One should not take for granted the United States Constitution and our Bill of Rights.

For the past two weeks, I have been on vacation in Great Britain (just a few more days to go!). The trip has been great, but I won’t bore you all with the fun details of my vacation. But I will say that it has been quite interesting to watch the affairs of British Government played out in the local news tabloids (an apt description) as well as on the‘telly’.

It is amazing to me that here in the United Kingdom, thetelevision airwaves are owned by…the government. So guess what this does for choice and varietyfor the millions of Brits who do not have a satellite dish? You got it, there are only six stations in the whole country –and two of them always seem to be showing the same thing.

I tried to makea call on Prime Minister Blair today, over at10 Downing Street – but could not get past the Bobbies! Tomorrow I’m going to try to get into the ‘Strangers Gallery’ at the House of Commons to watch the Q&A period with the Prime Minister in person.We’ll see if it is an raccous in… Read More

Lately, all of the Congressional offices in Washington have been inundated with bricks that have been mailed in from citizens concerned about border security. The bricks, which are accompanied by a letter calling for tougher border security, are meant to send a message to Congress that if we don’t build a fence the public is willing to do the job on their own. (The effort is being organized by www.send-a-brick.com) I couldn’t agree more that immigration reform must begin with tougher border security, and I voted for a border fence when we considered the immigration bill. However, my strong stance on this issue doesn’t change the fact that more bricks arrive every day. They have already filled up a whole cabinet in my office. So, we have a new and very serious issue to address. What am I supposed to do with all of these bricks? So far my office has received over 60, and we get more every day. Now, if every House member has received the same, thenumber would … Read More

Lately, all of the Congressional office in Washington have been inundated with bricks that have been mailed in from citizens concerned about border security. The bricks, which are accompanied by a letter calling for tougher border security, are meant to send a message to Congress that if we don’t build a fence the public is willing to do the job on their own. (The effort is being organized by www.send-a-brick.com) I couldn’t agree more that immigration reform must begin with tougher border security, and I voted for a border fence when we considered the immigration bill. However, my strong stance on this issue doesn’t change the fact that more bricks arrive every day. They have already filled up a whole cabinet in my office. So, we have a new and very serious issue to address. What am I supposed to do with all of these bricks? So far my office has received over 60, and we get more every day. Now, if every House member has received the same number would total over 26,000. … Read More

Lately, all of the Congressional office in Washington have been inundated with bricks that have been mailed in from citizens concerned about border security. The bricks, which are accompanied by a letter calling for tougher border security, are meant to send a message to Congress that if we don’t build a fence the public is willing to do the job on their own. (The effort is being organized by www.send-a-brick.com) I couldn’t agree more that immigration reform must begin with tougher border security, and I voted for a border fence when we considered the immigration bill. However, my strong stance on this issue doesn’t change the fact that more bricks arrive every day. They have already filled up a whole cabinet in my office. So, we have a new and very serious issue to address. What am I supposed to do with all of these bricks? So far my office has received over 60, and we get more every day. Now, if every House member has received the same number would total over 26,000. … Read More

Lately, all of the Congressional office in Washington have been inundated with bricks that have been mailed in from citizens concerned about border security. The bricks, which are accompanied by a letter calling for tougher border security, are meant to send a message to Congress that if we don’t build a fence the public is willing to do the job on their own. (The effort is being organized by www.send-a-brick.com) I couldn’t agree more that immigration reform must begin with tougher border security, and I voted for a border fence when we considered the immigration bill. However, my strong stance on this issue doesn’t change the fact that more bricks arrive every day. They have already filled up a whole cabinet in my office. So, we have a new and very serious issue to address. What am I supposed to do with all of these bricks? So far my office has received over 60, and we get more every day. Now, if every House member has received the same number would total over 26,000. … Read More

There’s going to be a budget vote today. If you’re a conservative, it’s not your ideal budget. Although, given how liberal the legislature is, and their insatiable appetite for spending every last penny they can find on the ground and then some, this budget isn’t nearly as bad as it could have been if conservatives weren’t around to hold their ground. In fact, thanks to the leadership of Assembly leader George Plescia and Senate leader Dick Ackerman, there are two major victories in the 2006-07 budget that conservatives can be proud of.

First, no additional spending for health care for illegal immigrants.

Second, more funding for law enforcement programs.

“…the budget includes a boost to law enforcement programs popular with the GOP. The money would be spent on new prosecutors, investigators and advocates for a special unit to prosecute ‘particularly heinous’ crimes such as rape and child abuse.” (Los Angeles Times)

As all the details of the $131 billion budget… Read More

I have never professed to be an expert on the state budget and luckily I don’t have to be, Senator Abel Maldonado, has released some interesting commentary on the budget deal.

From Senator Abel Maldonado (released Tuesday):

"When deciding to vote for this budget I asked myself, does this budget move California forward or back? The answer is simple: it moves California backward.

"This budget spends $9.9 billion that hardworking taxpayers unexpectedly sent us in a good year and spends another $7 billion we do not have. This budget puts less than two-percent away for a rainy day. The fact of the matter is, after we leave tonight we’re still saddled with a $4.6 billion deficit next year.

"I campaigned with Gov. Schwarzenegger and let me share something with you. He said politicians in Sacramento have an addiction to… Read More

Orange County has given birth to and/or nurtured its share of people and organizations that have powerfully impacted the Republican Party — for good or ill.

Richard Nixon was born here, and Ronald Reagan’s political home base was here.

The state’s two leading GOP groups — the Lincoln Club of Orange County and the New Majority — also originated here.

The Lincoln Club was formed in the wake of the bitter 1962 gubernatorial primary between Richard Nixon and Joe Schell. The purpose was to "build Republican strength by lowering the intensity of intra-party warfare and making party politics more orderly and business-like."

The New Majority was born in the wake of Dan Lungren’s lopsided 1998 defeat and dedicated to "bringing a Republican majority to California… Read More