As I pen this first entry for the New Year, it is a somber occasion. This morning as I compiled all of the stories for the main page, I had the television turned on to watch the ceremonies surrounding the funeral of former President Gerald Ford, from the processional that took his body from where it lay in state underneath the Capitol Rotunda (where is was viewed by tens of thousands of Americans paying tribute) to the National Cathedral. As I write this, President Bush is escorting Ford’s widow, Betty, to her seat between her four children, in the front pew. Over the past few days, much has been written about the life of Gerald Ford. About the years before his Presidency, where the college athlete and veteran became a Congressman from Michigan, ultimately rising to the post of Minority Leader, as the top Republican in the House of Representatives. Also about his time as President, coming in on the heels of President Nixon’s resignation, his controversial pardon of Nixon, and the… Read More

I just had the great honor of attending President Ford’s funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.. It was one of the most impressive and meaningful events I have ever been part of.

If you didn’t have the chance to see it on TV, please take the opportunity to watch it when it is replayed. Beautiful tributes were given by President George H.W. Bush, former Secretary of StateHenry Kissinger, Tom Brokaw and President George W. Bush. There is nothing I can write here better than what they said. Clearly he wasgreatly respected and loved by many.

I’m headingto Sacramento early tomorrow – which is first day of the new session – where I will adjourn the Senate in honor of our 38th President.Last Friday, my wife, Mary, and Iwere privileged to be invited by the family to attendthe Private Visitation at St. Margaret’s church in Palm Desert. It’s been a long week.

I’m proud to say Gerald Ford was a constituent of mine for 12 years.… Read More

Chuck LiMandri on Mt. Soledad Cross…. A nice year-end message from the fearless attorney in support of preserving the mountaintop memorial:

As this Christmas season winds to a conclusion and we prepare to ring in the New Year, I wanted to take a moment to express my deep appreciation to all of you who helped achieve the stunning success we realized this year in preserving the Mt. Soledad Cross Memorial for generations to come. To think that within just the last six months we witnessed a Stay Order from the United States Supreme Court, new legislation passed by Congress and signed by President Bush and, only last month, a 53-page appellate decision in our favor–these "monumental" accomplishments are nothing short of miraculous. None of this could have been achieved without the hard work and dedication of an army of men and women of goodwill–all following the example of leaders like yourselves. Although the court battles to preserve the Mt. Soledad Memorial Cross are not yet over, it is clear that the momentum is strongly in our favor and, after almost 18 years, ultimate… Read More

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try to serve on a local city council.

Today the San Bernardino Sun reported that longtime Rialto (population 99,000) resident Jeremy Baca, the 34-year-old son of Inland Empire’s lone Democrat Congressman Joe Baca and 2006 Assembly primary loser, has decided to seek appointment to a vacant city council position in the city of Colton (population 48,000). Read about it here. Jeremy Baca is attempting to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Joe Jr., who after being soundly defeated in his bid for a State Senate seat in the 2006 Primary campaign, successfully sought election in November ‘06 contest to the Rialto City Council.

The Flashreport has written previously on the attempts by San Bernardino County’s Democrat Congressman Joe Baca to establish a political dynasty in the Inland Valley by running his children for a variety of public offices in a scheme to ensure that most Democrats in public life in the Inland… Read More

Yesterday Governor Schwarzenegger announced the formation of a new commission to look at our state’s soaring pension obligations. The good news is that the Governor is making a proactive effort to look at this issue. The bad news is that public employee unions will NEVER, EVER consider adjusting public sector retirement benefits to mirror those in the private sector. You would have to look really hard to find private companies that offer such lavish ‘defined benefit’ programs (where retiree benefits are guaranteed to be a certain amount each year). In the private sector, retirement programs are almost always based on ‘defined contributions’ where an employer puts aside money into a fund on behalf of an employee while they work, often times matching contributions made by the employee themeselves.

We applaud the Governor for wanting to focus on this all-important issue, and we counsel the Governor to make sure he devotes a good number of his six appointees to this commission (he has set it up where he gets six, and each legislative leader gets three) are from the private sector.

The Governor… Read More

Yesterday, Jon recommended the Governor read a good book during recovery, while subtly linking to a suggestion.

However, that pick may be a bit too much of a tome for someone not bound to be down very long. I suggest the shorter "Anthem," for a novella-like quick grasp of Objectivism and anti-socialistic economics.

If the Guv is not prone to Rand, perhaps "Economics in One Lesson" would serve him well heading into 2007, especially prior to considering any additional bonded indebtedness.

Any other suggestions?… Read More

As we close out the year in just a few days, I thought it’d be fun to reach out to a few friends to get some fearless predictions for what’s bound to happen in 2007.

First to respond were OC GOP Chairman Emeritus Tom Fuentes, and research super guru (and former Cal-YAF Executive Director) Jim Sills.

From the Chairman

1.California Democrats will begin their draft of Maria Shriver as their nominee to follow her husband as Governor.

2.Straining to look more Reaganesque, Ah-Nold will give up motorcycles and take up horseback riding. A Hollywood stunt coach will provide small cue-cards to help him say "Giddy-up" and "Whoa".

3.Following his performance as Master of Ceremonies at the gubernatorial inauguration, Willy Brown will be appointed Social Secretary and Senior Legislative Policy Advisor to the Governor.

4.LA Mayor Antonio Villarigosa will bolt from the Democrats and launch a new Progressive Socialist Party in the Golden State. He will be… Read More

Received the following this morning fromSD GOP Chairman Ron Nehring….

Liberals Complain Republican Party Blocked Dem Gains in San Diego in 2006

In a revealing story published in today’s Voice of San Diego local liberal activists are quoted complaining about the effectiveness of the Republican Party in winning multiple local elections in the county in 2006, bucking a national trend that favored the Democrats.

While 2006 was a banner year for the other party, "…the momentum liberals, progressives and everyone else under the Democratic tent gained after the Nov. 7 election didn’t carry over to San Diego, where incumbency, key endorsements and the well-funded political organization of Republican and conservative causes held the trump card in this year’s most competitive and visible races."… Read More