Pete McCloskey, the former anti-Nixon Republican who is now an anti-Bush Republican, will receive a larger ratio of favorable media coverage vs. actual votes received than any American politician since Ralph Nader. Since announcing his intention to run in the GOP primary in California’s 11th congressional district against incumbent Richard Pombo, McCloskey has been the subject of rapturous profiles in most California newspapers, all of which frame his previous time in Congress by fawning over his role in the creation of Earth Day, his opposition to the Vietnam War, and his calls for the impeachment of Richard Nixon.

The fact that McCloskey is running against Pombo, who has been the subject of a continuing series of articles about his fundraising practices, his association with former Majority Leader Tom DeLay, and his well-known hatred for the environment, makes this even an easier story to write. The implication underneath this McCloskey media bandwagon in clear: if only Republicans were smart… Read More

Check out the FR Weblog throughout the day. I’m taking the day off (except for compiling the day’s top stories in California politics, which are on the main page).… Read More

County Board of Ed Update… In the wake of last Monday’s vote by the GOP "majority" on the SD County Board of Ed to appoint Democrat Sharon Jones to a vacancy in what is clearly a Republican seat (see Jon’s excellent post-commentary), the GOP ismoving quickly to consolidate behind one candidate in this year’s election. Arkan Somo and Rick Winet, who both applied for the vacancy, have been mentioned. Watch the GOP pull out all stops to winnow the field to one.

Eric Roach – 50th Congressional… In his extensive summary of this newcomer posted last Monday, Jon indicated, "I will be interested to hear what our FR contributors from San Diego County, Barry Jantz and Duane… Read More

Monterey County Supervisor Butch Lindley announced that he will not run for re-election due to family and business obligations. Butch was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2002 and has been toying with the idea of re-election for around a year. Butch is one of Monterey County’s most loved elected officials and is known for his pro-business, straight shooting approach to governing and often provided crucial votes and leadership as the Board of Supervisors is rewriting its General Plan.

The race for the 3rd District is heating up. Termed out Assemblyman Simon Salinas (who was expected to challenge Jeff Denham in SD 12), Soledad Mayor Richard Ortiz, Hartnell College Trustee Juan Martinez and aide to Supervisor Fernando Armenta, Alejandro Chavez all declaring intent for the seat.

This is an extremely important time for the Monterey County Board of Supervisors. An anti-growth initiative has been placed on June’s ballot by radical environmental group,… Read More

You can access all past commentaries here, though. Enjoy your Saturday! Jon… Read More

In my old stomping grounds of Staten Island New York….it’s called omertà ….at the Republican retreat it means no freaking blogging about what happened at the retreat.

But by now, you know I am a little on the anti authoritarian side of things. But rather than provide specifics on some of the policy discussions that a) I didn’t understand, and b) I didn’t understand…..I thought I’d pass on what I do understand.

It’s no big revalation that Ronald Reagan means a lot to us as a party. Yet I was struck that you could not only see, but feel the dynamic change when these guys came back from the Ronald Reagan Library. Oh sure…Air Force 1 was cool they said…but here was a renewed sense of purpose after reliving the… Read More

Yesterday, the release was issued from the Governor’s office that he has tapped a prominent personal injury lawyer, a Democrat, to be a judge on the Santa Cruz Superior Court – Paul Burdick.

Burdick’s appointment comes in the County of Santa Cruz where the Santa Cruz Sentinal had reported that a Democratic Women’s Club of Santa Cruz County was lobbying for the appointment of a Democrat, and a woman. I guess they got 50% of what they were looking for.

Burdick has some history as a public defender, according to today’s Sentinal article:

President Bush has nominated Sandra S. Ikuta to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal. Ikuta was recently appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to serve as a member of the California Resources Agency. (Read the release here.)

Prior to serving as a member of the Resources Agency, Ikuta was a partner at the Los Angeles office of O’Melveny & Myers where she has practiced since 1990. She previously served as a law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Judge Alex Kozinski of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. She earned her law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and holds a Master of Science from Columbia University School of Journalism. She also has an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Ikuta, 49, is a resident of Los Angeles and a registered Republican.… Read More