Each and every day, in each and every way, things just get worse and worse for Phil Angelides’ grand dream of becoming Grand Poobah of the Universe…er, uh, I mean Governor of California. (I’m getting ahead of myself.)

William Bradley writes in today’s New West Notes of “private polling indicating that the treasurer has not received a customary large bounce in support from his narrow June 6th Democratic primary triumph over state Controller Steve Westly.”

The Wall Street Journal’s Political Diary today compares Angelides to Rodney Dangerfield, citing three major snubs from prominent Democrats who won’t give Phil respect.

“First, former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown dissed him by telling a columnist that his party’s nominee for governor "doesn’t look good on TV and doesn’t sound good on radio." Then Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez didn’t even bother to deny that he wants Arnold Schwarzenegger to win re-election this year so that he can run for Mayor of Los Angeles when the current occupant of that post, Democrat Antonio… Read More

In today’s GOP conference, Speaker Hastert said that even in small towns in Illinois, securing our borders is now the number one issue. The Kennedy/McCain amnesty bill looks like it will a non-starter in the House. I now believe that the most likely scenario is that the House will not appoint conferees and that no bill will get to the President on immigration this year unless the Senate decides to allow some border security only bill.

On another front, we may pass permanent death tax reduction in the House as soon as tomorrow. I prefer complete elimination of the tax. But since we can’t get that from the Senate, the proposal that Chairman Thomas has put forth is a good one.… Read More

Last week I began a discussion of whether or not the GOP Base is ready to be energized. It appears that after several dreadful months the Republicans in Washington have stopped the bleeding (maybe its because they are out of town), and there is a presumption now that Governor Arnold is the favorite for re-election due to his drawing a poor opponent in Phil Angelides. I disagree with any premise that Republicans have momentum presently. The absence of additional blood on the ground does not spell momentum in politics. All that has happened in the past couple of weeks is that the bleeding has stopped for a time being. There is nothing to celebrate. So, is the GOP base ready to be energized? The answer is – YES. And our needs are so simple, its embarrassing, but here they are:

Balance the State Budget Protect us from crazy liberals Be not afraid to define the unions before they define you Appoint pro death penalty, pro property rights judges Respond to attacks laid out by Democrats Pledge to veto specific forms of legislation you know you will see in a… Read More

Last week I began a discussion of whether or not the GOP Base is ready to be energized. It appears that after several dreadful months the Republicans in Washington have stopped the bleeding (maybe its because they are out of town), and there is a presumption now that Governor Arnold is the favorite for re-election due to his drawing a poor opponent in Phil Angelides. I disagree with any premise that Republicans have momentum presently. The absence of additional blood on the ground does not spell momentum in politics. All that has happened in the past couple of weeks is that the bleeding has stopped for a time being. There is nothing to celebrate. So, is the GOP base ready to be energized? The answer is – YES. And our needs are so simple, its embarrassing, but here they are:

Balance the State Budget Protect us from crazy liberals Be not afraid to define the unions before they define you Appoint pro death penalty, pro property rights judges Respond to attacks laid out by Democrats Pledge to veto specific forms of legislation you know you will see in a… Read More

The Orange County Republican Party’s new website is stylish. With changing images of the most famous county attractions, loads of information that is easily accessible, and even links to local and statewide blogs, the Party has really outdone itself. One of the latest additions to the site is its "News & Press" section’s featuring of columns from local elected officials. The one up there currently, linked from the main page, is a very well written post-primary analysis from Orange, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles County Assemblyman Bob Huff.

I will post an exerpt and recommend you visit the OCGOP site for more:

"Never mind Governor Schwarzenegger’s race – a railroad switchman does not a credible opponent make.But, run the numbers… Read More

I’m not positive, but I think that Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata (that’s Democratic leader of the state senate for those not familiar) predicted an Arnold victory this November in comments made to the Sacramento Press Club Monday, June 19th, as reported by New West Notes writer William Bradley.

Here’s a post from Bradley’s blog this morning, and I’m providing plenty of context so as not be accused of misconstruing Perata’s own words.

"Perata described the so-called ‘Real ID’ legislation at the federal level, adopted in the wake of 9/11, as perhaps the ultimate sleeper issue of the year as states move toward implementation.

"’We’ll all need to get new drivers licenses,’ Perata pointed out, ‘and you will need to prove you exist, to document where you came from.’ He described a bureaucratic nightmare that he said ‘could lead to the biggest act of civil disobedience in the… Read More

Gov. Schwarzenegger today launched a first in the state of California – a live, online chat with the public called “Ask Gov. Schwarzenegger.”

Starting last night, local televisions stations around the state informed viewers of the opportunity to submit questions for Gov. Schwarzenegger at www.gov.ca.gov/ask, which he would answer the following day. This morning, just past 10:30 AM, a local television political reporter in Sacramento went through about 500 pages of questions and moderated the Q&A live over the internet.

Howard Kurtzman wannabes will be critiquing today’s internet chat, which lasted approximately 20 minutes. Some will conclude that the TV interviewer crossed the line of journalistic ethics (is there such a thing?) by playing along with the gov’s “self-promotion scheme” at the expense of taxpayers. Others will suggest that if the gov really wants to communicate with the public he’ll agree to a series of one-on-one debates with Phil Angelides (to which most of the public will ask, “Phil Who?”). While the real… Read More

This will be the firsttime inmany years that Brooks Firestone won’t be hosting a gathering at his pad in the Central Coast (Solvang).

I just received an email from Carl Burton, the 35th Senate District’s own Minister of Disinformation and President of the decidedly liberal California Congress of Republicans, stating, "I regret to inform you that the 8th Annual Firestone Alumni Weekend in Solvang (the weekend of June 23 through 25) is canceled." Burton left a name and phone number to call with inquiries. Upon calling, I was informed by a polite but guarded young woman that "extenuating circumstances" were the causefor cancellation.

Could she mean these extenuating circumstances? It’s too bad.The gathering could have turned out to be a highly successful anti-recall fundraiser.

In the article, Brett Wagner, the man leading the… Read More