Like FR Publisher Jon Fleischman, I am profoundly disappointed that House Republicans essentially chose to tell the American people with yesterday’s leadership vote, ‘We don’t need to change. This is who we are.’ They reaffirmed their support for a leadership team that did little, if anything, to advance responsible conservative fiscal policies and taxpayer rights, that had so few big accomplishments (Social Security reform?) that its message was consistently trumped by scandal after scandal, and that lost control in such a big way.

Jon is absolutely correct when he writes:

Why would anyone believe that if Republicans took back the majority, things would be appreciably different than before, with the same leadership? I’ll be looking to see if Republicans get very specific about what they did wrong, what specifically they would change if back in power? A very real first step would be to completely change out all of the Appropriations Committee members (how about making… Read More

Like FR Publisher Jon Fleischman, I am profoundly disappointed that House Republicans essentially chose to tell the American people with yesterday’s leadership vote, ‘We don’t need to change. This is who we are.’ They reaffirmed their support for a leadership team that did little, if anything, to advance responsible conservative fiscal policies and taxpayer rights, that had so few big accomplishments (Social Security reform?) that its message was consistently trumped by scandal after scandal, and that lost control in such a big way.

Jon is absolutely correct when he writes: Why would anyone believe that if Republicans took back the majority, things would be appreciably different than before, with the same leadership? I’ll be looking to see if Republicans get very specific about what they did wrong, what specifically they would change if back in power? A very real first step would be to completely change out all of… Read More

I know I am starting to sound like I am beating the same drum over and over. But I am still reflecting with wonder on the fact that earlier today House Republicans gathered in a room and largely re-elected the same leadership that they had while in the majority.

The gravity of the problem for House Republicans is highlighted by my reaction to reading a speech I found online given by Roy Blunt (right), who was re-elected into House Leadership. In it he gives a speech that makes it sound as if he suddenly has turned over a new leaf. This the man who for years literally whipped up the votes to massively grow government. Now, stripped of his majority status and power, he is giving lip service to past mistakes.

Why would anyone believe that if Republicans took back the majority, things would be appreciably different than before, with the same leadership?… Read More

Senator Ackerman sent me the latest numbers, not so good for Reps. Lou has pulled out to a 783 vote lead, a little less than the Otto Bade write-in number of yesterday, 800+ votes. These seem to be all provisional day-of ballots. If they were still the absentees it would be better. 55147-54364, advantage Lou.… Read More

* Conservative Republican Bill Simon, Jr., who ran unsucessfully for Governor in 2002, was in NYC for an exclusive meeting of supporters of Rudy Giuliani’s bid for the Presidency.

* Milton Friedman was a noted economist and an ardent libertarian. I attended a dinner once where his talk centered around his opposition to the war on drugs and the need to decriminalize prostitution. Nice.

* Margita Thompson, who is departing as the Governor’s Press Secretary, is rumored to be leaving for Nepal, to trek up to the top of Mount Everest – time for her to take it easy.

* Clearly conservative Simon wouldn’t be attracted to Giuliani’s mold of East Coast liberal Republicanism. But Simon used to work for Giuliani as a prosecutor… They are close personal friends I am told…

* Former Schwarzenegger Campaign Deputy Communications Director Matt David is rumored to be in consideration to replace Thompson. That would be a great pick. I give Matt my strongest recommendation (sorry, Matt, I may have sunk your chances).

* Success or failure for legislative leaders, under this redistricting plan, must be… Read More

That’s right. The tax increases are coming! A while back a reporter asked me if I feared an Angelides tax increase. I told him I didn’t, because Republicans would block, like we did during the Gray Davis years. I feared an increase from the Governor, because he might get some GOP votes for it. See the interview here.

I know you didn’t see it in the advertising for the bonds but with the State 5 Billion in debt (This is without lots of bad things like prison reform, pensions etc.. not figured in), that fear is reality.I have now confirmed that the governor’s office is considering tax increases. Specifically, I have heard these at least in play. A taxon satellite and cable television and radio and TV advertising. I assume that is the tip if the iceberg.

If you see some GOP legislators. Grabthe and tell them they have to vote no. That is the only thing that may stop these increases

I hope the governor proposes to tax retroactively all the advertisements that ended just a couple of weeks ago… Read More

On election night I was in the McClintock suite at the Beverly Hilton Hotel as the election results came in. I knew we were in trouble when Tom has a couple of percentage point lead and LA still hadn’t been counted. Pollster Stephen Kinney was there. It was his and other polling that had told us that McClintock, McPherson had slight leads and that Strickland was getting close.

Today Kinney made his post-election analysis at the meeting of the San Gabriel Valley Lincoln Club (For disclosure purposes I chair this Lincoln Club chaper)

Steve went through all the pre and post polling. Why did we lose the down ticket races? TURNOUT

Kinney thinks that the spread between Dem and GOP turnout may hit 10%. Some big Southern California GOP counties had lower turnout than in 2002. Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino to name them.

The reason. Kinney points to the nationalization of the election that didn’t come to California really until the last few days. Republicans were demoralized and didn’t show up. According to Kinney Arnold won by only 2% on election day.

I agree… Read More

Congressman Tom Cole was just elected to head up the National Republican Congressional Committee. In a recent letter to his fellow Congressional Members he wrote, "Everything is on the line in 2008 — lets start working together now to illuminate the liberal agenda of a Democrat controlled Congress".

Cole was Chief-of-Staff at the RNC in 2000 and he is a member Chickasaw Nation Indian Tribe from Oklahoma. He was an Oklahoma State Senator and Secretary-of-State.

This is a clear indication that the GOP is serious about taking back the House.… Read More