Yesterday, the Senate rejected a very reasonable amendment by Senator Isakson (R-Ga.) to their immigration bill by a vote of 55-40. The amendment would simply have postponed implementation of any guest worker program until the federal government certifies that the borders are secure. This seems to endorse the idea of a guest worker program that is unenforceable which means it will only lead to more illegal immigration. The defeat of this amendment ensures that any bill coming out of the Senate is likely to be very flawed.

On the positive side, it appears that we in the House may pass a reasonble budget today. It is not as good as the RSC budget but at least it moves things in the right direction by increasing spending less than the growth in population and inflation. It will also eliminate a number of federal programs.… Read More

Publicly traded companies have certain ‘quiet periods’ when they cannot talk about their earnings and insiders can’t buy and sell stock. I am not advocating any sort of quiet period for politics but the idea does have merits for consultants like me. Here’s why:

On an average day I get asked 50 times by another consultants or voters or activists or member of the media what I think about any given candidates’ chances in the upcoming Primary Election. I am flattered that they respect my opinion and am glad to offer it when appropriate.

However, very often my opinion is mixed with hard knowledge of polling data. This often presents a dilemma for me, and other political professionals I presume. I never want to say anything bad about a client or their chances of success–even if I know they are going down in flames – I don’t want people to think I have no idea what I am talking about if I say super positive things simply in the name of loyalty.

So when you ask a political consultant how a client of is going to do – keep in mind that the answer might be more wishful thinking rather than a cold… Read More

I’m pretty negative during election time…kinda cranky…kinda not so friendly…butI ran across a clip on CNN that made me think that I ought to slow down and smile becauseI live in a great country. A place where I can piss all over a guy for pissing all over a guy….and I can get ridiculed for posting paplum.

The CNN piece detailed an Egyptian man who was jailed because was a blogger…in the spirt of Matt Cunningham, in that he viewed this process (blogging) as an act of patriotism…or in matt’s view…anonymous blogging…and after checking out the struggle this guy went through..I was reminded that we life in a great county….and how right Matt is. See what the Christian Science Monitor reported on this… Read More

KFI’s John and Ken are the most listened to talk radio show hosts during the LA Drive time. Today, Steve Schmidt, the Governor’s Campaign Manager was on to discuss Arnold view of the National Guard proposal from DC.

Schmidt speaking on the Governor’s behalf asked critical question aboutthe Bush proposal. He said the Governor wants a "permanent solution.". One option would be to support the creation of the California Border Police. Then we don’t have to worry about stress on the Guard.

Schmidt is an able street fighter for the Governor.

Schimdt promised to call back with a report about the upcoming Arnold/Vincente Fox meeting. You can register to hear a podcast of the interview here.… Read More

The AP Wire is reporting that Mexico’s President Vicente Fox will make a trip to California next week to meet with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

According to Fox’s spokesman, the Mexican President will meet with the Mexican community in the United States to "express his solidarity with them."

The AP also reports that Fox"will meet with business executives and religious leaders, and hopes to sign educational and cultural cooperation agreements."

Por que?

Cultural cooperation agreement. Sounds like something Jerry Brown would have proposed through the Department of Social Services when he was governor.… Read More

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore (R-Irvine) is gifted with, shall we say, an interesting sense of humor. He also is rather prolific in writing about his unique experiences as a freshman member of the State Assembly on his website.

His latest posting was priceless, and simply must reprint an excerpt from it here, was part of a large post entitled, "Toilets and Taxes"…

…AB 2496 by John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), mandates ultra-low flow toilets and urinals that use even less water then the now infamous low-flow toilets in use today (is it illegal to flush twice?). Don’t look now, but, liberal fears aside, Big Government has walked right past our bedrooms and has planted itself firmly in our bathrooms. As I listened… Read More

Maybe it’s just me, but I’m starting to hear more and more people—namely Democrats—complaining that the better schools in the better neighborhoods get the better, more senior teachers. Oakland City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente said it this morning in a debate he, Ron Dellums and Nancy Nadel had on the Ronn Owens show on KGO (all three are running for to replace Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown). It occurred to me that this issue might be the issue to cause a split between the Democrats in the legislature and the California Teachers Association.

There is always so much talk about “equalizing” school funding between schools, how about we “equalize” teacher experience between schools? The teachers’ union will have to stand up for the teachers with the most seniority (who you know don’t want to go teach in those yukky inner-city schools) and the Democrats will be torn between the CTA and the argument that students attending poor, inner-city schools are the ones who most need experienced teachers.… Read More

As FR readers know, there is now a vibrant primary gearing up for who will represent the former seat of "Duke" Cunningham in the next Congress. On June 6th, all voters will be asked to choose between Republican Brian Bilbray and Democrat Francine Busby in the run-off for the special election for the remaining months of Duke’s unexpired term. But GOPers only will also be able to choose their nominee to take on Francine Busby (again) this November with the announcement that conservative, wealthy businessman Bill Hauf will actively compete for the nomination.

The 50th Congressional District is home to a lot of conservative Republican voters. In the recent special election, roughly 70% of votes to GOP candidates went to conservative/reform minded candidates. Moderate former Congressman-turned-federal lobbyist Bilbray won the very crowded primary with about 15% of the total votes cast for Republicans. You can be sure that Bilbray beat out his nearest competitor, conservative businessman Eric Roach, because independent, Decline-to-State, and Democratic voters could ‘cross-over’ in the special and vote for Bilbray. It wouldn’t… Read More