One of the major fallacies in the budget commentary I have readon the 2007-08 State budget is that "Republicans have to show their hand" on spending "cuts" necessary to balance the budget.

No, they don’t.

The responsiblity of Assembly Minority Leader Mike Villines and Senate Minority Dick Ackermanis simply this: oppose tax increases, clearly state the conditions under which sufficient GOP votes will be available for passage of a final budget plan and amendments.

Contrary to what the popular pundrity is saying, the GOP has no duty, no responsiblity whatsoever, to suggest spending alternatives. Leave it to the Democrats and the Governor to come up with those adjustments. For too long, the GOP has surrendered the premise that we must suggest alternatives. Clearly, this is the responsiblity of the majority and the Governor. It comes with being in the majority.… Read More

Last Friday at a meeting in Orange County, the Board of Directors of the California Republican Party voted to affirm current party rules that state that you must be registered as a Republican in order to cast a ballot in California’s Presidential Primary this coming February.

As many FR readers know, last February I was elected by CRP delegates in the southern part of California to serve as their regional Vice Chairman on the Party’s Board of Directors. Along with my board colleague, Vice Chairman Tom Del Becarro, we jointly introduced a successful, one sentence resolution opposing any change in our current rules.

My decision to co-author this important statement from our Board came in light of news from National Committeeman Tim Morgan that if this current rule were to change, and non-Republicans were allowed to vote in the Presidential primary, it would likely not cost California any delegates (even though a change at the upcoming September convention would be after the deadline for states to submit their delegate selection process to the RNC).

The reasons for preserving a Republican-only primary are thus:

Last Friday at a meeting in Orange County, the Board of Directors of the California Republican Party voted to affirm current party rules that state that you must be registered as a Republican in order to cast a ballot in California’s Presidential Primary this coming February.

As many FR readers know, last February I was elected by CRP delegates in the southern part of California to serve as their regional Vice Chairman on the Party’s Board of Directors. Along with my board colleague, Vice Chairman Tom Del Becarro, we jointly introduced a successful, one sentence resolution opposing any change in our current rules.

My decision to co-author this important statement from our Board came in light of news from National Committeeman Tim Morgan that if this current rule were to change, and non-Republicans were allowed to vote in the Presidential primary, it would likely not cost California any delegates (even though a change at the upcoming September convention would be after the deadline for states to submit their delegate selection process to the RNC).

**There is more –… Read More

Last Friday at a meeting in Orange County, the Board of Directors of the California Republican Party voted to affirm current party rules that state that you must be registered as a Republican in order to cast a ballot in California’s Presidential Primary this coming February.

As many FR readers know, last February I was elected by CRP delegates in the southern part of California to serve as their regional Vice Chairman on the Party’s Board of Directors. Along with my board colleague, Vice Chairman Tom Del Becarro, we jointly introduced a successful, one sentence resolution opposing any change in our current rules.

My decision to co-author this important statement from our Board came in light of news from National Committeeman Tim Morgan that if this current rule were to change, and non-Republicans were allowed to vote in the Presidential primary, it would likely not cost California any delegates (even though a change at the upcoming September convention would be after the deadline for states to submit their delegate selection process to the RNC).… Read More

As I said in my commentary this morning, I invite all of my colleagues on the CRP Board to send in their thoughts on our vote to oppose any change in CRP Rules to allow non-Republicans to vote in our Presidential primary. I have input from two others so far, Vice Chairman Tom Del Becarro who co-authored the resolution with me, and National Committeeman Tim Morgan who voted against the motion:

TOM DEL BECARRO It would seem a rather obvious point. Registered Republicans should choose their party nominee for the upcoming Presidential election. However, there are some in the California Republican Party that favor changing our current rules to allow those registered as “decline to states” to vote in our primary to choose our… Read More

One of the most remarkable women today is former Dutch parliamentarian Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Her biography is an unrelenting page turner.Infidel, by Ayaan Hirsi Ali 2007, Free Press.

Ali is one courageous author, witness and political leader to confront the Cancer within Islam.

All great religions and ideologies always contain seeds of its own destruction. Islam is no exception. Given that America is one of the most tolerant societies is recorded history, many of our citizens still cannot understand the violent and extreme phenomena called Radical Islam.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali tells the story of the growth of the Radical Cancer in her homeland Somalia. Her father was a revolutionary working against the Marxists who seized Somalia in the early 80’s. American’s most unsuccessful President, the fall of Somalia waspart of Carter’s legacy when the last gasps of the Soviet conquests extended from Afghanistan, Angola, Cuba, Nicaragua, Grenada and many… Read More

Earlier, I posted a report on the entrance of wealthy magazine publishing baron Russ Warner into the 2008 race for the 26th Congressional District Democratic Party primary, a seat held by veteran Republican Congressman David Dreier. Read it here.Armed with endorsements from prominent DC Democrats, it seemed as if this once-failed Congressional candidate was in better shape heading into the upcoming election cycle. (In 2006, Warner was the heavily-favored candidate leading up to Primary Election Day, yet he saw his Congressional hopes shattered after a shock defeat to an under-funded perennial candidate, Cynthia Matthews. Well, it seems as if another failed 2006 Democratic primary candidate will be running. Meet Hoyt Hilsman, a … Read More

Earlier, I posted a report on the entrance of wealthy magazine publishing baron Russ Warner into the 2008 race for the 26th Congressional District Democratic Party primary, a seat held by veteran Republican Congressman David Dreier. Read it here.Armed with endorsements from prominent DC Democrats, it seemed as if this once-failed Congressional candidate was in better shape heading into the upcoming election cycle. (In 2006, Warner was the heavily-favored candidate leading up to Primary Election Day, yet he saw his Congressional hopes shattered after a shock defeat to an under-funded perennial candidate, Cynthia Matthews. Well, it seems as if another failed 2006 Democratic primary candidate will be running. Meet Hoyt Hilsman, a … Read More