When I met Duf Sundheim in the fall of 2002, it was not a difficult decision to endorse him for Chairman in the upcoming GOP organizing election. I knew I would be a major conservative "defection" and would enable him to more easily seek conservative support, and am pleased to this day with my decision, and proud to have been a small part of his victory in 2003.

All Chairman, whether they serve two or four years, draw the ire of at least 40% of the Party delegates at some point or another. Every Chairman I have ever observed has been accused by somebody of being a liar, game player, weak, untrustworthy or some other name. Everyone has a story about being "screwed" by the Chair. Duf himself has not been immune from these criticisms.

Very few people understand the sacrifice a Party Chairman makes. It is essentially a full time position and in California, where it is nearly impossible to achieve statewide victories, thankless at best.

In his organizational process, he immediately enlisted a fair mix of moderate and conservative leaders to select Party Committees – the best process I have ever seen. As a result, these… Read More

On Friday Sacramento Superior Court Judge Gail Ohanesian rejected in its entirety a lawsuit brought by GOP volunteers to have Jerry Brown’s election as Attorney General overturned on the highly technical grounds that his bar dues status was inactive for a few years while he was Mayor of Oakland.

I have written on this issue before a few times in this space. As I have said before, I am no fan of Jerry Brown, however, this lawsuit againstBrown was unfair from the start.First, thePlaintiffs filed the action too late (they filed it after the Secretary of State had already certified Brown as a candidate and after he had won the election for the Democrat nomination, and just a few weeks before the general election. The proper time, and best time legally for Plaintiffs to have a chance to win, would have been to file the action right afterBrown filed as a candidate and before he was certified or before he won the Democrat primary). But by letting time pass andfiling the action late in the electoral process, the Plaintiffs assured they would lose their case, because a judge would clearly view the prejudice to the voters of California in turning outa… Read More

All-but-formally-declared Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani addressed hundreds of California Republican activists yesterday. This was Rudy Giuliani’s first major speech since he announced the establishment of his presidential exploratory committee last week, and initial indications among the party faithful in attendance suggest there is real momentum behind the leader to whom many Americans rallied behind in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks.

Introduced by California conservative hero Bill Simon, Rudy Giuliani discussed many issues relevant to the presidential race in his 44-minute long speech – health care, immigration, the War on Terror and his love and admiration for President Reagan. In fact, Giuliani included no fewer than 18 references to Ronald Reagan, which included lines like “I worked for Ronald Reagan,” and Ronald Reagan is one of my heroes,” and “Ronald Reagan embodied optimism.” Giuliani’s numerous references to President Reagan – which at Republican… Read More

I have decided to endorse Tom Bordonaro for CRP Vice Chairman.

A couple weeks ago I noted that none of the then-three candidates for CRP vice chairman had been running aggressive campaigns including whip operations. I have since seen Bordonaro’s campaign in action and I have decided to support hm.

My support is based on two factors.

1) How a candidate campaigns for party office can portend how he or she will organize and run the state party. Bordonaro has stepped up his campaigning efforts and run a dynamic convention vote-getting effort.

2) State Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman is a strong supporter of Tom Bordonaro, I trust Senator Ackerman’s judgment.

My endorsement and support of Tom Bordonaro does not represent an endorsement from the Flash Report or any other contributor to this site.… Read More

Having had to deal with it before, I can assure you that it is no easy feat to "move" a candidate through a Republican Party convention. When I say "move" — I am referring to the scheduling nightmare of a candidate who has a major speaking engagement (usually at a meal function) and then wants to maximize his or her time by scheduling meetings with various individuals and groups.

Such would be the challenge for Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who spoke at the luncheon at the CRP Convention today. The Mayor actually arrived in Sacramento last night, and leaves the hotel in a bit. And he has had many, many meetings with folks (I have spoken with many of them).

Well, this afternoon, he was originally scheduled to speak to the Board of Directors and members of the influential, conservative California Republican Assembly at 2:30 p.m. (this group is a major influence within the State GOP — Governor Mitt Romney spoke to them at the CRP Convention last August). Apparently that 2:30 p.m. time didn’t work for Giuliani, and CRA President Mike Spence graciously asked his membership to come back for a 4:00 p.m. meeting.

Well, at around… Read More

Jon Fleischman won the race for Californa Republicans Party Vice Chairman South this morning at the CRP Convention in Sacramento.

Unlike a recent call of mine this race is totally over.

Fleischman 142 | Wall 83

An additional 35 provisional ballots were not counted because they could not have affected the outcome.

Congratulations Jon.

Fleischman also holds the position of second vice chairman of the Republican Party of Orange County.… Read More

I thought the following commentary/editorial from David Sander was a fitting tribute for the convention. It’s written by David Sander, a local GOP Mayor who’s putting Republican principles to work every day, in the real world of government.

A case FOR partisanship, not “post-partisanship” David Sander, Mayor of Rancho Cordova

As a local Mayor, my job is considered “non-partisan”. But, I don’t think there is such a thing as “non-partisan. In fact, I don’t get they get the idea of “post-partisanship” – to me it’s just a bunch of feel-good hooey.

**There is more – click the link**

View Full Commentary… Read More

Here is our fearless Flasher, pictured last night with Assemblyman Paul Cook! While Col. Cook and I talked Iraq over a rack of lamb (I’m not kidding… Iraq over ‘a rack’)…Jon came up and made walking billboards of the whole group who enthusiastically support him for Vice Chair South.

Cast your vote at 9 am today!… Read More