Today marks the 100th anniversary of the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. At 4:30 a.m. this morning, Mayor Gavin Newson and other city officials gathered together to mark the anniversary at the Lotta’s Fountain memorial in the Financial District which is dedicated to those who lost their lives in the earthquake and ensuing fire (the earthquake struck shortly after 5 a.m. in 1906).

Of course, very few of us around today could possibly remember the 1906 earthquake. Loma Prieta is another story. The tremors of that great quake even shook the State Capitol, where I worked in 1989. Everyone who lives in the Bay Area today can’t help to wonder: "when is the next big one going to hit?" A big discussion point at dinner parties is whether or not you have earthquake insurance.

We bought our house in Oakland in 2002… Read More

GEORGE PLESCIA BECOMES LEADER Yesterday, with little fanfare, Assembly George Plescia of San Diego County became the new Leader of Assembly Republicans. We’ll be focusing more on Plescia and the challenges ahead of him in the coming weeks. But we want to give FR friend Plescia a hearty congratulations as he assumes his new responsibilities and bigger digs.

Not that he has asked for it, but over the next few weeks, we’ll be offering Plescia some advice in various policy and political matters, starting today with Infrastructure Funding: Assembly Republicans demonstrated that, unified, they could stand in-between legislative Democrats and irresponsible borrowing. As "Big 5" talks continue on the issue of infrastructure investment (i.e…. a massive borrowing package), the ‘deal makers’ should still be:

GEORGE PLESCIA BECOMES LEADER Yesterday, with little fanfare, Assembly George Plescia of San Diego County became the new Leader of Assembly Republicans. We’ll be focusing more on Plescia and the challenges ahead of him in the coming weeks. But we want to give FR friend Plescia a hearty congratulations as he assumes his new responsibilities and bigger digs.

Not that he has asked for it, but over the next few weeks, we’ll be offering Plescia some advice in various policy and political matters, starting today with Infrastructure Funding: Assembly Republicans demonstrated that, unified, they could stand in-between legislative Democrats and irresponsible borrowing. As "Big 5" talks continue on the issue of infrastructure investment (i.e…. a massive borrowing package), the ‘deal makers’ should still be:

Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona won the endorsement of the Republican Central Committee tonight.

FR publisher and vote counting whip king Jon Fleischman ran a great drill and Congressman Dana Rohrabacher batting for Sheriff Mike Carona supported him with kind words and urged the committee to support the Sheriff.

It’s a well deserved endorsement for Mike Carona who has been a great friend to the OCGOP and tons of local GOP candidates.… Read More

The latest Rasmussen Reports election poll in California shows Schwarzenegger leading State Treasurer Phil Angelides (D) by double digits, 49% to 36%. The candidates had been neck-and-neck in their previous polls.

The Governor leads State Comptroller Steve Westly (D) 48% to 40%. Schwarzenegger and Westly were essentially even in their previous surveys.

You can see the survey here.… Read More

There is no doubt the Busby will receive a score in the "F: range from the National Taxpayers Union. Brian Bilbray was in the "D" range. If you are picking your school academic decathlon team maybe the "D’ student may be better than the one the flunks. But if you have a chance to take an A or even a B+ student or someone with that potential, why wouldn’t you?

Some in the Washington establishment probably wouldn’t because it means dumping a friend or a BYOC. Maybe they know the "D" student better than the high achiever. Maybe he gives everyone candy.

Who cares? This is about winning. Bilbray is a pro- big government Republican that has cast bad votes on taxes, guns , life etc…

The excuse is he had to vote that way to keep his old seat. While pointing out that didn’t seem to work out well, we know from this spin that Bilbray will sacrifice principle to stay in power.

We have enough of those types in our party already. We also have enough "D" students that have betrayed their mandate.

Time for a challenge to set things right. Lets get better players on our team.… Read More

Today at 3:00 p.m., Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will be convening a meeting of many of the leaders in California’s ongoing battle against higher taxes. The Governor, along with senior staff members Mike Genest, the State Director of Finance, as well as Deputy Chiefs of Staff Richard Costigan and Dan Dunmoyer will meet with Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assocation, Larry McCarthy, President of the California Taxpayers Association, Lew Uhler, founder and President of the National Tax Limitation Committee, Kris Hunt, Executive Director of the Contra Costa County Taxpayers Association, and others.

My understanding is that the agenda for this meeting is very straightforward – a discussion about how to hold the line in California against tax increases.

Of course, the biggest opportunity for Democrats to try to jam the Governor a legislative Republicans with tax and spending increases will be the upcoming budget negotiations. It is certainly our hope that the May… Read More

He’s Still The Terminator And He Knows It Last week’s California Field Poll found Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger tied with state Treasurer Phil Angelides, his best-known potential Democratic opponent. That’s good news given that the Field Poll tilts towards Democrats by surveying "registered voters" rather than "likely voters," a group that represents a more conservative electorate.

The bad news is that Governor Schwarzenegger trails by four points the Democrat who is most likely to be his opponent: Steve Westly, the state comptroller who has now taken an 11-point lead over Mr. Angelides in the Field Poll on the strength of a massive TV ad buy paid for in part by the millions the former businessman earned as an eBay executive during the Internet bubble of the 1990s

Mr. Schwarzenegger’s approval ratings have climbed slightly from their nadir following the defeat of four initiatives he placed on the ballot in last November’s special election. His negatives have also fallen, and there is now a bloc of about 15% of voters who are… Read More