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

As Legislative Republicans continue to express their doubts about the Governor’s massive bond proposal, Gov. Schwarzenegger turned to one of the state’s top Democrats for support for his new spending program. Schwarzenegger appeared today with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at an event at Los Angeles’ Union Station, where, according to a Governor’s Office news release, the two men "explained how investing wisely in California’s transportation infrastructure will decrease commute times, speed freight delivery, improve air quality and create jobs, as the state prepares for its projected growth."

What a difference three months and a two-hundred-billion dollar spending package makes. Just last October, Villaraigosa was trashing the governor in the media.

"I’m opposed to all of his initiatives," Villaraigosa told the press.… Read More

Last year, Michael Crichton wrote a novel called State of Fear, in which a fictional environmental organization called the National Environmental Research Fund cyncially stokes fears about global warming in order to sustain it’s fund-raising efforts.

I was reminded of Crichton’s book by this e-mail yesterday from Orange County public affairs consultant Meg Waters:

Matt –

A few weeks ago I was with friends in San Clemente and one of the leaders of the anti toll road group joined us. I told him that I supported the road and had worked with TCA on it. I ribbed him about the wild claims that the road would ruin Trestles beach – because in fact, it will… Read More

In my office I have four pictures that sit on the cabinet behind my desk, one of my wife, one of my new son, one of my dogs and one of me and Ronald Reagan. Being in the political world, I have had the opportunity to have my picture taken with many a public office holder, but I only display one. I also have the Reagan 1980 campaign poster framed on my wall in my office.

Twenty Five years ago today Ronald Reagan was sworn in as the greatest President of the Twentieth Century. I was a senior in high school on January 20th 1981. I remember on that day my social studies teacher, a liberal public school hack, told the class that he expected nuclear war with the Soviets with in two years because of Reagan. ( What a nice thing to tell teens in your classroom ) Instead Reagan ended the Evil Empire without a shot. So much for liberal public school hacks.

In 1996, while I was serving as the Political Director of the California Republican Party a small group of us that worked at the Party had the opportunity to meet President Reagan in his office in Los Angeles. It was one of the last meetings that the President ever did. The meeting was arranged by… Read More