As I begin to write about the California Republican Party Convention that I attended this weekend at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, I should start out by saying that as the week goes by, I (along with many other FR weblog contributors who attended the convention) will be following this piece with other thoughts, observations, stories and vignettes on things that happened in the hallways, backrooms, and hospitality suites at the convention. Of course, the highlight of our review of the CRP convention will come late in the week when the FlashReport releases our latest version of the Winners & Losers of the CRP convention. For the last ten convention (going back five years), the W&L edition of the FR has looked back over the weekend, from just about every imaginable angle, and tried to figure out how people fared, from topics as varied as political elections to personal attire. We really encourage input as we figure this all out, as the FR and our team couldn’t be everywhere, so please submit your ideas here. My first… Read More

*While only a small fraction of FR readers are here at the State GOP Convention — this is a special request to each of you! For five years now, I’ve been publishing our famous (or infamous) "WINNERS & LOSERS OF THE GOP CONVENTION" column – and we’ll be doing that again later this week. Often times, many of the ‘awardees’ are determined with help from you all — so if you were at some or all of the convention, and would like to suggest a winner or a loser, feel free! All input is taken anonymously, so your friend won’t know you think he is a loser! Join in the fun!* Look for some comprehensive post-GOP convention analysis in the next day or so, but I will pen just a little here. One of the challenges of being a… Read More

*While only a small fraction of FR readers are here at the State GOP Convention — this is a special request to each of you! For five years now, I’ve been publishing our famous (or infamous) "WINNERS & LOSERS OF THE GOP CONVENTION" column – and we’ll be doing that again later this week. Often times, many of the ‘awardees’ are determined with help from you all — so if you were at some or all of the convention, and would like to suggest a winner or a loser, feel free! All input is taken anonymously, so your friend won’t know you think he is a loser! Join in the fun!* Look for some comprehensive post-GOP convention analysis in the next day or so, but I will pen just a little here. One of the challenges of being a… Read More

Then United States Postal Service as announced that they will be re-issuing the Ronald Reagan postage stamp soon at the new 39 cent rate, so that all good conservatives can put the Gipper on their mail once again!

Of course, any time we mention the 40th President, it is an opportunity to encourage you to read one or more of his major speeches which can be found here.

Here is an excerpt from one of his best, delivered at the 1964 Republican National Convention, entitled, "A Time To Choose"…

I’m here at the California Republican Party convention in San Jose where I just met Kevan Otto, the most recent candidate to enter the 59th Assembly District primary. The scoop on Otto’s entry into the hotly contested race belonged to FR’s Mike Spence a week ago. But ha, I’m first to get a photo of the guy (see right).

By the way, if you’re at the convention today you can hear more of Mike Spence’s wisdom, along with that of other FlashReport.org contributors, at a panel discussion at 4 p.m. (hey, that’s right now…) or at the "Congratulations FlashReport" party hosted by Congressman Darrell Issa later tonight.

Otto is president of the L.A. School Police Association. He’s also served as president of L.A. North PORAC and the state POST advisory committee. A resident of Sierra Madre in the San Gabriel Valley, Otto already has several law enforcement endorsements, even though filing’s still open for the… Read More

A sold out crowd of about 750 people are here for lunch with Senator Tom McClintock, who is running unopposed for the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor. Central to his speech was a passionate articulation of those policy accomplishments of Arnold Schwarzenegger that are important to Republicans and taxpayers.

After a humorous introduction from Congressman Darrell Issa, who said that he (Issa) was funnier, but that McClintock was smarter… McClintock came to the podium with a standing ovation and lengthy cheers as “California, Here We Come” blared on the soundsystem, remeniscint of Reagan’s glory days!

McClintock started with a reminder that just two years ago, in the high-turnout special election, two out of every three votes were cast for Republican candidates.

His thoughts on the Democrats:“Steve Westly is the emptiest suit I has ever met. “

“Phil Angelides is a self-announted elitest who is so good at runnuing his own life he deserves to run everyone else’s.”

On principles:“When we have stood by our principles we have won. In the end, if we don’t stand by our principles, what have… Read More

THE DINNER – AND THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH Republicans, including myself, were really looking forward to last night’s dinner with our Republican Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Sometimes, because there is a tendency for differences of opinion to be highlighted more than areas of agreement, there becomes a perception that divisions are bigger than they are. As readers here know, I have my share of differences of opinion with this Governor on a few key public-policy initiatives this year, and a certain personnel decision. That said, I am still a supporter of Arnold Schwarzenegger, feel he has been a good Governor, and am anxious to see him re-elected. It is my desire to see him re-elected that often times ‘animates’ me to be so vocal. The checkers-players out there say, "You aren’t helping the Governor to get re-elected by criticizing him in a public forum" (referring to this website). These folks are only thinking one move ahead. I like to think of myself as… Read More

GOP CONVENTION PRIMER Hello from the Fairmont Hotel in downtown San Jose, California where over a thousand GOP leaders have gathered from all of our state’s 58 counties to participate in the California Republican Party’s Winter Convention. It is always fun and interesting to come to a GOP convention – I’ve been at virtually all of them since 1988, and except for the two years that I was Executive Director of the State GOP, I have been a voting member. Yesterday, Friday, is the ‘arrival day’ – so throughout the afternoon and into the evening, old friends are reacquainting, and new friends are meeting for the first time. There is something about coming to a place where everyone is more-or-less on the same play sheet that is reassuring. Perhaps the idea that this is the one place in California (for at least two days) where you can where a "Carlson for Treasurer" sticker and everyone knows that is Keith Carlson of Orange County, and that he is running for Treasurer of the State GOP. Conventioneers more… Read More