This weekend, a couple hundred delegates are gathered at the Doubletree Hotel in Bakersfield for the biennial endorsing convention of the California Republican Assembly. The CRA is California’s oldest and most conservative Republican volunteer organization, with traditions that go back to its founding in the 1930’s. The CRA has been a pivotal force in California politics, a key player because of its direct influence on politics as well as the training grounds it provides for many who go on to seek elective office or otherwise get involved in the process. Speaking in the first-person, I spent a decade of ‘intense’ involvement with the CRA starting from being a club member and rising through the ranks to an eventual two-year term as State President from 1995-1997. Being elected CRA President was one of the greatest honors of my life. The things I learned, the perspective gained, the challenges met and overcome continue to provide me with guidance in the things I do today. I am… Read More

A close political associate of mine contacted me and told me that Bill Thomas is retiring on Monday. He didn’t say “might be” retiring. The person is not a staff member, just a citizen and operative who is close to all the parties involved. I think the information is accurate. I might also add that I look forward to the announcement, and that Kevin McCarthy will be better than most conservatives expect as a member of Congress.… Read More

A good question for a Saturday morning… Why is Rob Reiner still the Chairman of California’s Children and Families Commission? Its been a couple of weeks now since the FR suggested that the Governor replace Reiner. Starting with the revelation by FR friend Hugh Hewitt that Reiner’s term on this influential commission actually is long-expired and that he can be replaced at will by the Governor, everyone I know is asking the question: why isn’t he being replaced? Our reasons for believing that Reiner should be "terminated" from this spot exist on multiple levels. First and foremost, his socialistic mentality of increasing taxes on those who are responsible for job creation in the California economy, and then providing questionable government-run services that he has invented is loonacy. He is so far off of even the liberal main-stream that he is an embarrassment to the Golden State. That… Read More

A good question for a Saturday morning… Why is Rob Reiner still the Chairman of California’s Children and Families Commission? Its been a couple of weeks now since the FR suggested that the Governor replace Reiner. Starting with the revelation by FR friend Hugh Hewitt that Reiner’s term on this influential commission actually is long-expired and that he can be replaced at will by the Governor, everyone I know is asking the question: why isn’t he being replaced? Our reasons for believing that Reiner should be "terminated" from this spot exist on multiple levels. First and foremost, his socialistic mentality of increasing taxes on those who are responsible for job creation in the California economy, and then providing questionable government-run services that he has invented is loonacy. He is so far off of even the liberal main-stream that he is an embarrassment to the Golden State. That… Read More

Banning Councilwoman and 65th Assembly candidate Brenda Salas is set to announce she’s been endorsed by Sen. Tom McClintock, the GOP’s presumed nominee for Lt. Governor.

The endorsement of the conservative GOP stalwart could help Salas fend off criticism of her past Democratic Party affiliation.

It’s probably worth a mention that McClintock’s district director, Joe Giardiello, is Salas’ campaign consultant. I’m told the senator also interviewed at least one other candidate: San Jacinto Councilman Jim Ayres, considered by many to be the frontrunner in the race.

Salas also welcomed additional help last week from San Bernardino County Supervisor Gary Ovitt, who has loaned his district director, Josh Candelaria, and constituent services rep Naseem Farooqi to run Salas’ ground game.

In other A.D. 65 news, Yucca Valley Councilman Paul Cook has retained former CRP Development Director Mike Fresquez to boost his fundraising effort. Fresquez specializes in finding "new money" and is said to be quite good at it.… Read More

It’s been a week since the F/ETCA Board of Directors ignored the apocalyptic warnings of the environmental Left, shrugged off the limp admonishment of the Schwarzenegger Administration and endured the excruciating pontification of Irvine Councilman Larry Agran to approve the 241 tollway completion.

Enviro Poll Offensive Since then, as they prepare their lawsuit against the F/ETCA, the environmmental Left continued its PR offensive with a poll, commissionedby the National Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club.

Fairbanks, Maslin, Maulin & Associates poll shows that 73% of Californians oppose building the 241 through San Onofre State Park (h/t to 241 opponent Alex Brant-Zawadski at The Blotter). The poll, the FMMA memo and F/ETCA response are attached.

To which the F/ETCA responds thus:

The San Diego Union Tribune has just announced that ex-Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham has been sentenced to a term of 8 years and 4 months in prison. He is taken into custody, and ordered to pay $1.8,000,000.00 in restitution.

Read more about it here: SD U-T article.

Sometime very soon, Randy "Duke" Cunningham will receive his sentence from the judge. The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison. Frankly, a truly remorseful Duke Cunningham should just accept the judgment of the court, and serve the time he is given.

But even now, after everything he has admitted to doing, he has his lawyers trying to lesson his sentence, to shave as much as 40% off of the decade behind bars that is his due. From the San Diego U-T: