In what seems like another lifetime I was a lawyer. I can hear the jokes now “lawyer, political consultant, what’s next – used car salesman?” My first solo political campaign was electing conservative Republican Tim Casserly to the bench. Since then, I’ve elected a new Republican judge every cycle.

I write all this to preface the point that I watch San Diego judicial races fairly closely. This time around we have one important judicial race that will be determined in the June primary – Democrat David Rubin v. Republican Paul Phingst. This has all the makings of a grudge match. See, Phingst is the former San Diego County District Attorney. He lost a bitter campaign a few years ago to Republican Judge Bonnie Dumanis. As such, it’s no great surprise that Dumanis and her allies in the law enforcement community are supporting Rubin, who is a local prosecutor. So are a number of Republican Judges, including Bostwick, Ervin, Smyth, Whitney, and Fraser (most of whom were elected with the Republican Party endorsement).

But this gets more interesting. By any account David Rubin is a liberal Democrat. He is a sustaining member of… Read More

Yesterday, Mexican President Vicente Fox continued to demonstrate his willingness to actively represent his constituents in America. That’s right – President Fox has millions of his country’s citizens in the United States, and he is intent on representing them while they are here. I am sure that Fox spoke about many things in his address to the state legislature, and in his private meeting with the Governor. But I have to admit, and this is speaking for myself, that after Fox came out in support of the President’s amnesty program (you know, where we let those who illegally cross into the country pay a couple thousand bucks and call it a day), I really didn’t care what he had to say about anything else. As far as I am concerned, we should cut off any foreign aide to Mexico(whether direct from the U.S. or via the U.N. or World Bank) and start to make up a penalty list of how to make Mexico realize that we are not pleased with their Chief Executive’s aggressive pro-illegal immigration posture. I was particularly proud of the dozen-or-so California legislators who chose to boycott Fox’s speech out of principle. I also… Read More

Yesterday, Mexican President Vicente Fox continued to demonstrate his willingness to actively represent his constituents in America. That’s right – President Fox has millions of his country’s citizens in the United States, and he is intent on representing them while they are here. I am sure that Fox spoke about many things in his address to the state legislature, and in his private meeting with the Governor. But I have to admit, and this is speaking for myself, that after Fox came out in support of the President’s amnesty program (you know, where we let those who illegally cross into the country pay a couple thousand bucks and call it a day), I really didn’t care what he had to say about anything else. As far as I am concerned, we should cut off any foreign aide to Mexico(whether direct from the U.S. or via the U.N. or World Bank) and start to make up a penalty list of how to make Mexico realize that we are not pleased with their Chief Executive’s aggressive pro-illegal immigration posture. I was particularly proud of the dozen-or-so California legislators who chose to boycott Fox’s speech out of principle. I also… Read More

Here is the email I sent out yesterdayin reaction to the Senate immigration reform bill:

The Devil is in the Details: This is a trite phrase that is often overused. But sometimes it is valid. I have been pretty clear in recent e-mails and other writings that I do not think much of the immigration bill that the United States Senate has been working on. Well just a few hours ago, the Senate passed a bill which has weak enforcement provisions and contains amnesty and other provisions which should not happen at all.

Q: Which GOP candidate for a down-ticket office has well over three million dollars in the bank, more than any other Republican candidate? A: … Read More

It is with a heavy heart that I have to report that my friend, former co-worker and Orange City Councilman Steve Ambriz was killed this afternoon in an automobile accident in Orange. Steve leaves behind a beautiful wife and family. He was dedicated to serving in local government and loved the City of Orange. I got to know Steve while working with him at the Office of Supervisor, now Assemblyman Todd Spitzer. Steve always had a cheerful personality and can do attitude. He really did love being of service to people. He will be very missed in my life and in the Orange County community.

… Read More

Reps. Ken Calvert and Gary Miller both Republicans representing parts of Orange County are fed up with OC 5th Dist. Supervisorial candidate Cassie DeYoung’s antics.

DeYoung, is a councilwoman in Laguna Niguel running for the south county seat against former Assemblywoman Pat Bates (a client of my firm). Bates is well liked and has virtually all the local elected and partisan endorsements.

DeYoung has been sending mail knocking Calvert and Miller for supporting transportation solutions that she says would be bad for Orange County.

Its a bold move on the part of her consultants. And it backfired. First the chairman of the Orange County Transportation Authority Art Brown release a letter pulling his endorsement (one of the few DeYoung had) because, and I am paraphrasing, it’s pretty stupid to attack two sitting Members of Congress that represent big chunks of Orange County and who have huge say over federal dollars coming to OC. I think Congressmen Calvert and Miller who have both been Probolsky Research clients would have let the first mail piece slide. But the … Read More

Pres. Fox is scheduled to address the state legislature any minute. If my cable is working, I’ll provide live updates of his address. Sources in the building tell me Senator Dave Cox is distributing buttons that say, "No Mas." Clever. (With Updates)

** 5:07 PM **Jim Lopez, chairman of the California Republican National Hispanic Assembly, distributed a press release today with the following questions for Mexico’s President Vicente Fox.

1. Why have you failed to enact social and economic reforms and eliminate corruption that would create jobs and help keep families together in their own home country?

2. While you criticize President Bush for his plan to use the National Guard to protect our sovereignty, how do you reconcile the fact you use the Mexican Army to seal off your southern border with Guatemala?

3. Why shouldn’t the US Government be allowed to secure its border when “our neighbor” is the number two supplier of heroin, the largest foreign source of marijuana, the largest producer of methamphetamines and where 90% of the cocaine sold in the United States comes though the US-Mexican Border?… Read More