The turning point for the Schwarzenegger for Governor campaign in 2006 was the day after the primary when Phil Angelides started being defined by the Governor as being out of step with California. It set the tone for the entire campaign and pushed the Governor into a commanding position for re-election.

This all might have turned out very differently had Steve Westley been the nominee as he had a plan for the day after the primary and was prepared to execute. Angelides was undefined still and the Governor did it for him.

Today we may have seen a similar turning point in the 2010 race for Governor. The Chamber of Commerce had a bold political move to define someone that is probably not even remembered by millions of California voters. When the ads got pulled today it ended the early definition process of the Democratic nominee.

If we do have a second "Governor Jerry Brown Show" the business community is the most likely target of his policies. They will complain to no end…. all because of Manat, Phelps & Phillips (sponsor of this site), Robert Simonds Company, Forest City Residential West, and Latham & Watkins. Thanks… Read More

If you’re a FlashReport reader with an iPhone, and think that the next Governor of California should be a Republican, than you need to step it up.

I was reading about a new group, CALInnovates, which is all about keeping government regulation of of technology and innovation. You should check out their website here. Anyway, these guys did a survey and found out that Blackberry users are more likely to support a Republican this November, while iPhone users are more likely to support a Democrat. There may be something to this because – well, I use a Blackberry…

Well, perhaps more useful is that CALiInnovates have developed a new app for Blackberry and Facebook to allow for tracking of political news that is worth checking out. If you are like me, you upload tons of apps, and delete the ones that don’t make the cut. I’ve uploaded this one – we’ll see if I keep it!

I’m not in Sacramento tomorrow – but if I were, I’d be heading over to Pyramid (1029 K Street) from 530pm – 730pm where CALInnovates is buying the beer. From our perspective, we think that CALInnovates should require a… Read More

The Roundup, Fresno Bee political notebook and other publications detailed today stories of Jim Costa "going to war" with Leftist Democrat George Miller over the water crisis in Central California.

Here’s an excerpt from the Roundup today: "

Reps. Jim Costa and George Miller are getting ready for a Delta smelt smackdown. Christine Bedell reports, "Costa declared political "war" against a fellow member of the California congressional delegation Monday over the ongoing fight to both protect fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and keep delivering desperately needed water to the San Joaquin Valley. "Costa, D-Fresno, offered to do battle with Rep. George Miller, D-Richmond, after Miller was quoted as promising at a political rally last week to push for tougher restrictions on water diversions to valley farms and cities. Northern California fisherman in large part blame the water pumping for declining salmon populations and, by extension, their livelihoods."

Well, George Miller has been attacking valley ag and water interests since… Read More

While this site’s readers are primarily focused on events in California, I wanted to take a moment to draw your attention to a tragedy that occurred recently in West Virginia.

This recent mining tragedy is a devastating reminder of the strength and courage that our nation’s mineworkers demonstrate on a daily basis. My thoughts and prayers are with all of the men and women who work at the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia.

Like West Virginia, California’s 25th Congressional District is an area of the country that takes a tremendous amount of pride in its mineworkers and their families. I know I speak for the district when I extend my deepest gratitude for the tireless efforts shown by these men and women.

Please remember to keep the victims and their families in your thoughts and prayers throughout the coming weeks.… Read More

As California families struggle to make ends meet and unemployment in some counties tops 20 percent, you would think the Legislature would get out of the way of the free market and the entrepreneurs who provide job growth.

But you would bewrong. Instead, liberal Senators passed a bill yesterday in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee that will make batteries more expense. (By the way, I am a member of this board and voted “no” on the bill).

Senate Bill 1100 (Corbett) will create new fees on batteries, which will be handed down to the consumer to the tune of about $15 million per year. And since the fee in this bill has not been determined, the price could go higher.

This bill will alsoopen aPandora’s Box to further implementation on other maligned items like fluorescent light bulbs, medical sharps and paints.

In a TV report last night, ABC’s Nannette Miranda exposes the costs of this bill.… Read More

Radio Wars — In the first spot below, conservative icon and Congressman Tom McClintock, calling Steve Poizner "the only conservative running for Governor" says we don’t need a third term of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Below that, Whitman blasts Steve Poizner, again…

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So you want to win a California GOP Primary?

June is almost here and I get asked a lot about what it takes to win a GOP Primary. I tell people it takes two things. 1. A Conservative Message 2. Enough money to get it out. You don’t need the most money, but a basic minimum level to be competitive

So what should the message be? Some will tell you that this cycle it is jobs, health care, the economy, anti-establishment, being the most conservative etc…

Here is a secret on communicating all that to GOP voters whether you are running for Governor or Assembly. Ready.

Attack the Governor.

That’s right not President Obama, but Arnold.

The last few months I have opened many presentations to GOP oriented groups (not just the hard core one) with something this like. “Governor Schwarzenegger is a failure.”

Guaranteed applause every time.

Of course it is a fact. His poll ratings are in the 20’s. He broke promise after promise and worse kept a couple. Arnold raised taxes, cost jobs with AB 32, grew government, signed nanny state legislation, and opposed Prop. 8, appointed bad judges,… Read More

Someday, people will eventually figure out that all that campaign contribution limits do is make it harder for the public to figure out the flow of money to candidates and causes.

There is no better example than the list published on the Fair Political Practices Commission website today that lists, The Top Ten Beneficiaries of Independent Expenditures In Legislative Elections. Massive amounts of money are moving around from interests that would probably have just donated straight to the candidates, were in not for our lame system of free-speech restrictions.

There are two main losers of campaign contribution limits. The first is the public who now has to try and figure out the contorted money trail as the "flow of free speech" will find its way… The other are well meaning candidates who maybe have family and friends who would donate larger chunks of money to their campaigns, but because of the limits, they don’t. These candidates either don’t run, or are at a decided disadvantage to those candidates who know, or have friends who know how to work the… Read More