Captain William Driver, a shipmaster in Salem, Mass, was leaving on one of his many voyages aboard the brig Charles Doggett. It was 1831, and it was a voyage that would climax with the rescue of the mutineers of the Bounty. Some of Captain Driver’s friends presented him with a beautiful flag of twenty-four stars, and as the banner opened to the ocean breeze for the first time he exclaimed "Old Glory!"

The Captain retired to Nashville in 1837, taking the flag from his sea days with him. By the time the Civil War erupted, most people around Nashville recognized Captain Driver’s "Old Glory." So when Tennessee seceded from the Union, rebels were determined to destroy that flag, but repeated searches revealed no trace of the hated banner. Then on February 25, 1862, Union forces captured Nashville and raised the American flag over the capitol. It was a rather small ensign, so immediately folks began asking Captain Driver if "Old Glory" still existed. Some soldiers escorted Driver to his home where he began ripping at the seams of his bedcover. As the stitches holding the quilt-top to the batting… Read More

This afternoon, a friend and I left foggy Oakland to venture to sunny, hot Danville, a bridge-tunnel moneyed suburb of SF with expensive boutiques, sidewalk cafes and an independent bookstore called Rakestraw Books. Rakestraw Books was hosting a book-signing lunch with Franz Wisner, author of “Honeymoon with My Brother.” I’m sure there is a good chunk of the FR readers who know Franz or have had an ex-Wilson Administration friend give them a copy of Franz’ book. But if you haven’t picked up a copy of this book, I urge you to do it—for two reasons.

First, it is a fun read. Light, easy summer fare that is written from the heart. Second, Franz was one of us—policy wonk, political addict—who chucked it all and… Read More

OK, you’ve gotta admit — even if you may disagree with Randy Thomasson’s Campaign for Children & Families — that the doctored movie poster is a hoot.

On the other hand, does CCF bring up some good points? More here.

… Read More

Field Poll is out today with poll numbers on the four infrastructure bond initiatives that Governor Schwarzenegger outlined in his January State of the State address this year. None of the bonds are doing especially well. You can read analysis of the poll results at New West Notes and Sacramento Bee.

While it’s not likely there will be a well-funded or organized campaign to oppose the bonds, there will most certainly need to be a clever campaign to pass the bonds in November. And probably, the governor will have to go out and actively – and aggressively – campaign in their favor.

The question is, could Newton’s action-reaction law of motionapply to the governor’s re-elect in November? What reaction (if any) will occur as a result of the governor campaigning to pass the bonds? The most recent Field Poll shows Gov. Schwarzenegger with 85% support among Republican voters – the magical percentage that the numbers crunchers said early on in the year was necessary for him to win re-election. Could that number decline, however, if the Republican governor makes the case for the education or housing bonds? Quite possibly. It’s not… Read More

What would you say if I told you that in less than two weeks, FlashReport readers have an opportunity to defeat a liberal in Congress?

His name is Joe Schwarz and along with other liberals in the House of Representatives, he is standing firmly in the way of moving our conservative Republican agenda in Congress. Actually, Schwarz is uniquely situated to sabotage the GOP agenda, and I will explain why in a moment.

But first let me take a moment to tell you just how liberal Schwarz is… Schwarz (pictured to the right):

Has repeatedly advocated higher income, business, property and gas taxes. Has suggested suspending or rescinding the President’s income, capitol gains and dividend tax cuts to pay for more government spending. Voted against a proposal to reduce non-security … Read More

San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Postmus on Thursday placed on the Board’s August 1 agenda a proposed ballot measure to prohibit the County from seizing private property for private use, while the Board’s Vice-Chairman, Paul Biane, is offering another ballot measure to place term limits on supervisors and revise their pay scale upward to attract better candidates.

Postmus’ eminent domain restriction is similar to the one passed in June by Orange County voters. Eminent domain abuse has been a nationwide subject of concern since last year when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that local governments could seize land to be used for private development. In Kelo v. City of New London, 125 S. Ct. 2655 (2005), the Court upheld a Connecticut law that allows local governmental entities to exercise the power of eminent domain for so-called “economic development” purposes.

“The Supreme Court said that local governments can seize your property and give it to a private developer,” said Postmus. “That’s not right. The fact that a piece of property might generate more tax revenue under another use shouldn’t give… Read More

What would you say if I told you that in less than two weeks, FlashReport readers have an opportunity to defeat a liberal in Congress?

His name is Joe Schwarz and along with other liberals in the House of Representatives, he is standing firmly in the way of moving our conservative Republican agenda in Congress. Actually, Schwarz is uniquely situated to sabotage the GOP agenda, and I will explain why in a moment.

But first let me take a moment to tell you just how liberal Schwarz is… Schwarz (pictured to the right):

Has repeatedly advocated higher income, business, property and gas taxes. Has suggested suspending or rescinding the President’s income, capitol gains and dividend tax cuts to pay for more government spending. Voted against a proposal to reduce non-security … Read More

At any point in a campaign its important to be in the lead. In July, in a Statewide race for California Governor, a leaddoesn’t mean much as a predictor of a final outcome. We still have most of the playing field to travel, and much can happen over the next three months. Its especially important to lead a race at this stage to facilitate the raising of money. Big Donors and other groups are front-runners – they like to give to the leading candidate far more than the one trailing. Sp Arnold’s lead presently is mostly about maintaining a solid fundraising effort, which he appears to be doing.

While I still don’t see or feel any real energy in the GOP base the Democrats are angrier than ever – and demoralized. I have yet to meet a Democrat that sincerely believes Angelides can win. They are clearly not energized.

In the final analysis one would rather be ahead than behind. But predicting an outcome in this race is like predicting who will win the National League West this year in baseball – too early to tell. Arnold’s chances have risen from 40-60 to even money over the last few weeks. He’s got… Read More