A new Survey USA poll shows former Mayor Jim Patterson tied for the lead with State Senator Jeff Denham in the race to succeed retiring Congressman George Radanovich. The shocking part of the poll is that former member of Congress Richard Pombo in in 3rd place, well back of the leaders.

Now, while I have not made a personal endorsement in this race (that’s coming), it is interesting to note that Mr. Patterson has literally spent zero money promoting his campaign, while both Denham and Pombo have been hitting the airwaves regularly in their quest to become better know in the Fresno market.

Powerful ag and business interests have lined up behind Pombo, as well as respected Member of Congress Devin Nunes, but the question remains: in 2010, will voters select a 14 year former Member to represent them, in this year of throwing out everyone connected to the failures of the federal government?

This is the central issue to be overcome by Pombo, and while he’ll have enough money to get his message out, serving in Congress from 1992 – 2006 might… Read More

Quote of the Day: “I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.” – Thomas Jefferson

The Vote: As of now, it looks like the final vote on $1 trillion in new taxes, $2 trillion in new spending, socialized medicine, and the confiscation of much of your freedom will be voted on at about 10:00 PM Eastern time tonight. I don’t know what is going to happen. I fear they will win. I pray they will not.

In an astounding show of arrogance, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a posse of her fellow Democrats chose to walk right through the group of people still protesting against the bill and for their civil and constitutional rights. They could have taken the tunnels under the Capitol, they clearly did this on purpose. She did this while holding a giant over-sized Speaker’s gavel in a gesture intended to taunt the assembled multitude. I’m not sure it is possible to overestimate the arrogance of this ruling majority. Their sense of omnipotence and their dismissal of the Constitution, the will of… Read More

Most Americans oppose the Obama/Reid/Polosi rush to massively increase the role of the United States government in health care delivery. For good reason, there is no reason to believe, for even a moment, that shifting a significant percentage of our country’s economy from the private sector to the public sector is anything other than a recipe for disaster.

As of this morning, Speaker Pelosi’s operatives are saying they have the necessary 218 votes in the House to pass the bill. That is unfortunate – but not surprising. Democrats have a substantial majority in the House, and never underestimate the power of a determined President…

The only silver lining in this very, very heavy, black and rainy cloud is that in order to pass this legislation (and substantially advance the cause of progressivism in American), a lot of Democrats will be signing their own death warrents — since so many are in districts with voters who very much oppose this extreme plan.

**There is more – click the link**… Read More

Most Americans oppose the Obama/Reid/Polosi rush to massively increase the role of the United States government in health care delivery. For good reason, there is no reason to believe, for even a moment, that shifting a significant percentage of our country’s economy from the private sector to the public sector is anything other than a recipe for disaster.

As of this morning, Speaker Pelosi’s operatives are saying they have the necessary 218 votes in the House to pass the bill. That is unfortunate – but not surprising. Democrats have a substantial majority in the House, and never underestimate the power of a determined President…

The only silver lining in this very, very heavy, black and rainy cloud is that in order to pass this legislation (and substantially advance the cause of progressivism in American), a lot of Democrats will be signing their own death warrents — since so many are in districts with voters who very much oppose this extreme plan.

… Read More

Although I have in the past complained about the apparent lack of activity in the Assembly District 77 race to replace Joel Anderson, things now seem to be heating up, at least in the endorsement department.

In the last week and a half, Christine Rubin rolled out a handful of "name" endorsements, as well as the support of the Independence Caucus, while El Cajon Councilman Bill Wells nailed down the backing of a retired state senator and the conservative California Republican Assembly. The two each also gained the endorsements of former candidates in the race.

Rubin announced the support of former Secretary of State Bill Jones, State Senator Mark Wyland (her one-time boss), former Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, and former Cajon Valley Schools Trustee Jeff Kover, who earlier had been a candidate for the Assembly seat.

"Christine stands with me," said Jones,"in recognizing that a restoration of California’s greatness is only possible with common sense solutions to the State’s financial crisis. She knows that we… Read More

“So tonight, to you, the great silent majority of Americans, I ask for your support.” – President Richard Nixon, November 3, 1969

However, this time, I think that the majority of Americans who in every poll oppose this health care travesty are not and will not be silent. I thank you for that. And remember, there is strong bipartisan opposition to this bill. The partisan side is the extreme left wing of the Democratic Party who are driving this thing and will not work together with the rest of us who want to go in a direction which will not hasten our economic failure. The word is that Speaker Pelosi still has not persuaded enough Democrats to vote for the bill against their constituents and in many cases against their own beliefs.

Tax Increases: The “final” bill came out yesterday afternoon. Here is a partial list of the tax increases included in this reprehensible and immoral bill:

A new 3.6% tax on all investment income including capital gains. That means that the capital gains tax rate (including California state tax) will rise to 33.9%. The tax on dividend income will rise from 15% today to 53.7% including California tax. … Read More

This is the toughest entry I have had to write on the FlashReport blog since we started it up back in 2005. It is with a heavy heart that I share with you that my good friend, and a fellow FlashReport contributor Barry Nestande passed away earlier this afternoon. Apparently Barry was working out at his local gym and fell unconscious – and never woke back up. There is speculation that Barry suffered from a heart attack.

It is tragic that someone in the prime of their life, at 49 years of age, would be taken from us so abruptly. Barry was someone who had dedicated his life to his family, and to working hard in his chosen career of politics and government – always striving to work to promote candidates and causes that championed Barry’s core beliefs of individual freedom and liberty. For my part, I’ve known and worked closely with Barry for nearly two decades and can tell you that his was tireless in his dedication.

Most recently, Barry was serving as Chief of Staff to his close… Read More

The Secretary of State has announced the results of the random drawing for order in which candidates shall appear on the ballot…

Y, B, N, F, T, S, W, L, P, Z, V, X, Q, A, I, O, J, R, G, D, C, U, M, K, H, E

The way it works is pretty simple. Candidates are in descending order on the ballot by last name. If the first letters match, apply the draw to the second letter, and if necessary the third, and so on.

If candidates are running for an office that encompasses more than one Assembly District, the names will be rotated in each Assembly District.

To apply this draw to the GOP primary in the Assembly seat where the International HQ of the FlashReport is located — AD 70 — it would mean the order is Rich Wagner, then Jerry Amante, followed by Steven Choi. Since it is (by definition) all within one district, the names do not rotate.

All of you Central Committee candidates should check this out – since ballot order for those low-profile races is more significant!… Read More