In addition to my passion for politics, I am also a die-hard baseball fan.

So I have come to regard the Clintons the same way I view the New York Yankees.

I don’t like them. I root against them. I not only want them to lose, I want bad things to happen to them.

But like the Yankees, the Clintons are very good at what they do. And despite an early season slump that has both playing beneath expectations, it’s never a good idea to underestimate their skill, their perseverance, and their willingness to do whatever it takes to win.

That said, last week’s Republican presidential debate gave us our first chance to take a look at the field of contenders who will try to deny Hillary her White House pennant next year. (Barack Obama is the political version of an over-valued technology stock, to mix sports and business metaphors. The only question is whether his bubble bursts before the primaries or afterwards. So unless Al Gore runs or John Edwards steps up his game, let’s count on facing another Clinton in the 2008 World Series.)

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In addition to my passion for politics, I am also a die-hard baseball fan.

So I have come to regard the Clintons the same way I view the New York Yankees.

I don’t like them. I root against them. I not only want them to lose, I want bad things to happen to them.

But like the Yankees, the Clintons are very good at what they do. And despite an early season slump that has both playing beneath expectations, it’s never a good idea to underestimate their skill, their perseverance, and their willingness to do whatever it takes to win.

That said, last week’s Republican presidential debate gave us our first chance to take a look at the field of contenders who will try to deny Hillary her White House pennant next year. (Barack Obama is the political version of an over-valued technology stock, to mix sports and business metaphors. The only question is whether his bubble bursts before the primaries or afterwards. So unless Al Gore runs or John Edwards steps up his game, let’s count on facing another Clinton in the 2008 World Series.)

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In another union struggle in the East Bay (see today’s commentary), Farmer Joe’s Marketplace, an independent high-end grocery store, is fighting organizing efforts of a local chapter of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union. Joe Tam, a Chinese immigrant, opened his first Farmer Joe store in 1994, after working for nearly 20 years as a Safeway employee. Last June, he and his wife opened their second store in Oakland’s Dimond District, a working-class section of the city, in an old Albertson’s store. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the neighborhood was so excited to have the new store that they threw an all-day party. Farmer Joe’s is akin to a Whole Foods grocery store, with a large section of… Read More

Former Assemblyman Gil Ferguson, a long-time CRA member and past Chairman of our Publications Committee, passed away Sunday night after battling leukemia. A Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps, Gil was strong and fought until the very end. Funeral arrangements are pending. Gil Ferguson served with distinction in the U.S. Marine Corps, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1967.

A veteran of three wars (World War II, Korea and Vietnam), Ferguson fought in the battle for the island of Tarawa –America’s first major offensive in the Pacific war. It was also the first attempt to make an amphibious assault against a highly fortified enemy position, and it wrote a new page in military annals, as one of America’s and the Marine Corps’ bloodiest battles.

Following the battle of Tarawa, Ferguson fought in the battles of Saipan and Tinian as a machine-gunner. He was recommended for a battlefield commission after his last battle and was returned to America to attend college prior to his commissioning. He landed with the first waves at Inchon at the start of the Korean War (1950), as a … Read More

America’s Cup Winner Bill Ficker, a retired Newport Beach architect, filed his "City Hall in the Park" charter amendment initiative with the Clerk, City of Newport Beach this morning. Joining Bill as co-proponents are Former California Secretary of Education and former State Senator Marian Bergeson, and local businessman Jack Croul. The charter amendment measure was written for the proponents by your author, Jim Lacy, who is also serving as counsel to the initiative committee. The amendment does not require a tax increase.

The charter amendment, to be on the ballot in February, 2008 if the qualifying signatures are gathered, would place in the City Charter a requirement that the City Hall of Newport Beach be placed in Newport Center next to the new Newport Beach Central Library. Some council members have resisted the idea of placing the new City Hall next to the current Library. The current City Hall on the Balboa Peninsula is in poor condition and need of extensive repairs.

The City Attorney has fifteen days to return a "title and summary" to the proponents, and signature gathering will likely begin thereafter in June. STA… Read More

Today the FlashReport features two ‘must read’ columns — one from Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and one from Board of Equalization Member Michelle Steel. The former column is about the tragedy of over six billion dollars in bonds being authorized by the State of California (the "prison deal") without a vote of the people, and the latter is a sobering reminder that Californian’s have to work longer than most Americans to reach our "tax freedom day" — which is today!

Courtesy of Ryan Clumpner, the newly elected Chairman of the California College Republicans, check out this post from their CCR website – and the video below it when you’ve read it…

Friday, 04 May 2007

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Today the FlashReport features two ‘must read’ columns — one from Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and one from Board of Equalization Member Michelle Steel. The former column is about the tragedy of over six billion dollars in bonds being authorized by the State of California (the "prison deal") without a vote of the people, and the latter is a sobering reminder that Californian’s have to work longer than most Americans to reach our "tax freedom day" — which is today!

Courtesy of Ryan Clumpner, the newly elected Chairman of the California College Republicans, check out this post from their CCR website – and the video below it when you’ve read it… Friday, 04 May 2007 Yesterday I had the privilege of joining about 11… Read More

It seems that 53% of French voters have had it with big government socialism. As a result of their decision, and the words of (gasp) conservative President – elect Sarkozy, I can now release the power of my personal income on the consumption of French products again. Whew! Not a moment too soon I might add. Before I give you anxious readers the list, let me state unequivocally that my boycott of all Peugeot | Renault vehicles still stands, for obvious reasons.

Here are the top 10 French products I now plan to use:

1. Dom Perignon (best bubbly on the planet)

2. Louis Vitton (handbags – the wife is now very happy)

3. Michelin (tires for my German Audi)

4. Sofitel (upscale hotels)

5. Smart & Final (groceries)

6. Krups (great coffee makers)

7. Dannon (yogurt and water, etc.)

8. France (going this summer)

9. Nexium (acid reflux – need it to watch John Boehner explain the GOP "agenda" on Sunday Morning talk shows)

10. Mephisto (shoes, etc., accidentally spent $112 there this morning before I knew the outcome of… Read More