Well, since old Cunningham decided to write about the OC Lincoln Club, I thought I’d finish the short report I was writing on the San Diego Lincoln Club.

Last Thursday night I attended the 22nd Annual Dinner of the Lincoln Club of San Diego County. It easy fell into the top few local political fundraising events I’ve attended over the last ten years or so, and demonstrated the meteoric re-birth of the organization. The dinner featured a moving tribute to one of San Diego’s truly great men, Corky McMillin, a Cardinal of the Republican Party who passed away this year, and a keynote address by new Mayor Jerry Sanders.

It’s no national secret that I really dislike speeches – particularly the run of the mill boring non-partisan ones, but also the long ones over say 10 minutes. Jerry Sanders was neither boring nor long. In fact, and this is a rare treat, I and the other folks at the Francis table were moved and excited. In about ten minutes, Sanders outlined a program of real reform at City Hall with the calm authority of a man that says what he means, and means what he says. He was very clear… Read More

Time Magazine’s Joe Klein says of the Governor, in his 2005 wrap-up column:

I am going to take advantage of the generosity of Mr. Flash and add a quick BLOG about another friend of mine that is changing jobs in the California GOP family. Yesterday on this site I got in the Political Hack "Way Back Machine" and told a tale about Governor Schwarzenegger’s new Communications Director Adam Mendelsohn. Today I want to jump into the Political Hack ""Future-Rama Machine"" and jump forward 5 years.

It is Sunday Morning and my five year old son and I are watching Meet the Press with Katie Couric. I will get the pleasure of sharing with my son that the pretty women we are watching on our Congressionally mandated HDTV set, that is skillfully taking to task the extreme liberal policies of President Hillary R. Clinton, is daddy’s friend Karen Hanretty.

Karen is one of the CRP graduates like Dan Schnur, Todd Harris, and the esteemed Jon Fleischman that are really making a name for themselves on the national political landscape. Ann Coulter Watch Out !!!!!

… Read More

TOM MCLINTOCK ON BONDS Today’s lead commentary is from State Senator Tom McClintock, who at this point, is the presumptive Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor. McClintock is well respected for his acumen on state fiscal matters. In this ‘must read’ column, Tom looks at the prospects of a bond-measure roll-out, and gives his criteria for a responsible borrowing measure, as well as some important historic perspective. State government has been porking out since the days of Governor Pat Brown… WHO IS ADAM MENDELSOHN? The news broke yesterday in the Capitol Weekly (with a formal announcement today) that GOP communications pro Adam Mendelsohn will be taking the reigns of Communications Director for Governor Schwarzenegger – the current CD, Rob Stutzman, will be departing for the campaign trail as part of the Governor’s… Read More

I received a phone call after I posted about the 38th Assembly District race.The callerdidn’t buy my analysis. See it here.

Seethe personis in the slate mailing business and had a couple calls from consultantsasking to keepthat space open for a well funded, yet undeclared candidate in the 38th GOP primary.

I know a year ago the actor Joseph C Phillips (Cosby, theDistrict,Vegas and more)had looked at the race and decided against it.

Who is the mystery candidate?

Come out, come out where ever you are.

In the mean time, Smyth may have to start walking the district and raise more campaign cash.… Read More

Pomona sits on the eastern border of Los Angeles County and is aDemocratic Town. Except the last mayor Eddie Cortez was a Republican as was his predecessor Donna Smith. Pomona has had a GOP mayor for sometime. That may change Jan. 10. Eddie passed away and a special election was called. Imagine campaigning through Christmas and New Years Day. Any beats on turnout? Eleven candidates have thrown their hats in the ring. 5 are current or former council members. And three are Republicans. Republicans might have a shot at keep this Blue state city in Red state hands, but it won’t be easy. Democrat Norma Torres is council member who planned to run for the Democrat leaning 61st Assembly District against Senator, former Assembly member and former Pomona council member Nell Soto. This opened up as she transferred some of the cash she had. … Read More

The news today that Governor Schwarzenegger named my friend Adam Mendelsohn his next Communications Director made me jump into the California Political Hack ""Wayback Machine"" for a trip back to the 1998 California Republican Party Convention in Burlingame. This is where I first met Adam. I was working for a young businessman named Darrell Issa who was running for the U.S. Senate and Adam was working for our opponent and eventual nominee, Treasurer Matt Fong. A young member of the Issa campaign team (who now runs a very large GOP organization and asked not be identified in this tale) and Mendelsohn had a rather heated exchange in the hotel bar (appropriately named Knuckles) late that night. If memory serves me, myself and a fellow Flash Report Bloger had to smooth things over the next morning. Over the years the tale has grown from heated exchange to full blown bar fight with broken bottles and all. It has turned into another Urban Legend of the Cal GOP. In the end we all became friends. It is going to be great to have Adam, a Republican, working for the Governor. I can personally attest that Adam is going to be a real fighter for… Read More

As my colleague Jon blogged earlier, the Lincoln Club of Orange County has endorsed Diane Harkey for state Senate.

That is a huge blow to Tom Harman’s campaign. Diane Harkey doesn’t really need their money (both collectively and individal contributions from members), but Harman certainly could.

But more than that, the Lincoln Club carries tremendous prestige and influence in Orange County GOP mover-and-shaker circles — others follow their lead. Check out this damning quote from Lincoln Club President Richard Wagner:

Ouch.

It’s a psychological blow for the county’s premier GOP donor group to endorse against an incumbent GOP… Read More