Steve Greenhut, a senior editorial writer for the Orange County Register devoted his entire Sunday column to a topic other than policy or politics, his normal fare. Rather, he used his precious column space to talk the phenomenon of how websites and ‘bloggers’ (editorial note: I really dislike that term) are really changing the news business. He especially focuses on the idea that the internet-age means that if you have opinions, you can more easily express them.

Greenhut’s piece begins:

LEFTIST PROFESSORS TAKE HEED There have been a series of articles during the last week (there are a couple featured on the main page today) that focus on a controversial organization founded by former UCLA College Republican leader Andrew Jones’ efforts to target liberal professors at his alma-mater. Prominent advisory board members, such as esteemed former GOP Congressman Jim Rogan (a Bruin alumnus), have dropped off of Jones’ advisory board. What would be so outrageous as to cause this kind of controversy? If you are a student these days, it really isn’t hard to find out a lot of ‘intel’ to help guide your choices or class preparation. Websites about where students upload their opinions of teachers, their grading techniques, how much homework they assign, whether they are strict about attendance, and more. Jones simply is trying to put another factor out there for perspective students to look… Read More

The solution to all the anger over Arnold Schwarzenegger’s new approach seems so obvious.

Rather than worrying about staff functionaries and advisors, the governor’s critics should instead demand that he divorce his wife and marry a woman with a more appropriate Republican pedigree. So how about a resolution that demands that Maria Shriver be replaced by Jenna Bush.

Yesterday’s Los Angeles Times reported efforts to repeal the California Republican Party’s endorsement of Schwarzenegger unless he fires his new chief of staff Susan Kennedy by March 15. On one hand, it’s perfectly reasonable for party loyalists to question whether or not the CRP should officially endorse Schwarzenegger, or allow Republican voters… Read More

There have been a lot of conversations about how do deal with the fact that so many of faithful GOP volunteers and donors are in the doldrums. Trying to address this issue requires trying to understand why these traditionally motivated folks are finding other things to do with their time instead of political activism.

Let me start with a startling fact – until the recent bond proposal, the single largest subject on which I had received feedback was the indictment of House Majority Leader Tom Delay. But the notes weren’t words of outrage. The overwhelming sentiment was, "With DeLay out, is this an opportunity to replace him with a conservative?"

The point here, given the conservatism of Tom DeLay, is that the machinations that take place behind closed doors, but which do not result in votes and hardline public stances by Republicans, leave grassroots activists feeling like their hard work is for naught. Especially when in Washington, Republicans supposedly "control" the… Read More

Dan Weintraub posted yesterday about the Schwarzenegger Administration and the 241 tollway completion in Orange County:

Even as Gov. Schwarzenegger is trying to launch his ambitious infrastructure plan, his administration is tied in knots over a proposed toll road in Orange County that is being fought by his brother-in-law, Bobby Shriver. The FlashReport blog is all over the story.

Thanks to Dan for the link and for drawing more attention to this issue, which illustrates the practical policy consequences of Governor’s habit of staffing his administration with people who hold vastly different philosophies and agendas from each other and the Governor.… Read More

This morning is my first opportunity to "welcome back" the Cal-Races website, which came back online this week after undergoing a reformatting and retooling. What is Cal-Races? FR’s friends over at Meridian Pacific Consulting (including our very own Sacramento Area Correspondent Tom Ross) maintain a great website for following a lot of what is going on with campaigns in California, and other tidbits, from a decidedly Republican perspective. Tom’s colleagues at MP, Matt Rexroad and John Peschong, as well as a great crew of others at their firm (h/t to Justin Matheson) will be providing all of us with great information.

**There is more – click the link**

View Full Commentary… Read More

This morning is my first opportunity to "welcome back" the Cal-Races website, which came back online this week after undergoing a reformatting and retooling. What is Cal-Races? FR’s friends over at Meridian Pacific Consulting (including our very own Sacramento Area Correspondent Tom Ross) maintain a great website for following a lot of what is going on with campaigns in California, and other tidbits, from a decidedly Republican perspective. Tom’s colleagues at MP, Matt Rexroad and John Peschong, as well as a great crew of others at their firm (h/t to Justin Matheson) will be providing all of us with great information. I am sure that we will be linking over there quite a bit to make sure that if you don’t make it over to Cal-Races each day (I will) that you don’t miss their greatest posts. Tom, Matt and John have been good friends for a long time, and they all played a substantial role in the development… Read More

Contested Republican primaries are tricky things. They can be divisive and explosive. Add a mix of 10 GOP candidates and the dynamics get more interesting. Factor into that mix that at least four and maybe more of these candidates will have a lot of resources with which to engage their opponents. A perfect storm? Not yet, add one more element. At a time when scandals, indictments, and a resignation are plaguing the Republicans in Congress, the ‘perfect storm’ I’ve outlined is taking place in the 50th Congressional District, where Randy ‘Duke’ Cunningham plead guilty to taking seven figures in payoffs – resigning his seat in disgrace… waiting for a jail sentence.

At a time when conventional wisdom would be to disassociate with the besieged GOP establishment, there is one candidate for whom that is not an option. Brian Bilbray, one of the leading candidates is not only a former Member of Congress, but is currently a federal lobbyist.

Interestingly, Bilbray’s… Read More