For those unfamiliar with the California Republican Assembly endorsement process, it is bottom up. This means that local units endorse locally not the state. Any unit that has ANY part of the district in their boundaries can participate. Gerrymandered districts make this interesting. As a past president I know this makes things interesting. Sometimes the locals defy prevailing wisdom. I have seen a great conservative do something to enrage local delegates and lose the endorsement and I have seen local units find a gem that no one in Sacramento is talking about. And as always it takes a 2/3rds vote of the delegates to be endorsed. CRA held their Los Angeles endorsing convention Saturday in Pasadena. CRA President Celeste Greig presided. Below is the list of endorsements. There were some good presentations. Star Parker running against Laura Richardson for Congress is always awesome to hear. She was of course endorsed. The one surprising race was the 59th AD. The San Bernardino County part of the district was invited. And the Hesperia unit I’m told decided not to send delegates. Anthony Riley, Ken Hunter and Corey Calaycay didn’t show. I… Read More

There are two items of California interest in today’s Wall Street Journal Political Diary E-mail. A "Quote Of The Day" item, and John Fund writes on the broohaha on the CalChamber’s television advertisement taking on Jerry Brown, which they have now taken off the air… … Read More

Here is yet one more major California newspaper reporting “prisoner release is backfiring.”

Is anyone surprised at the grand failure and dangerous consequences of the slap-dashed legislation known as Senate Bill 18xxx that allows the early release of prisoners?

Even though the author ofSB 18xxx said the intent of the bill wasn’t to allow early release of county jail inmates, the San Bernardino Sun quotes the county assistant DA saying: “It’s clear from the legislation that it applied to counties. It can’t be any clearer.”

The San Bernardino Sun Editorial Board calls for expedient legislative action to correct the bill. Luckily, such legislation is scheduled for hearing in the Senate Public Safety Committee this week.

Let’s hope this historically liberal committee finds the courage to usher in the first steps ofrighting a wrong.… Read More

Assembly Republican Leader Martin Garrick’s radio address this week focuses on Tax Freedom Day. Listen below…… Read More

Over the weekend, was saw and read the tragic news of the airplane crash that took the lives of many of Poland’s political leaders, including that country’s President and First Lady. I received this statement from FR friends Michael Reagan and Larry Greenfield, who traveled recently to Poland and who called President and Mrs. Kozcynski friends (in the photo below are Reagan, Greenfield and Poland’s First Lady, taken last year) … This is as good an occasion as any, I suppose, for me to extend congratulations to Greenfield for his new position as a Senior Policy Advisor to the Meg Whitman for Governor campaign. She will be well served.

Michael Reagan, President of the Reagan Legacy Foundation, and Larry Greenfield, Executive Director, were friends of the Polish President and first lady, Lech and Maria Kozcynski. They have issued a statement on the Foundation’s website… Read More

This just in from FR friend and conservative media strategist Jennifer Kerns…

The Color Purple… or Black ‘n Blue? Jennifer Kerns I recently wrote a piece over at the Fox & Hounds website entitled “The Color Purple,” about the SEIU’s absolute enslavement of California when it comes to pensions, taxes, and the state budget crisis.… Read More

A little over a week ago Sue Lowden, the leading GOP candidate to challenge Senate President Harry Reid next door in Nevada, was in Orange County. I had a chance to chat for a brief period with this conservative, former Nevada State GOP Chairman about her run for the U.S. Senate… A new survey out today shows Lowden not only easily winning the GOP primary, but also with a healthy lead over Reid…

… Read More

I have spent four years on the Woodland City Council and three on the Yolo County Board of Supervisors. This time of year I always get to be the lone "No" vote on taking positions on several ballot propositions.

On Tuesday one of my colleagues has put a resolution to oppose Prop 16 on our agenda. I oppose Prop 16 too. I also hate PG&E. I just don’t think local governments should be endorsing political candidates or measures.

Some of you will clearly be saying to yourself that "But this impacts local government. Cities and counties need to take a position." Nope.

I would argue that Jerry Brown is bad for local government. So why don’t we just have cities and counties all over the state endorse for Governor too? We can just take a position that we want "Anyone but Jerry Brown". That is good for local government yet almost everyone would say that is inappropriate.

It is wrong for local governments to get involved in the political process. I personally don’t see the distinction between ballot measures and candidates. Thus, I will be voting no regarding Yolo… Read More