This will be a novel post. I am flying in an eight-passenger twin-prop plane, flying over the active volcano on the south end of the Big Island of Hawai’I. I can see the lava bubbling and splashing around in the crater. Down the volcano are massive pillars of steam where the slow lava flows hit the ocean, heating the water to over 140 degrees farenheit. . In the last 3 months, this island has grown by 15 acres. Not sure of my nexus to California politics, but how often can one file a blog post from 600 feet above an active volcano? Aloha!… Read More

The Democratic victory dance is now entering its sixth day, and like the riots sweeping France’s cities and suburbs, this anger masked as celebration shows no sign of ebbing. The question that preoccupies Sacramento at the moment, now that Schwarzenegger has adopted a conciliatory approach in the aftermath of last week’s election results, is whether the Democratic legislative leadership will accept the governor’s olive branch, or wrap it around his neck.

The original Democratic response, coming from Democrats and all, seemed to contradict itself. Senator Perata, who shows an occasional and fleeting willingness to separate himself from the public employee unions, talked of peace. Assembly Speaker Nunez, better attuned to their wishes, hinted of continued war. A smart bettor would take war and give the points.

In this arena, warfare usually means passing bills designed to embarrass the governor. So rather than cooperation and compromise, the instinct of many of Schwarzenegger’s foes will be to move legislation to his desk… Read More

U.S. REP ROHRABACHER – CONSERVATIVE VOICE The lead item in today’s FlashReport is an exclusive column from Orange County Congressman Dana Rohrabacher. The FlashReport has written a lot lately about the grave economic threat to America by seemingly-unchecked growth in domestic spending in Washington, D.C. (yes, under a Republican President and a Republican Congress). Dana Rohrabacher has been a leader among those conservative members of Congress who believe that the GOP Congress must shrink the size of the bureaucracy, not preside over its growth. With the horrific tragedy of Hurricane Katrina last month, Congress is at a crossroads. Or, as Congressman Rohrabacher puts it, the GOP Congress is going to have to ‘define ourselves’ – the column is a ‘must read’ and you can do that right… Read More

Well, I’m back from 10 days of limited electricity and no hot water as an international election observer in malaria-infected Liberia. On October 11, Liberia had their first presidential election since the ousting of President Charles Taylor, the former rebel that staged a coup d’etat of former President Samuel Doe…followed by Doe’s mutilation, torture, and murder. The U.S. and other African leaders demanded Taylor’s resignation in 2003 and he now resides in luxurious exile in Nigeria (where I observed the 2003 presidential elections).

None of the 22 candidates standing for election on October 11 received 50% of the vote and while California voters were considering a slew of initiatives, Liberians were choosing between an illiterate former soccer star and a highly-educated longtime public servant. Which brings me to this writing. I really didn’t think I could find a way to make… Read More

Los Angeles County is one of those places that regularly holds elections in odd numbered election years. Most of these are school board and water boardelections, but an inceasing number of citieshave consolidated inrecent years.

Adding a special election to the November ballot bringsthree to four times as many voters to the polls than would normally participate. This drives up costs and brings interesting results.

Interestingly enough several Asian-Americanincumbents lost theirelections this November. Did race play a factor? Did high Latino voter turn out have an impact on these low-profile races? See the story here.

The sad fact is race does play a factor in many of these races, whether Asian, Black, Latino etc…

One former Monrovia School Board Member who is white (and of course a liberal)sent an email to friends asking them tocastonly one vote (Bullet Voting) for Clarence Shaw, the only candidate of "non-European" background. Clarence Shaw was the tope vote getter.

Can you imagine the outrage if the email… Read More

There is no commentary today as I enjoy day 4 on the Big Island with the family. Though the news links are updated for today, and click here for the Commentary Week In Review.

Aloha!

Jon… Read More

As I enjoy my third day here on the Big Island with my parents, it is amazing that I am sitting outside at 4:45am, and the weather is so balmy. There are some people washing down the pool deck who are wondering why there is a guest out here at this hour. Funny, I was wondering the same thing!

Here is the week in Review:

EXCLUSIVE: Dan Schnur – Governor, you win California by being…you! Interview with John Lewis, arcitect of OC’S Measure D defeat. Ken Khachigian – Looking forward (Governor, take some notes).

JON’S DAILY COMMENTARIES: Sunday: The Hollywood Fantasies of Sorkin and Reiner.… Read More

With State Senator John Campbell running as the Republican nominee in a Congressional District that is so overwhelmingly GOP in registration that he is a shoo-in (the special ‘general’ election for this House race is in early December) – it means that the contest has already begun for a yet-to-be-called special election to fill his 35th State Senate seat. (Support the FR and click Campbell’s ad to the right, just for kicks.) Like the 48th Congressional District that was vacated by it’s incumbent, Chris Cox, when he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as W’s appointee to be Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the 35th District is safe, safe, SAFE GOP turf. So all of the action is the primary. The first candidate to jump into the race is Assemblyman Tom Harman, who represents a sizable… Read More