- Or -
Search blog archive
Oakland had its 24th homicide yesterday–triple the number of murders at this time last year. The big question is: what is Mayor Jerry Brown going to do about it? These are not the headlines or stats you want when you’re running for attorney general. It’s time for Jerry to stop campaigning for AG and to start getting a handle on the city’s violent crime problem.… Read More
At San Francisco’s big gala Oscar Party/AIDS fundraiser last night, the crowd was horrified when “Crash” beat out “Brokeback Mountain” for Best Picture last night (here’s the full story in the San Francisco Chronicle). I’m sorry, but I am so glad that the Oscars are over, just so we can be done with the whole “Brokeback” hoopla.
If you listen to the folks at the SF party last night, “Brokeback Mountain” all at once “brought Americans together over issues of homophobia” and yet when it didn’t win, it was “an… Read More
My first encounter with the "Thomas Machine" was in 1995 as the newly elected Vice Chair Central of the State Party. I travelled to Kern County to meet with Mark Abernathy, who I had never met previously, and Kevin McCarthy, then a young staffer whom I HAD met previously and liked. My mission: get the Thomas endorsement for my Vice Chair campaign.
After exchanging pleasantries and such, the first question from Abernathy was: "are you supporting Phil Wyman for Senate?" At the time, Wyman was running against Democrat Jim Costa. Of course I was supporting him. But, when I said yes, that was pretty much it. Meeting over. That kind of vindictive politics has been experienced hundreds of times over and over again in Kern.
I would win the race with the endorsement of every elected official in Central California except Bill Thomas. And I found out what kind of organization he did indeed run. And over the years, I took them on often.
There is a chance for peace now in the County, which was our own little "Middle East" in the Central Valley, with non stop factional… Read More
Governor Schwarzenegger will in Orange County today to meet with The New Majority, and on Wednesday with the Lincoln Club of Orange County.
On the way down, perhaps he’ll take a moment to read this excellent editorial published last week in the Orange County Register:
At a fork in the road, the governor took it His ambitious building plans can’t find room for the 241 Toll Road extension
14 term (yes, 28 years to you and me) moderate Republican Congressman Bill Thomas of Bakersfield has formally announced that he is retiring from the United States House of Representatives at the end of this year. Thomas is a high-ranking member of the House, this year finishing up his third term (sixth year) as Chairman of the power Ways & Means Committee.
I’ve obviously made no bones in my past writings about Thomas that I think he has been a poor member of Congress. At a time when we have seen federal spending rise 33% since the GOP liberated Congress from the Democrats in the 1994 "Contract with America" elections that propelled Newt Gingrich into the Speaker’s chair, Bill Thomas has symbolized, to me, our spending problems.
Well, with Thomas’ announcement, I am sure that much will be written about him (I will… Read More
WHALEN ON WESTLY Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has a lot of things going for him as he runs for re-election this year. But certainly one of the best things going is the poor quality of the two Democrats seeking the Democratic Party nomination – State Treasurer Phil Angelides, and State Controller Steve Westly. Last Monday, FR correspondent Dan Schnur wrote a great piece on Angelides, and today we feature a column penned by our own Bill Whalen on Steve Westly, who Whalen points out is ‘too cute by half’ – a definate ‘must read’ for today! WILL THOMAS RETIRE? WE HOPE SO! … Read More
WHALEN ON WESTLY Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has a lot of things going for him as he runs for re-election this year. But certainly one of the best things going is the poor quality of the two Democrats seeking the Democratic Party nomination – State Treasurer Phil Angelides, and State Controller Steve Westly. Last Monday, FR correspondent Dan Schnur wrote a great piece on Angelides, and today we feature a column penned by our own Bill Whalen on Steve Westly, who Whalen points out is ‘too cute by half’ – a definate ‘must read’ for today! WILL THOMAS RETIRE? WE HOPE SO! … Read More
The campaign for the 59th Assembly District continues to heat up with the endorsement of Chris Lancaster by Senator Bob Margett, the previous Assemblyman from the old pre-gerrymandered 59th District. See my past link on this race starting hereand fellow FR poster Brad Mitzelfelt’s start here. See the press release below.… Read More