The media called the Oakland’s mayors race mid-day the day after the election, but they moved too fast. In the following days, election officials “found” an additional 1,500 votes and the vote counting continued. In order to prevent a run-off, one candidate needed to get more then 50 percent of the vote. Former Congressman Ron Dellums “won” the race early on with 50.2% of the vote, but then his percentage dropped below 50% as the county continued to count absentee ballots. Earlier this week, officials then announced that they would not know the final results of the race until the week’s end.… Read More

“It’s a glow-in-the-dark compass ring. So you don’t get lost." -Josh (played by Tom Hanks), in the movie, “Big”

Maybe what we need in California is a glow-in-the-dark compass ring. Or, maybe it’s just Republicans that need one. Perhaps just Arnold Schwarzenegger. Heck, maybe it’s all three. Let’s face it…to our fellow citizens, Arnold is the face of California and the State GOP (with all due respect to Ackerman, Plescia and Sundheim).

As Jon Fleischman and I wrote on the heels of the Governor’s January 5 State of the State address, “Now, ‘Mr. Hollywood’ has come up with his BIGGEST idea yet…Massive spending to finance BIG state infrastructure needs.” That was six months ago. Republicans then asked “What’s the big idea,” but eventually enough went along and placed a big bond question on the ballot. After all,… Read More

Hello from Edinburgh, Scotland. The quaint B&B at which I am staying had a computer with internet access, so I thought I would pen a short note. Actually, my post will be much shorter than it otherwise would have been because I just had a chance to read Barry Jantz’ commentary (which he has saved ‘behind the scenes’ here at the FR until later this morning). If you haven’t read it already – please do. I share with the concerns of many the idea that there is funding in the state budget for anyone who is not in the country legally for any benefit or service. But let’s not get so caught up on this line item in the huge, fat, bloated state budget that we don’t step back and see the state budget for what it truly is – an outrage.

The sheer size and volume of the state budget (well in excess of a HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS) is shameful. At a time when the discussions in Sacramento should be about how to REDUCE the SIZE AND SCOPE of state government, instead there is arguing about spending priorities.

How about this for a spending priority — the vast size of the state budget should allow Californians to… Read More

“It’s a glow-in-the-dark compass ring. So you don’t get lost." -Josh (played by Tom Hanks), in the movie, “Big”

Maybe what we need in California is a glow-in-the-dark compass ring. Or, maybe it’s just Republicans that need one. Perhaps just Arnold Schwarzenegger. Heck, maybe it’s all three. Let’s face it…to our fellow citizens, Arnold is the face of California and the State GOP (with all due respect to Ackerman, Plescia and Sundheim).

As Jon Fleischman and I wrote on the heels of the Governor’s January 5 State of the State address, “Now, ‘Mr. Hollywood’ has come up with his BIGGEST idea yet…Massive spending to finance BIG state infrastructure needs.” That was six months ago. Republicans then asked “What’s the big idea,” but eventually enough went along and placed a big bond question on the ballot. After… Read More

[NOTE: There will benew information later this afternoon about Schwarzenegger, the campaign, and health care for illegal immigrants. It involves the former executive director for LULAC. Will there be an attack on Republicans? Check back…]Governor Schwarzenegger and the liberal legislature continue to hold up the budget over expanded health care services to illegal immigrants. The only difference between the guv and Dems is how much to spend — not whether to spend.

Here are a few quotes from earlier in the year when Democrats like Speaker Nunez were sounding the fiscal responsibility horn. Looks like they’re back to playing the same old tune of spend, spend, spend…and they’re leading the governor off the cliff.

"Part of the reason the credit rating has improved is the Democratic leadership is not talking about new… Read More

Foreign Affairs: Many of you may have heard me say before that the most important function of the federal government is, as the preamble to the Constitution says, "to provide for the common defence" and to deal with issues involving our relations with nations around the globe and our place in the world. It is one of the few provinces ofgovernance which is reserved exclusively for the federal government and not for state or local governments. Furthermore, if we mess it up, the consequences of major war or some other national crisis can make our everyday domestic issues pale in significance. Lately, there has been, and I think there always will be, lots of activity in Congress on issues relating to foreign affairs. Here is just a sampling of some of the debates going on currently: … Read More

(Obligatory confession: Jack is a friend of mine.)

Last night I attended a fundraiser for Jack’s campaign for Newport Beach City Council. Newport Beach –for those unaware –has a potentially earthshattering election coming up in November, one that will see six out of its seven city council seats on the ballot. Four of the current councilmembers were appointed to their positions by colleagues or former colleagues. Loads of moneyare expected to be spent on the campaigns. And Newport’s elections are odd, requiring the prospective councilmember to live inthe geographic district for the seat they’re seekingwhile the voting is at-large (meaning any one of the roughly sixty thousand registered voters within the boundaries of the City of Newport Beach can vote for any candidate, regardless of the district).

Jack is a terrificimage ofCalifornia’s next generation of political leaders. He surfs with his local congressman (Rohrabacher), takes an interest in his community (I know he wouldn’t want… Read More

With his decision to support new spending for health care and insurance coverage for illegal alien children, Governor Schwarzenegger has in essence poured a vat of honey on legislative Republicans and pushed them into the grizzly bear habitat.

The Republican members of the State Assembly and Senate are now once again the only thing standing in the way of this poor excuse for public policy. And as Karen Hanretty has already pointed out, they will be on the receiving end of relentless attacks through the rest of the budget process.

The governor has also successfully further alienated the vast majority of voters, regardless of party. Perhaps the Governor doesn’t care about public opinion and good for him. But back in the real world where public opinion matters, especially in an election year, his words are problematic.

**There is more – click the link**… Read More