A recent post by businessman and major Republican donor Mark Chapin Johnson over at the California Campaigns blog underscores my concern that I laid out in my post below responding to Dan Schnur, about the impact of the Governor’s shift-to-the center. Mark Johson was one of the original three co-founders of the New Majority, the state’s (and perhaps the nation’s) preeminent Republican political action committee that self-describes itself as moderate. They boast that their organization and members donated millions to Schwarzenegger his ballot causes. Johnson is no longer a part of the New Majority, but his political philanthropy has continued with much generosity. Over the past few years, Mark and I have struck up a friendship as we have found an important quality for each of us – the other is willing to listen to us rant when we’re wound up, and we also share some common friends. That said, Mark is one of the only people I know who actually IS fiscally… Read More

Apparently earlier today, Arnold Schwarzenegger and his son were riding on a Harley Motorcycle (his son was in the side-car) when they were in a minor accident. "The governor was unable to avoid the vehicle in his path and collided with it at a low speed," said the Governor’s spokesperson.

Both he and his son were taken to a Santa Monica hospital where they were treated for minor injuries – the Governor requiring a dozen stiches. Fortunately the driver of the other vehicle was aok.

Thank goodness that everyone is safe!… Read More

Two interesting columns in today’s LA papers on the Governor’s new direction. One is from the Los Angeles Times and columnist Steve Lopez. He expressed concern over CRA members health during the State of the State. I emailed him that we are all accounted for. His column can be found hereor from the link on FlashReport.

The other is from the editorial pages of the San Gabriel Valley Tribune (also usually the same as the Pasadena Star-News and the Whittier Daily News.)These newspapers are sometimes overlooked, but reach the millions of people in the San Gabriel Valley. Here is their editorial "Cooperate Doesn’t mean Cozy"… Read More

I too have a history with Rev. Sheldon. I have known the Reverend for more than a decade. I do not agree with him all the time and I certainly do not agree with some of his tactics. But it is very important to be clear, no one is accusing Rev. Sheldon of any improprieties and if they did, they would find none.

Today it is more politically correct to bash Abramoff and anyone he stood on line with at the grocery store let along gave a contribution to, than to give a college scholarship to a one-legged, lesbian illegal alien. So I understand my colleagues desire to pile on. But I caution that but for our tendency to focus our businesses in California rather than DC or the fact that some of us (not I) choose do politics for Sen. McCain rather than Rep. Delay, we could have some of the Abramoff stink on us too.

My point is, attack the good Reverend all you want. But don’t confuse something you don’t like with something that is off the charts illegal. [Publisher’s note: Adam brings up a good… Read More

I read the Debra Saunders column today on the Rev. Lou Sheldon and did not exactly spill my coffee (much needed with a one week old baby in the house) that the Rev Lou would be playing both sides of the gaming issue or that his name has joined the growing Abramoff-Gate. Like fellow BLOGer Matt Cunningham and our publisher Mr. Fleischman, I too was there in 1998 when the esteemed and honorable Rev. Sheldon needed a small contribution from candidate Darrell Issa in order to assure that Traditional Values Coalition and God would be on our side. As reported Issa passed on the offer. Shaking down political campaigns by religious organizations is not new or a crime, but it does leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.

I also read with interest this week that former Representative Randy "Crook" Cunningham wore a wire for the FBI. Desperate people do desperate things, but I am sure that being a crooked politician and assisting the FBI is not going to make him real popular in the next gated community that he will call home. My advice to him would be not to play on the prison softball team, batting could be… Read More

I share Jon Fleischman’s disappointment over the Traditional Values Coalition and its role in the Abramoff sleazefest. But I’m a lot more worried than he is, not because the TVC’s activities have been outside the norm of acceptable political behavior, but because in modern-day Washington, they are the norm. In the national news media, Reverend Lou Sheldon’s role in this ethical circus has received a relatively small amount of attention, because similar behavior has been attributed to conservative activist Ralph Reed, who is alleged to have taken money from Abramoff’s Indian gaming clients to oppose other gambling expansion. Not to slight Reverend Sheldon’s political import, but Reed, who was a major player in the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign and is currently a candidate for Lt. Governor of Georgia, is a major, major player in national Republican politics. He’s also one of the savviest operators in the political arena today, which makes me wonder exactly how broad and… Read More

I wanted to wait for a few days to react to the Governor’s speech. This will be brief. I haven’t changed my mind from previous posts, which you can read if you like. The special election was the Governor’s re-election and he lost. Republican strategists have no answer for nurses, teachers, firefighters, prison guards and cops. Republicans cannot buy votes by outspending Democrats, so the State of the State speech was of little consequence to Arnold’s re-election bid. Bill Whalen succinctly outlined what the Governor didn’t say in his speech.

Let me add a couple of items to this list. While the Governor correctly outlined the massive infrastructure deficit faced the by the State, what he didn’t say is that the Legislature has made choices over the years to spend windfall tax revenues on programs, not infrastructure, and that this is the only reason bonds are necessary to finance these projects. He also didn’t point out the obvious – there is waste, fraud and abuse in State Government, and… Read More

I just finished reading Jon’s commentary on what has become of the Rev. Lou Sheldon and his Traditonal Values Coalition, and agree with him absolutely.

I remember the Fong incident well, because I was communications director for Issa for U.S. Senate at the time. Rev. Sheldon approached our campaign first (presumably because we had more money), and offered to endorse Darrell — if our campaign donated $50,000 to the TVC.

The answer was "no" whereupon Sheldon hit up the Matt Fong campaign, which readily agreed in order to shore up his campaign among religious conservatives.

I’m sure a number of my fellow FR blog contributors could relate similar incidents.… Read More