MEMO TO: Whoever whispers in the governor’s ear FR: Hanretty RE: Suga’

One thing Governor Schwarzenegger can do to “energize” the base is spread around a little simple syrup. I’m talking sugar from the guv.

Talk to them. Directly. In person. Or, I dunno know, over the phone.

The governor is a very affable, charming person – much more so in person than in campaign ads or sound bites on the evening news would indicate.

Even the crustiest of cranky conservatives appreciate a little sugar. Just a suggestion.… Read More

When Fleischman asked me to be part of a gaggle of bloggers on this site I said two things: a) I won’t write dry high brow thesis’ on the intricacies of (insert subject matter I don’t understand here) and b) I’m not the kind of conservative your readers will like because at the end of the day, I’m on the payroll and I’m going to be engaged no matter what.

Well, back then, Jon was desperate for content and now…well…I’m just one of his bloggers excelling at the 4 P’s: Piss poor posting performance. I’m hoping to change that…really.

I’ve been reading, and viscerally understand, all of the arguments made by bonafide members of the conservative movement regarding apathy, disillusionment, frustration, and true ideological conflicts. I get that…I get it all…and I’ve seen it before.

During my formative years as a political carney (arrive in town campaign tent goes up…election happens campaign tent goes down) one of the constants that I ran across was how conservatives failed to infiltrate the elections of those in power. (infiltrate? huh? dude…you really did make of couple of Dead show’s… Read More

You saw it here first folks. I just posted the latest web video from Team Arnold at the very top of the main page. It slams Phil Angelides for supporting tax increases, humorously repeating throughout an audio recording of Phil saying, "Just don’t listen to what I say. Look at my record."

While the video mentioned above is humorous, let’s be clear that the purpose of these sorts of attacks is to garner free media attention. The campaign hopes that these are audacious enough to catch the eye of some producer or columnist out there. This latest web video probably won’t get that sort of attention. And it’s too long to be featured frequently, if at all, for free on television. So who gets satisfied by it? Political insiders. And most of us have already made up our minds.

Now Angelides is backpedalling a little from his absolute guarantee of raising taxes. Twice in Chico on Tuesday, Angelides prefaced his tax hike promise with, "If I need to…" Here are the video clips:… Read More

My friend Sean Walsh has a personal boycott against the city of Berkeley. He won’t shop or eat in Berkeley, refusing to have any of his hard-earned dollars go to that insane city government.

After the Berkeley City Council’s vote yesterday, I may have to join his boycott. The City Council unanimously voted to put a measure on the ballot in November that allows Berkeley voters to vote on impeaching President Bush. Of course, the vote is meaningless and cost city taxpayers $10,000, but that didn’t deter the committed leftists on the Berkeley City Council. It’s no surprise that Cindy Sheehan was there urging the City Council on in their wackiness.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the ballot measure… Read More

Because I work for myself…I got no stinkin interns…no young biff’s or muffie’s to pick up my dry cleaning (dude t-shirts and jeans arent’ dry cleaned)…no one to remind me to post more since Jon’s in England……I aint got no body…….so forgive my way too tardypost on the results of Measure H, the measure facing customers of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District as to whether they have the right to vote on future annexations…such as PG&E’s service area in Yolo county. Pretty interesting election…SMUD wanting PG&E rate payers to substitute SMUD (a vastly more efficient provider) as their provider.

SMUD, being a quasi public entity really had it’s hands tied against the 2.5 mil that PG &E spent…but all in all..this was merely round one…of a fight that will end this November.

Stay tuned…… Read More

I planned to write today’s commentary on the state budget, but then I read Assemblyman Chuck Devore’s e-mail to his supporters that Nicholas Romero posted yesterday afternoon and realized that there wasn’t much to say beyond what DeVore wrote (or the San Diego U-T or the OC Register).

But I do have a few thoughts on the matter.

While the Legislature and the Governor can campaign this year as having passed and signed the state budget into law before July 1 as required by the state’s constiution, no one should be throwing a party.

Sure, this year’s budget is not disastrous for the state. But neither is it responsible. How can any legislative body approve a budget that runs a deficit in a year when the state had an unexpected windfall of money?

I must say that the Republicans in the Legislature did the best they could–without the help of any major muscle flexing by the governor, a fellow member of the GOP. One can’t help wondering what the budget might have been like if Gov. Schwarzenegger had participated in the budget negotiations before the Legislature voted (it makes this Republican think fondly on… Read More

Here’s another roundup on the June Primary, this time with an emphasis on those who helped make victories possible in a number of key races – specifically those who were the lead strategists and pollsters and ground teams. Complete results are available here.

On the Assembly side, kudos go to JohnsonClarkAssociates (who by the way won 11 of 12 contests in which they were involved statewide) for helping Anthony Adams,formerDistrict Director for San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Postmus,to a solid win in the 59th A.D. The 59th isan evenly split L.A. County/San Bernardino County seat that’s being vacated by termed-out Dennis Mountjoy. High-fives are also in order for Drew Mercy for managing the ground campaign. Mercy has a strong track record, having also been the ground guy for Sharon Runner’s lopsided victory over former Assemblyman Phil Wyman for the 36th A.D. in 2002 as well as having served as on-site manager for Assemblymember Guy Houston’s re-election in 2004. Congrats also go to general consultant Steve Presson for his… Read More

I planned to write today’s commentary on the state budget, but then I read Assemblyman Chuck Devore’s e-mail to his supporters that Nicholas Romero posted yesterday afternoon and realized that there wasn’t much to say beyond what DeVore wrote (or the San Diego U-T or the OC Register).

But I do have a few thoughts on the matter.

While the Legislature and the Governor can campaign this year as having passed and signed the state budget into law before July 1 as required by the state’s constiution, no one should be throwing a party.

Sure, this year’s budget is not disastrous for the state. But neither is it responsible. How can any legislative body approve a budget that runs a deficit in a year when the state had an unexpected windfall of money?

I must say that the Republicans in the Legislature did the best they could–without the help of any major muscle flexing by the governor, a fellow member of the GOP. One can’t help wondering what the budget might have been like if Gov. Schwarzenegger had participated in the budget negotiations before the Legislature voted (it makes this Republican think fondly on… Read More