Wendell Cutting Remembered… The FlashReport noted the June 28 passing of this civic activist, humanitarian and longtime aide to Congressman Duncan Hunter, including Thursday’s SDUT editorial (if you missed it), "How Wendell Cutting made a difference." Thursday’s memorial service at Shadow Mountain church in El Cajon, with nearly 1,000 attending, was inspirational. Congressman Hunter, Assemblyman Jay La Suer, Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Chancellor Omero Suarez, and Salvation Army Captain Darren Norton addressed the throng, mixing stories of Wendell’s great sense of humor with testimony of his strong faith. This is a man whose life, personality and friendship will always be remembered.

The East County Herald News has set up some tribute pages to Wendell (including the photo above):… Read More

Political campaigns are a game of chess, and Phil Angelides, the Democrat nominee for Governor, has just moved himself into "check" – a move not allowed during a real chess game but certainly allowed in a political campaign. By promising to support gay marriage, Angelides puts himself in a position at odds with most of California. And he gives Arnold some room to run here, if Arnold is willing to exploit this gaffe.

I hereby advise Arnold to kill the Queen (pun intended) with a pawn, and keep on the offensive on this and other issues.… Read More

Yesterday I asked for input from FlashReport readers on the issue of term limits and potentially revising our state’s legislative term limits laws (right now there is a limit of two four-year terms in the Senate, and three two-year terms in the Assembly). As of this morning, I have had 194 FR readers write to me with their opinions on whether term limits is working or not and whether they would advocate changes. Overwhelmingly FlashReport readers do NOT want to see a change in term limits, and believe that they have been a good thing for California. Which is interesting because the common-speak among Capitol insiders is that they feel that term limits has turned out to be horrible public policy – leading to legislators perpetually focused on their next elective office and to a loss of experience in the legislature. A great many respondents also viewed the rhetoric around the need for extending terms or ending term limits as being self-serving proposals for members of the legislature who simply do not want to return to the private sector. These responses underscores a huge challenge ahead for those who want to… Read More

Yesterday I asked for input from FlashReport readers on the issue of term limits and potentially revising our state’s legislative term limits laws (right now there is a limit of two four-year terms in the Senate, and three two-year terms in the Assembly). As of this morning, I have had 194 FR readers write to me with their opinions on whether term limits is working or not and whether they would advocate changes. Overwhelmingly FlashReport readers do NOT want to see a change in term limits, and believe that they have been a good thing for California. Which is interesting because the common-speak among Capitol insiders is that they feel that term limits has turned out to be horrible public policy – leading to legislators perpetually focused on their next elective office and to a loss of experience in the legislature. A great many respondents also viewed the rhetoric around the need for extending terms or ending term limits as being self-serving proposals for members of the legislature who simply do not want to return to the private sector. These responses underscores a huge challenge ahead for those who want to… Read More

In 2004, Bob Mulholland, then working for the California Democratic Party, compared Gov. Schwarzenegger to Hitler — a stupid statement for which he was forced to apologize.

Get used to churlish behavior from Bob and Phil now through November. It’s their trademark. And it will get much worse.

Here’s part of an article about Bob’s Hitler statement, posted on the Sacramento Union website:

Bob Mulholland, official spokesman for the California Democratic Party, recently referred to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s support for redistricting as a “Hitler-esque power grab.”

The comment, made just days after Schwarzenegger led the annual Capitol Hanukkah celebration, was published in the Capitol Morning Report, a newsletter read religiously by political insiders and news reporters in Sacramento.

Although Mulholland’s comparison of the governor and the man who slaughtered millions of innocent people surely reached the desk of every policymaker in California, only one responded.

Republican Assemblyman Todd… Read More

Questions:I am back in Orange County during the congressional recess this week and have been around and about the district talking to constituents. And they have lots of questions about what is going on in Washington; several of whichare asked repeatedly. So, I thought you might be interested in the top 5 of these questions and my answers to them: How do you like being in Congress? Answer: I am enjoying it a great deal. I have never worked harder in my life nor been more stimulated by my work. Being involved in many of the great issues of the day and our world in a position to influence their outcome is a great responsibility. As a student of history, this is pretty heady stuff. Cold December days in Washington do, however, bring on a longing for a good Santa Ana offshore breeze from the ocean. What has surprised you the most so … Read More

Californians for Schwarzenegger Communications Director Katie Levinson:

"Today’s comments on North Korea by Phil Angelides’ campaign are further evidence he is not ready to lead the state of California. Whether it’s a $10 billion tax hike, a mystery budget proposal with no numbers, or his failure to support Jessica’s Law, it is clear Phil Angelides’ policies will take the state backwards."

California Republican Party Chairman Duf Sundheim:

"The Angelides campaign seems to think that national security issues like North Korean missile tests are suitable material for political attacks.

"While Senator Clinton is in California endorsing Phil Angelides today, as a national leader and member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, she has a responsibility to disavow his campaign’s reckless comments."

My take on the quote:

So Arnold wants lift in his step? Who… Read More

Today, the Phil Angelides campaign crossed a line and compared Governor Schwarzenegger to Kim Jong-il, the North Korean dictator infamous for starving his own people and currently destabilizing Asia with missile tests. The Drudge Report has it here. This was quickly reported by FR State Capitol Correspondent Karen Hanretty in the post below this one (h/t Karen!).

This is just the start of what’s in store from the Angelides’ campaign. He has a history of rough, over-the-line politics. During the primary, Steve Westly liked to point to a Washington Post piece characterizing Angelides as a "champion smear artist."

For those of you unfamiliar with Angelides’ tactics, here’s a refresher on his attack television ad linking state Sen. David Roberti to a "murdered" abortion doctor. The ad was called "sleazy and… Read More