My good friend Ray Haynes, who is a contributor to this blog, has opined in this space very strongly in support of California entering into a compact to achieve a National Popular Vote for the Presidency (where the person who gets the most raw votes nationwide is awarded the electoral votes needed to cinch the top spot).

That said, as Ray Haynes himself will tell you, this was not always his position — Ray is among the converted. Ray told me that while in the State Assembly, he opposed legislation in support of the National Popular Vote. That having been said, someone sent over to me video of Ray’s actual floor speech against the vote, so I thought it would be fun to put it up for your perusal. I’m sure we’ll here more from Ray on why he’s changed his position… Maybe he’ll upload a video!

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This weekend we celebrate our nation’s most festive and important holiday, Independence Day. As the smell of backyard BBQs and displays of fireworks unite us in celebration, let us also reflect on the importance of this date and why we are proud to be Americans.

It was 235 years ago that delegates of the thirteen colonies gathered as the Second Continental Congress and voted to approve a resolution declaring their independence from Great Britain. This resolution was a powerful statement asserting once and for all the sovereignty and independence of our newly formed country.

Many historians debate the ‘real’ reasoning behind the final straw that caused early settlers to become tired of the crown and begin the fight for an end to oppression under the thumb of the crown. But one thing the majority of Americans can agree on is that the liberties and freedoms we enjoy today came at a high price and only through the courage of many brave men and women.

More than two centuries later, the American spirit keeps us fighting for liberty both at home and abroad. Let us never forget that we live in the greatest nation on the face of earth, and that together as… Read More

Right out of the book Atlas Shrugged, we have dingbat California legislators taxing internet sales to balance their precious budget, full of programs that don’t work, pensions that cost too much, and with over 40,000 State employees than just eight years ago, their solution is drive yet more business from the State. Brilliant.

In the book, or if you haven’t seen the movie, John Galt is the mysterious man who visits succesful business owners to tell them of a better place. Business owners begin to disappear from society with every new onerous government regulation.

In 2011, John Galt is the State of Texas, and any other State that can knock on the door of a California business owner and tell them of a place where they can live in liberty, less regulation, and keep more of what they earn. Almost any State can say that to us now.

So Amazon and Overstock.com have said “adios” and there will be many more to follow. California Democrat legislators have to be some of the most economically… Read More

Finishing up a three day swing through the Golden State, yesterday Texas Governor Rick Perry paid a visit to California’s Capitol city of Sacramento where he met with a large number of Republican state legislators. Held at the offices of prominent California GOP fundraiser and consultant Jeff Miller, Perry clearly made a strong impression on those in attendance. We know this because immediately following the Governor’s remarks, 21 GOP state legislators all signed onto a letter urging the Governor of the Lone Star State to throw his boots into the race for the Presidency. Legislators signing the letter were:  Senators Tom Berryhill, Bill Emmerson, Ted Gaines, Doug LaMalfa and Mimi Walters, and Assemblymembers Katcho Achadjian, Bill Berryhill, Connie Conway, Paul Cook (in an apparent defection from Mitt Romney), Tim Donnelly, Beth Gaines, Shannon Grove, Curt Hagman, Kevin Jeffries, Brian Jones, Steve Knight, Dan Logue, Mike Morrell, Jim Nielsen, Cameron Smyth, and David Valadao. Click on the image below to see the letter…

Needless to say, this is an impressive show of support for Perry, who continues to demonstrate a depth of support around the… Read More

Rick Perry might not have officially thrown his ten-gallon hat into the ring, but he certainly looked and sounded like a presidential contender when he stopped by Orange County yesterday morning.

Hosted by Orange County GOP Chairman Scott Baugh and the illustrious editor of this web site, Jon Fleischman, Governor Perry drew a stark distinction between himself and other presidential candidates by coming to Orange County to meet with conservative grassroots leaders—not just big money donors.

Unfortunately, California is often viewed as a lost cause for Republican presidential candidates. They see the state as an ATM for campaign cash, but don’t really return the investment by actively wooing voters or building an enduring political infrastructure. In Perry’s case, he seems genuinely interested in building the conservative movement by working with conservative grassroots leaders.

During an hour-long meeting with the select group of conservative leaders, the Texas governor discussed his recipe for success in growing the Lone Star State’s economy—and how that recipe can be applied on a national level.

Governor Perry detailed the principles that… Read More

A few years ago, when I voted for the majority vote budget idea, because I thought it would be better for Republicans if Democrats owned the budget, I was told I was hurting Republicans, because “a two thirds vote was the only way for Republicans to have a voice in the budget.” (we never had one, anyway).

Later, when I opposed the formation of the “Citizens” Redistricting Commission, I was told I was hurting Republicans because the Commission was the only way Republicans could get a majority in the Legislature.

In the midst of those efforts, I proposed the “Adopt a District” program, in which sitting Republican elected officials would go into neighboring Democrat districts and develop Republican election infrastructure well in advance of an election. Too much work, I was told, we will be saved by the “Citizens” Redistricting Commission (oops, we were wrong on that).

I proposed changing the rule on how the California Republican Party chose its delegates for President in the Republican National Convention. It would hurt our influence in the Presidential primary, I was told (as if we had any).

We are… Read More

Just when you thought they coudn’t be stupider….

The Democrat State legislature and Governor have enacted a budget that apparently denies local school districts to set their staffing levels based on financial conditions and enrollment. This is being heralded as good public policy?

Republicans have been accused of having a “religious” opposition to tax extensions. Isthe Democrats opposition to pension reform and government employee cost structure reform not “religiously fanatical” in its own right?

Republicans in Sacramento, in a small way, set us up for this. We’ve been drinking the “preserve education funding” Kool Aid for 20 years, going along with massive increases in spending and staffing, with no appreciable or commensurate benefits in student performance. Even this year, we hinted at our devotion to maintaining K-12 educations spending levels.

Why? The State is broke and enrollment is declining. Is this not the perfect time to challenge the old broken sacred cow? I guess not.

So, as the CTA begins another nine figure campaign war chest designed at picking up the last few seats they… Read More

Back in the early 1990’s, I was a political science student and active in the student government at San Jose State University. While there, I lived in a suburb of San Jose called Cupertino, whose largest employer was and still is today Apple Computer. In fact, in order to pay my bills, I actually worked part time at Apple. So, my interest was profoundly piqued when it was announced by Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs that the company he founded had been buying up swaths of property in Cupertino and announced plans to build a massive new campus with a new building that will have a larger footprint than the Pentagon, and serve as a home to over 12,000 employees. The single, four-story circular building is shaped in a vast ring — that looks like a giant spaceship. Check out this ABC news clip – pretty amazing stuff:

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