Actually, I am sure, to a Senator, they wish they had been very, very wrong.

The Legislative Analyst just released her report on the state’s finances, and she is predicting a $2 billion shortfall in this year’s budget, and that we will start the talk about next year’s budget facing an $8 billion shortfall between anticipated revenues and expenses.

Senator Bob Dutton has already called for the Governor to declare a State of Fiscal Emergency*, and call the legislators back to Sacramento to deal with this problem NOW — and so far, the Governor has not, that I… Read More

This video speaks for itself. I am happy to post a ‘response’ or an effort to ‘explain’ this by the Huckabee campaign. Given the significant problem we face, as Americans, with a government that taxes and spends too much, this is quite damning… href="http://www.taxhikemike.com">www.taxhikemike.com.) As I told someone yesterday, who said that they liked Huckabee because of where he stands on "social issues" — high taxes is a huge social issue. For example, how negative is the impact on a young family when high taxes mean that both parents have to work, with no option for one of them to stay home to raise the kids?… Read More

Welcome to the second installment of the FlashReport Podcast — this week I am pleased to present a one-on-one interview with California State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. A tad bit over eleven minutes long, this podcast focuses on the role that Poizner is taking in opposing Proposition 93.

[Did you miss our inaugural podcast interview with Presidential candidate Fred Thompson? Click here.]

FR readers will recall that Proposition 93 is the self-serving initiative placed on the ballot by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez which, if passed, will allow him to sit in the "big chair" for six more years, remaining Speaker until the end of the next Governor’s first-term. In this interview Poizner goes into quite a bit of detail about what a lie this measure truly is… We talk about… Read More

Welcome to the second installment of the FlashReport Podcast — this week I am pleased to present a one-on-one interview with California State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. A tad bit over eleven minutes long, this podcast focuses on the role that Poizner is taking in opposing Proposition 93. [Did you miss our inaugural podcast interview with Presidential candidate Fred Thompson? Click here.]

FR readers will recall that Proposition 93 is the self-serving initiative placed on the ballot by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez which, if passed, will allow him to sit in the "big chair" for six more years, remaining Speaker until the end of the next Governor’s first-term. In this interview … Read More

I mentioned earlier tonight in a comment to Adam Probolsky’s post on OC Blog that Rudy Giuliani is kicking butt nationally and in California for the Republican nomination for president despite some of Romney’s endorsements in places like Moreno Valley. Here is the real low-down on delegate count, including in California, and the real truth of the matter. Go Rudy!!! And be sure to read Ken Silverstein’s piece in this month’s Harper’s Magazine "Romney: How to Fabricate a Conservative."

Read this:

Associated Press

November 12, 2007 By Libby Quaid

Early momentum has been the surefire way to win modern presidential primaries …

Most of the Republican candidates are betting on this approach for 2008, but Rudy Giuliani is counting on something simpler: delegate math.

His plan is based on the fact that Florida and several other big states … are voting earlier than usual to compete for influence and attention from the candidates.

The shake-up might help Giuliani capture the nomination, even without the “must-win” early states.

“There’s never been an election like… Read More

An Orange County firm has produced a knock off video of pop-star Fergie’s Glamorous, a version that is really an adveritsement of sorts for Rudy Giuliani for President.. It’s pretty good. It appears below. For comparative purposes, just beneath it is Fergie’s actual video.

(h/t to Politico)… Read More

Political consultants get more clever each and every election cycle. And, of course, what consultants wouldn’t want to latch onto the issue of global warming since based on the latest PPIC poll, most people have been ill-informed and are alarmed at the alleged impact that mankind has on the earth’s temperature.

Anyways, the folks over at non-profit group EdVoice clearly have a favorite choice in the dust-up in the Democrat primary to succeed Sheila Kuehl, and came up with the most outlandish piece of mail I have seen yet to get the face of their candidate, Fran Pavley, in front of likely voters. (See a .pdf of the mail piece … Read More