Dr. Phil Kurzner has decided to end his quest to become California’s next Insurance Commissioner. During my opportunities to talk with Phil, I found him to be an intelligent, engaging and savvy candidate. While I understand the politics of his departure, I do lament a process that causes some of our better candidates to decide not to run.

Phil’s departure, combined with the very low-key candidacy of Gary Mendoza appears to leave the doors wide open for businessman Steve Poizner from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Here is a statement released today from Dr. Phil Kurzner on his departure from the race:

"I have been humbled by the many Republicans who were willing to join me in bringing common sense back to government. However, we were unable to develop sufficient support to win an election against a self-funded, wealthy candidate. It is important … Read More

"If the United States didn’t have a military, all in all we would be in a much better place." – San Francisco Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval on Hannity and Colmes.

Former State GOP Communications Director Karen Hanretty appeared last night on Hannity and Colmes to talk about this startling statement from a prominent Bay Area Supervisor. You can click here to see Sandoval’s outrageous comments and hear Karen talk with Hannity and Colmes. (Once you click through, then you need to select the program, "Fighting for the U.S.S. Iowa.")

This Democrat Supervisor was such a nut that on this program, even Susan Estrich, who appears with Hanretty doesn’t want anything to do with him.

This is Sandoval’s… Read More

THREE AND A HALF CONTENDERS FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL I am a huge fan of contested primaries. I think that the whole argument that a candidate is better off because they have "cleared the field" is a misnomer and misplaced. Of course the challenge of winning a party primary means that resources will need to be raised and spent in order to do so. But it is this process that makes a candidate the best they can be for the general election. A primary hones a candidates speaking skills and fundraising skills. A primary allows a candidate to understand who really supports them. A primary also causes candidates to have to make some very real decisions and choices that allow party members to appreciate the candidate who becomes their nominee. I think the same holds true whether we are talking about candidate for the Democrat or Republican nomination. Arnold Schwarzenegger is a stronger candidate for re-election this… Read More

The next several days on this blog will probably devote a lot of time to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s relationship with the Republican Party. But before we descend into this weekend’s state GOP convention bubble, it’s worth taking a quick look at this past weekend’s news coverage of the two Democratic candidates. Both Phil Angelides and Steve Westly have had great fun riding the coattails of the nurses and the public employees’ unions for several months of sustained Arnold-bashing. But over the last few days, both have taken their turn in the barrel. Which probably wasn’t nearly as enjoyable for them.

The Sacramento Bee went after Angelides, describing how the environmentally conscious candidate wasn’t nearly as green during his days as a developer, when he fought with local, state, and federal agencies over threatened species and wetland protection to the point where the EPA threatened him with criminal penalties.

Westly took it on the chin… Read More

NRDC attorney Joel Reynold’s op-ed in Saturday’s LAT was so rife with error that a single post is insufficient to rectify it.

For example, Reynold’s claimed the TCA "now proposes to bisect Reagan’s legacy from top to bottom, closing 60% of the park."

Where did Reynold’s get that figure? Who knows? In reality, the toll road will require about 300 acres — and mind you that San Onofre State Beach the park covers 3,036 acres.

And the land is owned by the US Marine Corps, which has the right and has agreed to grant TCA an easement for the tollway. Furthermore, the Marines insist on the tollway being located in the state park lease area, since it is Camp Pendleton’s northern-most border and subsequently has the least impact on their mission.

Reynold’s lambastes the 241 tollway completion for "destroying [San Onofre State… Read More

THREE AND A HALF CONTENDERS FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL I am a huge fan of contested primaries. I think that the whole argument that a candidate is better off because they have "cleared the field" is a misnomer and misplaced. Of course the challenge of winning a party primary means that resources will need to be raised and spent in order to do so. But it is this process that makes a candidate the best they can be for the general election. A primary hones a candidates speaking skills and fundraising skills. A primary allows a candidate to understand who really supports them. A primary also causes candidates to have to make some very real decisions and choices that allow party members to appreciate the candidate who becomes their nominee. I think the same holds true whether we are talking about candidate for the Democrat or Republican nomination. Arnold Schwarzenegger is a stronger candidate for re-election this… Read More

I recently sat down to lunch with San Jacinto City Councilman and Candidate for the 65th Assembly District Jim Ayres. Jim is a retired career air force veteran. He has long been involved with Republican politics in Riverside County. When you first meet Jim you can tell he is a serious type guy and full of energy. He knows the issues and where he stands on them. But let’s cut to the chase, knowing the issues and have strong convictions are just a starting point when running for the State Assembly. Winning a Republican primary is about communicating to voters and that takes lots of dough-rey-me. For 2005 Jim raised $412K and has a healthy $310K Cash On Hand, which is twice as much as his two other leading competitors in this race, that tells me that he is serious about winning this race.

Here is my interview with Ayres

PAULE: You are a good conservative what do you want to do think you can accomplish the Democratic controlled Legislature?

AYRES: Well I have worked on a city council so I am used to working with folks that I don’t agree with on every issue. However one… Read More

In the post immediately below this one, I talk about the newest hire of the California Republican Party, Patrick Dorinson. Dorinson replaces Karen Hanretty, who did a great job in that difficult post. Here is what she has to say:

"I have a great deal of respect for Patrick Dorinson and consider him a good friend and Republican colleague. I met him on the recall campaign when he came to work in the press office, booking Schwarzenegger on conservative talk radio shows. Almost immediately we forged a bond as only two people who can’t stop ranting about Democrats can forge. Since then, we’ve exchanged countless email and phone calls about how the world is versus how it ought to be. Patrick is always good for advice on a pithy soundbite and has a talent for putting current … Read More