When Jon asked a few of us to fill in while he frolics in the waves of Maui, I thought about putting something profound together, but then I remembered he suggested that we just be ourselves. Well, I’m a simple country boy – and I was struck by a story in George Will’s column about a newly elected Senator refusing to shake President Bush’s hand.

Where I come from that’s the kind of rudeness that just isn’t acceptable.

After recent elections gave Democrats control of the US Senate and House of Representatives, we heard their leaders talk a lot about the coming era of bi-partisanship.

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When Jon asked a few of us to fill in while he frolics in the waves of Maui, I thought about putting something profound together, but then I remembered he suggested that we just be ourselves. Well, I’m a simple country boy – and I was struck by a story in George Will’s column about a newly elected Senator refusing to shake President Bush’s hand.

Where I come from that’s the kind of rudeness that just isn’t acceptable.

After recent elections gave Democrats control of the US Senate and House of Representatives, we heard their leaders talk a lot about the coming era of bi-partisanship.

Well, it turns out the talk was pretty much just talk — kind of like CA Assemblymembers who publicly turned down a $12,000 pay hike, then quietly accepted the money a few months later (more on that another time.)

Will recounted a story about Senator-elect Jim Webb ditching the reception line at an event hosted by the President so he wouldn’t have to shake the President’s hand. Later, he responded rudely to the President’s polite inquiry about… Read More

[A lot of staffers can’t wait for the "rivalry weekend" to start. The week’s been packed with…well…packing and moving. (Yes, I know the legislative moving guys do most of the work.) Moving isn’t fun, unless you’re moving to a bigger office. Stanford versus Cal and USC versus UCLA will be a welcome break. But please allow me toss out this short commentary first.]

I am so glad to have the opportunity to pen a commentary the morning the FlashReport chose to feature an exclusive column by former UC Regent Ward Connerly. Campus leftists pelted with the stage with Oreos when he came to speak at UC Santa Barbara years ago and I’ve admired the man ever since.

Those of you who have graciously chosen to read my soapbox rantings will recall a month ago I commented on UC administrators’ efforts to repeal Proposition 209, the 1990s state measure that sought to… Read More

[A lot of staffers can’t wait for the "rivalry weekend" to start. The week’s been packed with…well…packing and moving. (Yes, I know the legislative moving guys do most of the work.) Moving isn’t fun, unless you’re moving to a bigger office. Stanford versus Cal and USC versus UCLA will be a welcome break. But please allow me toss out this short commentary first.]

I am so glad to have the opportunity to pen a commentary the morning the FlashReport chose to feature an exclusive column by former UC Regent Ward Connerly. Campus leftists pelted with the stage with Oreos when he came to speak at UC Santa Barbara years ago and I’ve admired the man ever since.

Those of you who have graciously chosen to read my soapbox rantings will recall a month ago I commented on UC administrators’ efforts to… Read More

Many may remember Donna Arduin as Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first Director of Finance for the State of California. Arduin came into the Schwarzenegger Administration with a track record of being a strong conservative, well versed on budgetary and finance matters, and lived up to her reputation. Arduin, who had been heading up Florida’s equivalent office for Governor Jeb Bush, had come out to be part of Team Arnold’s original transition after the recall election, and then agreed to stay on for a period of time.

After the first year of the Schwarzenegger Administration, Arduin left California to return home to quiet Tallahassee, Florida, which she calls home. She partnered up with famed economist Arthur Laffer in a consulting firm, and has been loving life. Donna keeps up on California politics by reading this website, and has written a couple of columns for us!

Today, it is being reported… Read More

LA attorney Paul Kavesh paid for a full page ad in the Daily Breeze entitled "The Democrats are back in power". He asked, "what do you do with your estate plan now?" Kavesh promises that "an overflow audience is anticipated" at his seminar and the Dems will soon increase estate taxes and income taxes.

In order for youto adjust to the new tax climate you can register for his seminar at the Torrance Hilton until tomorrow night. (See the two-part ad below.)

Estate planner Kavesh certainly is bettingthat with Dems in power there will be immediatetrauma to those who own real estate in California. At least this tax specialist gets the joke. Bad news for those who work, are homeowners and are over 45.… Read More

I find Dick Morris to beone of the more astute political observers around. Although there is no substitute to actually having the majority,I got a kick out of this editorial. Dick Morris: Pitiful Democrats

For all of the dire warnings and pre-election commotion about the impact of a Democratic majority in Congress, the fact is that — now that it is upon us — it can do little or nothing but harass the administration. There is no real danger of any legislative action emerging from this Congress.

Yes, the president has a veto the Democrats cannot override, but nothing will ever make it as far as the desk at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., are just spinning their wheels.

In the Senate, there is no such thing as a majority. Ever since the elder Bush’s administration, the filibuster has become routine. No longer reserved for civil-rights issues or for egregious legislation, it now is used to counter… Read More

Ironically, folks on the far left and the far right share a common woe…both have been dismissed by the NSTA (National Science Teachers Association). Inasmuch as advocates for creationism have failed to gain a toehold in America’s science classrooms, advocates for teaching kids about global warming have received the same cold shoulder from NSTA. Producers of Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” can’t give away 50,000 free DVD’s to science teachers across the U.S., and they are blaming Exxon Mobil. See the article in the Washington Post.

All this, as the Supreme Court deliberates Massachusetts vs. EPA to decide whether or not carbon emissions are considered air pollutants that are causing global climate change.Their decision could have a tremendous impact on California’s AB32, a piece of legislation the California Chamber opposed to the bitter end, mandating reductions in… Read More