Yesterday’s announcement that thirty-year incumbent Republican Congressman Jerry Lewis will, in fact, run for a 16th term in the House of Representatives caught relatively few observers by surprise. Easily re-elected by voters for 15 terms, Congressman Lewis remains phenomenally popular with his constituents, and many prominent district residents were in attendance when the veteran congressman announced he would be standing to serve the 41st Congressional District yet again. Among those on-hand to cheer Congressman Lewis as he formally announced his re-election plans was the mayor of the city of San Bernardino – noteworthy because the mayor is a proud and active Democrat!

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee – the political wing of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Democratic US House majority – reportedly had been looking at the 41st Congressional in the event of a Lewis retirement, but now that the widely-respected Jerry Lewis (2006 re-elect percentage: 67) is running for another term, it is likely that Washington Democrats will take a pass on this safe GOP US House seat. The only Democratic candidate running is downtown San Bernardino lawyer… Read More

Here what Mr. York, of Capitol Weekly, shares:

Not to be cynical, but I am sure that the games are now beginning. Wouldn’t it be funny if some of the bigger more liberal counties suddenly "found" more qualified signatures?

Anthony York’s latest:

All 58 counties have reported their raw count for a total of 1,105,511 signatures. 55 counties have reported their random sample numbers for a total of 757,626 projected valid signatures. Needs 763,790 projected valid signatures to qualify by random sample. 4 counties that had previously reported their random sample numbers submitted amended reports today. So,… Read More

It’s time for a new contest. Guess how much a pay raise Governor Schwarzenegger has given to his Chief of Staff, Democrat Susan Kennedy?

We’ve heard that Kennedy and a few other senior staffers have had Christmas come a little early.

UPDATE: Ace Governor’s Press Secretary Aaron McLear responded with a phone call within like two minutes of my email asking for specifics. He sent over the list. He wanted to stress to me (so I will share with you) that the total expenditures for staff salaries in the Governor’s office has not increased, apparently they are making due with less people, but paying them more. These ‘adjustments’ follow some increases received by Cabinet Secretaries in the Spring…. So, without any further suspence… The winners are…… Read More

One thing that amazes me about opponents of completing the 241 Toll Road in Orange County is how they lie, and the boldness with which they do it.

Take this press release from "Save San Onofre" containing a statement from Elizabeth Goldstein, the president of the California State Parks Foundation. It was given to me by an anti-241 activist at yesterday’s pro-241 press conference by Rep. Ken Calvert and Assemblyman Van Tran.

In it, Goldstein claims:

That is an untrue statement. Just a flat-out lie. Yet it slips so effortlessly from Ms. Goldstein’s tongue.

Context is needed here and in anyone interested in more background can read my 241 toll road posts on FR Blog and on… Read More

This may be my favorite update yet from Anthony York over at Capitol Weekly… He has put his hands on a copy of an e-mail sent out by the Los Angeles County Registrar. The last paragraph is my favorite. As a hack for the unions, I am sure that Labor Day weekend is supposed to be like Christmas for Fabian Nunez. Yeah, not so much this weekend. He may have to spend it working on his resume…

From York:

Just off the transom from the Doolittle for Congress campaign, in response to Assemblyman Ted Gaines opening an exploratory committee to look at a run against Doolittle in the upcoming GOP primary…: LOYALTY MATTERS By former State Senator and Assemblyman Tim Leslie As Benjamin Franklin said so well, so long ago, "a friend in need is a friend indeed". Our friend John Doolittle is under attack from the liberal left and now from those to whom he has shown true friendship. … Read More

The latest from the man with the numbers in the drama of whether the end-run on term limits will make the February ballot… From CapWeekly’s Anthony York: