Every once in a while, a column comes along that really moves you – or causes you to think about something in a totally different way. Today’s Golden Pen Award winner is famed economist Walter Williams. Williams really gets to the core of the problem in Washington, D.C. — and it is not the lobbyists. Yeah, what Jack Abramoff did was wrong, but the solution to stopping this problem does not lie with ‘reforms aimed at lobbyists’ – but rather an introspective look by Congress at itself.

Williams, in part, writes:

I had the opportunity to sit down for lunch inPasadenawith a new face in California politics, Attorney General candidate Pierre Prosper.

I do need to point out that have not endorsed a candidate. I’m waiting for the results of the CRA Endorsing Convention and that I respect Prosper’s opponent Sen. Chuck Poochigian very much. But, I wouldn’t pass up this opportunity to see what Prosper was all about.

I won’t recount his entire bio. You can read it story of his family coming from Haiti (clearly a good move) and his rise from LA County Assistant District Attorney to War Crimes prosecutor and Ambassador at his website.

I did ask him about his role in the War on Terror and some of the controversial aspects of the Bush Administration policy. Prosper explained that the Bush Administration took steps based on "first Impressions". Meaning that this kind of war… Read More

The 35th Senate District is set for a Special Election on April 11th. Diane Harkey is moving fast and hard toward a win.

You don’t have to take my word for it, Alicia Robinson is the political reporter at the Daily Pilot, the Newport Beach/Costa Mesa paper. She writes, "But while Dana Point City Councilwoman Diane Harkey has been showing her face at various city council meetings and racking up big-name endorsements, Huntington Beach Assemblyman Tom Harman’s campaign seems to be missing in action."

Harman’s response: "Right now I’d say it’s kind of the lull before the storm," With the election just 13 potentially unlucky weeks away, there is no lull. There is constant motion and non-stop fund raising.

Harkey, a Dana Point city councilwoman and super-successful businesswoman has already ponied up six-figures of her own money and pledged more as needed. She has also been … Read More

I came across Willie Brown’s podcast website today. The top interview on the site is Willie trading barbs with GOP spinner extraordinaire Karen Hanretty. This is a "must listen" discussion because I’m not sure who has a quicker wit.

Further down the page, Da Mayor conducts another quality interview with John Herrington — the former Secretary of Energy under Ronald Reagan. Herrington was also chairman of the California Republican Party in the early 1990s.

I’m subscribing to this podcast via iTunes — Willie is pure entertainment.… Read More

Starting today, I am pleased to announce that we are adding a new member of the FlashReport Weblog cast of characters — Amy Thoma — who will be our new Central Coast correspondent!

Amy is currently the Executive Director of the Monterey County GOP, and involved a with a lot of grassroots Republican activities. A graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles, Amy will bring a lot to the table.

Her beat will be from Santa Cruz down to Ventura County – a wide swath. Any FR readers are welcome to reach out to her!

We’ll be looking for great, insightful new and analysis from Amy!

Welcome!

Jon… Read More

I just saw on OC Blog that the Lincoln Club of Orange County has endorsed OC Supervisor Jim Silva for the 67th Assembly District, where incumbent Tom Harman is termed out.

Jim Silva’s opponent is Harman’s wife Dianne. Furthermore, a few weeks ago the Lincoln Club endorsed Diane Harkey over Tom Harman for the 35th Senate District special election.

Thus, we have an interesting situation where the Lincoln Club has simultaneously endorsed against a husband and wife in the same election cycle.

On a related note, I’m pleased to see the Silva campaign has resurrected The Silva Bullet newsletter. I created The Silva Bullet while serving as consultant on… Read More

I want to say thanks to Jon and the rest of the Flashreport team for allowing me to add my voice to the mix of writers already on here. Not only will the Central Coast now get some attention, but I think I can add a fresh perspective as the only “young” person writing (sorry guys…).

I am the Executive Director of the Monterey County Republican Party which is a fantastic job. I get to live in a beautiful area, help Republicans win (and we do) in a decisively “blue” county and work with a committee that is not only professional, but extraordinarily dedicated to the Republican cause. Not too shabby.

I’m excited to begin highlighting some of the goings-on here on the Central Coast. The Central Coast is not only the most beautiful part of our state, but one of the most interesting as well. My area stretches from Santa Cruz all the way down to Ventura which, needless to say, is a huge area and encompasses around 5 media markets. I don’t think I’ll have a shortage of news to share. I’ll do my best to keep you informed!

Now to the news…

Senator Jeff Denham represents a good portion… Read More

Think you’re the only one confused by the "new" Arnold? Even the media can’t seem to get a handle on the big guy.

Yesterday, the Governator was in the Bay Area, taking part in a local King Day breakfast.

This morning’s headlines:

San Francisco Chronicle: "’New’ Schwarzenegger Gets Surprisingly Warm Welcome"

Oakland Tribune: "Schwarzenegger Gets a Hostile Response"

From what I saw lat night on local tv, the Trib was closer to the mark. What should have been a feel-good event instead turned partisan, with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi taking a pot-shot at Arnold for bad budgeting (short-changing education, not enough for poor folks) and bad initiatives (last fall’s special election).

Coupled with Al Gore’s speech yesterday, as well as Hillary’s meltdown back on the East Coast (she accused Republicans of a "plantation" mentality — what a nice, non-threatening triangulating word… Read More