Credibility is really important in our elected officials. After all, when they run for election (or re-election) much weight is placed on what they tell us they will do in office. I must tell you, as someone who endorsed, supported and encouraged others to do the same for Arnold Schwarzenegger in the recall election of 2003, and his re-election in 2006, I am starting to feel like a chump. It’s not that I am mad at him, it’s more like I am hurt. I feel like he made a promise to all of us, and now he’s not keeping his word.

Arnold’s embrace of a large tax increase as part of a big state-government foray into the healthcare marketplace the size of which would make Milton Friedman cry was so unbelievable that I still am in shock. Worse yet was the ‘justification’ used — that raising actual taxes is somehow netted out by a reduction in a so-called "hidden tax" that Californians already pay. Combine that terrible method of justification with any liberal spending program and I guess you can justify tax hikes all day long. But it doesn’t make it right, and this is not the policy agenda of a… Read More

Credibility is really important in our elected officials. After all, when they run for election (or re-election) much weight is placed on what they tell us they will do in office. I must tell you, as someone who endorsed, supported and encouraged others to do the same for Arnold Schwarzenegger in the recall election of 2003, and his re-election in 2006, I am starting to feel like a chump. It’s not that I am mad at him, it’s more like I am hurt. I feel like he made a promise to all of us, and now he’s not keeping his word.

Arnold’s embrace of a large tax increase as part of a big state-government foray into the healthcare marketplace the size of which would make Milton Friedman cry was so unbelievable that I still am in shock. Worse yet was the ‘justification’ used — that raising actual taxes is somehow netted out by a reduction in a so-called "hidden tax" that Californians already pay. Combine that terrible method of justification with any liberal spending program and I guess you can justify tax hikes all day long. But it doesn’t make it right, and this is not the policy agenda of a… Read More

I am blogging live from the Balboa Bay Club right at the water’s edge here at the beautiful Newport Harbor, in the heart of Newport Beach.

Congressman John Campbell represents an amazing House seat, that spans from Newport Beach all of the way down the coast to Dana Point. He is having the regular gathering of his Congressional Club, and I am pleased to be here supporting John. He has been and outstanding United States Representative.

Campbell’s special guest is a mutual close friend, John Fund, an editorial board member of the Wall Street Journal. We frequently feature John’s writings on our blog page, and he is one of our most honored “Golden Pen” award winners on our main page.

Fund’s remarks were on a myriad of topics, starting with what impact Rupert Murdock’s aquisition of the Wall Stret Journal. He thinks the effects will be positive — especially an anticipated short-term infusion of funds into the Journal.

John talked about the Presidential primaries – both the Democratic and Republican side. After spending time talking about “Hillary-zilla and “O-Bambi”… Read More

This is just in from State Senator Mark Wyland on the California budget impasse. It is definately worth reading — it just makes a lot of sense! My fellow Republican Senators have explained in columns on the Flashreport why we have resisted voting for the state budget which is several weeks overdue. The budget passed by the Assembly contains a projected deficit for next year in the $5-6 billion dollar range. How can we pass a budget with a deficit in a state that mandates a balanced budget? We can’t – both in the short term and the long term. In the past, budgets have included… Read More

"I don’t think Democrats should mention the T-word for two or three years"

Rep. Jim Cooper D-TN

Jim Cooper is actually probably the least liberal Democrat in Congress. He has actually voted for many of the earmark reductions that I or Jeff Flake (R-AZ) have offered. But what he said here is very revealing. The "T-word" of course is taxes. The message is that Democrats ought to wait until after the next election before they do what they really want to do because raising taxes is not popular. In other words, hide your real agenda from the public because they won’t like what they hear. I have often said that the greatest fearfor Republicans is that the public won’t understand what we’re saying. Democrats, on the other hand, fear that the public will understand what they are… Read More

Test test… Read More

The slugfest for AD 60 continues with Curt Hagman earning the endorsement of State Sen. Bob Margett. Margett represents most of the 60th and cited Hagman’s fundraising and service as the reasons for his endorsement. See previous post with links to other posts here.… Read More

The following is penned by Steve Baric, the President of the California Republican Lawyers Association. CRLA deserves much praise for their leadership on this matter…

On Monday August 13, 2007 the California Republican Lawyers Association, on behalf of the Assembly Republican Caucus filed a motion in Federal Court to prevent dangerous felons from being released back into our communities. The motion filed would allow Assembly Republicans to intervene in a Federal lawsuit where a 3 Judge panel will consider imposing a cap on California’s prison population. On July 23, U.S. District Court Judges Lawrence Karlton and Thelton Henderson ordered a three-judge panel be convened to consider setting a prison population cap in California. The Judges… Read More