Whatever your thoughts on "academic rankings" are, a big story on the main page today that seems apolitical is the Media News story about USC‘s rapid catch-up to UCLA in the U.S. News & World Report academic rankings. Ten years ago, USC was ranked 43 in the nation, UCLA was ranked 31. Four years ago, USC was 34, UCLA 26. Last year, USC 30, UCLA 25. Last month’s release of the USN&WR rankings has USC ranked 27, UCLA 26. While UCLA has changed little in it’s national standings (even falling back one place from last year to this year), USC has dynamically pursued an ascension in its national standings. It’s painful for me, an anti-Trojan fan, to admit.

I say this story "seems apolitical" because we’re all familiar with the often sophomoric banter back and forth between the crosstown rivals. There’s nothing political about that. It gets political when… Read More

First the California Republican Party hires Marty Wilson to do the State Party’s mail. Wilson denies Yes on Prop. 90 a space on the mail unless they pay big money, while at the same time is on the payroll of the No on 90 people (See here).

Now there is another outrage from the California Republican Party. At the last CRP convention, the CRP Initiatives Committee (I serve as the committee’s chairman) refused to endorse Proposition 1D. We, instead, took a neutral position. Prop. 1D is this November’s scheme to fork over billions more in bonds for schools. The entire California Republican Party State Central Committee then confirmed the Initiative Committee’s recommendation.

So what does the CRP do?

They send a mailer to Republican Permanent Absentee Votersendorsing Prop. 1D! That’s right. It doesn’t matter how the party’s delegates voted, the CRP consultants, along with the apparent acceptance of most of the CRP’s Board Members… Read More

This Sign Does Not Point to the Red Light District… One of the most intriguing, if not somewhat comical San Diego political stories in recent memory is the saga of the sign posted against Maggie Houlihan. Houlihan, a councilmember in Encinitas, is not even facing re-election this year, yet is dealing with an angry constituent who posted a very large sign on his property along the freeway claiming the lady is a…well…a whore.

Ouch.

The Union-Trib’s Logan Jenkins penned a great piece on the travails of Maggie and her sign nightmare in yesterday’s paper, even referencing P.J. O’Rourke’s 2003 “Parliament of Whores” as a primer on politics.Read Jenkins’ "Another Sign of Incivility in Encinitas" here.

It should be noted that I have met Maggie Houlihan.She is a nice lady, any philosophical leanings aside. There is nothing to suggest any ill-repute on… Read More

Datamar’s auto-responder has Arnold at 52.4%, Angelides at 34.9%. Yawn.

See the results here.… Read More

[I preface what you’re about to read with an introduction of information about my past. If you haven’t read in my previous posts here, I attended UC Santa Barbara. The school and the Central Coast of California are strange birds, politically. They’re stranger than a snowy plover. Looking back at my college days, I don’t think I fully grasped the depth of university, local, and intraparty disputes. I lacked a history in the area. Thankfully, there were generous and intelligent men and women who were willing to offer me political and legal guidance. Without them, I would have been completely lost. Mike Stoker was one of those people. He was always available to counsel and cheerlead my political and ideological efforts on campus. – NR]

Because the FR is missing a Central Coast Correspondent, I think we tend to look at the area less closely than others. I feel guilty about it.

I’m counting on McClintock and Strickland victories in November. Both men are on the cusp of solid wins with Democrats depressed by the top of the ticket. Conservatives must be vigilant in these… Read More

[I preface what you’re about to read with an introduction of information about my past. If you haven’t read in my previous posts here, I attended UC Santa Barbara. The school and the Central Coast of California are strange birds, politically. They’re stranger than a snowy plover. Looking back at my college days, I don’t think I fully grasped the depth of university, local, and intraparty disputes. I lacked a history in the area. Thankfully, there were generous and intelligent men and women who were willing to offer me political and legal guidance. Without them, I would have been completely lost. Mike Stoker was one of those people. He was always available to counsel and cheerlead my political and ideological efforts on campus. – NR]

Because the FR is missing a Central Coast Correspondent, I think we tend to look at the area less closely than others. I feel guilty about it.

I’m counting on McClintock and Strickland victories in November. Both men are on the cusp of solid wins with Democrats depressed by the top of the ticket. Conservatives must be vigilant in these… Read More

Too often, when even some conservativeelectedstake office, they idly sit by and let things fall apart in their districts. Democrats take seats on City Councils and School Boards. Bonds and tax increases slip through without an active opposition.

As these things often would be controversial forelecteds to take active action against, they shy away from the fight.

Not Bob Huff.

This November there will appear a $38 million parcel tax measure to build a new library in Bob’s hometown of Diamond Bar. Measure L.

The “goo goo” (good government) types in Diamond Bar (including RINO Council members Wen Chang and Jack Tanaka) have pushed this thing to build a new monument to themselves.

Bob hasbeen active in campaigning against the tax, and has even bought slates to get his message out.

In addition,going beyond just attacking the tax increase, the good Assemblyman pointed out in an email to me that the library itself doesn’t make sense, considering: a)more and more people are turning to the internet, not… Read More

Finally a Republican celebrity has decided to start campaigning for a down-ticket candidate, Sen. Chuck Poochigian. However, it is not Arnold Schwarzenegger, but Ben Stein. Attorney general is the most important statewide office next to governor and the choice this year between the two candidates couldn’t be starker. If you haven’t yet, check out the recent debate between Poochigian and Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown on www.cbs5.com.

Poochigian has been running an excellent and creative campaign in the face of Jerry Brown’s large lead (due to a huge name identification after years on the public dole). But Poochigian has cut the lead dramatically and the race is getting heated. Enter Ben Stein, the comedian/actor who is unabashedly Republican. Stein is narrating… Read More