I am just as suspicious as the next guy when it comes to federal authorities overreaching and exerting power for the sake of exerting power. But I think my good friend Adam’s statements criticizing the forfeiture of Duke Cunningham’s personal belongings are sorely misplaced. [Adam, I guess we will have something to talk about on our 5-hour flight to Hawaii later this week.] There are numerous examples of federal law enforcement trampling on the rights of individuals (like Ruby Ridge, for example). But the federal prosecutor’s action in Duke’s case is in no way similar. In fact, if anything, the federal prosecutors were more than fair with Duke. Under federal law the prosecutors are able to seek $50,000 for EACH bribe or unlawful action. (18 U.S.C. § 201.) Furthermore, treble damages (that is a TRIPLING of the damages) are permitted under the False Claims Act. (31 U.S.C. § 3729.) In this case, Duke’s full liability would have probably amounted to millions of… Read More

We have a real and growing problem in Southwest Riverside County. It takes about 60 days to build a new home and it takes about 20 years to build a new freeway. The freeways around the Temecula Valley rival any in LA or the Bay Area during rush hour.

The County Supervisor who represents this area, Jeff Stone, has come up with an out of the box idea. Pave over the emergency lanes and outside shoulders on a 19 mile stench of the I-215 to create a new lane in each direction. Some question the engineering obstacles to this and it would only be a temporary solution to a larger problem. Stone was elected last year on the platform of solving local traffic problems. I applaud him for thinking out side the box. Jeff Stone is going to be one elected official to watch in in the future. He is aggressive, smart ,and not your normal elected county official.… Read More

ARNOLD’S PICK FOR THE HIGH COURT The single most important decision facing Governor Schwarzenegger between now and the end of the year will be whom he choses to fill the vacancy on the California Supreme Court. Justice Janice Rogers-Brown, whom Schwarzenegger would be replacing, has been a well regarded judge with a reputation for being conservative. Ken Masugi, of the esteemed conservative think-tank, The Claremont Institute, penned an exclusive column for the FlashReport where he talks about what he thinks the Governor should be looking for in an appointee to California’s highest court. Don’t miss that exclusive column here.

BAD NEWS BONDS Yesterday in the FlashReport, Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association penned an exlcusive piece on the… Read More

I am predisposed to be suspicious of anyone with the power to prosecute. It is the Jeffersonian in me that questions authority and especially authority that can use the vast resources of all the Federal Government to bring hurt on those suspected of [fill in alleged heinous crime here].

It is with that vain that I question the actions of the Federal Prosecutors in the case against Rep. Duke Cunningham.

I agree that Rep. Cunningham made serious errors in judgment. His crimes were so blatant that they include "OVERT ACTS" like illegally accepting over a million dollars in loans to buy a property and so ridiculous that he allowed a defense contractor to pay a $1000-plus repair bill for his Rolls Royce!

But someone needs to call attention to the Federal Prosecutors–the so called U. S.… Read More

Courtesy of FR friend Dave Ellis, click below to read the actual Duke Cunningham plea agreement. Thanks Dave!… Read More

FR Friend and political consulant Dave Gilliard provides this useful information to readers of the FR Blog:

SPECIAL ELECTION CALENDAR 1. Gov. must call a SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION within 14 days of vacancy. The window would be Nov. 26- to Dec.10.

2 IF the SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION is called within 180 days of a statewide election, (after Dec. 8), it can be consolidated. It is likely the Gov. will do this in order to save money.

3. THE SPECIAL PRIMARY is eight Tuesdays before the SPECIAL GENERAL, or APRIL 11.

SO, the dates would be: PRIMARY – April 11 RUN-OFF (GENERAL)… Read More

Like many Republicans I know, I’ve spent the last few months puzzled and concerned about all of the allegations around Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham. I remember meeting Duke during his first campaign for Congress, and being ‘blown-away’ by this bigger than life persona and story (as a very decorated combat flying ace). With each story that has come out, my heart has said, "Duke will show ’em! He couldn’t have done what they said!" At the same time, after each story, the voice in my head starts to say, "Hmmm. Duke is being quiet, and the case against him is getting to be so bad that even a ‘magic bullet’ theory wouldn’t explain it all." Now with the news today that Duke has resigned his seat after pleading guilty to taking millions of dollars in bribes — I have two things to say: The first:… Read More

Dave Cortese, a San Jose city council member who is running for mayor, is planning on declaring a "permit holiday,” which would reduce the red tape for potential new business start-ups in his city, according to the San Jose Mercury News. Cortese, the son of the former state Assemblyman Dom Cortese (Democrat-turned-Reform Party), faces a June 2006 primary election to replace current Mayor Ron Gonzales. Cortese told the paper that he was borrowing the permit holiday idea from the City of… Read More