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Singer Linda Ronstadt is back in Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown’s life — joining with actor Sean Penn as a special guest for a $1,000-a-head fundraiser planned for Tuesday at Tosca Cafe in San Francisco to benefit Jerry’s run for state attorney general.

The event is being co-chaired by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, Tosca’s Jeannette Etheredge and Brown’s new bride and campaign manager, Anne Gust Brown.

As for Jerry’s old flame turning out to help headline the event — the only question seems to be, why not?

We’re told Ronstadt has been dividing her time between homes in Arizona and San Francisco, and may contemplating a permanent move here.

No word yet on how many guests have RSVP’d for the cocktail gathering, but Gust Brown assures us, “It’s a hot ticket.”

Flap thought Jerry was recently married……….wonder what his wife thinks?

Ahhhhh those liberals and their “open” marriages.

The People for the American Way have responded to President Bush’s nomination today of Judge Samuel Alito to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor to the United States Supreme Court, Bush Puts Demands of Far-Right Above Interests of Americans with High Court Nomination of Right-Wing Activist Alito.

PFAW will wage massive national effort to defeat nominee who would dramatically shift balance of Court

President Bush put the demands of his far-right political base above Americans’ constitutional rights and legal protections by nominating federal appeals court Judge Samuel Alito to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, said People For the American Way President Ralph G. Neas. “Right-wing leaders vetoed Miers because she failed their ideological litmus test. With Judge Alito, President Bush has obediently picked a nominee who passes that test with flying colors.”

“We had hoped President Bush would nominate someone with a commitment to protecting Americans’ rights and freedoms,” said Neas. “That’s what the American people want, and it’s what they deserve. Unfortunately, with Judge Alito, that’s not what President Bush has given us. He has chosen to divide Americans with a nominee guaranteed to cause a bitter fight.”

Neas said that People For the American Way will mobilize its 750,000 members and activists to wage a massive national effort to defeat Alito’s nomination and will work closely with its coalition partners to educate Americans about the threats posed by this nomination.

Bring it On!

California first lady Maria Shriver hands out emergency backpacks to students at a south Los Angeles elementary school to kick-off Team SAFE-T, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2006.

The Los Angeles Times has First Lady Appears to Be Sitting Out This Election.

On a recent morning, Maria Shriver had a roomful of admiring listeners hanging on her every word. Unfortunately for her husband, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, none of them was old enough to vote.

Shriver was addressing a fourth-grade class at Charles W. Barrett Elementary School in South Los Angeles as part of a campaign to improve disaster preparedness among children. On another campaign important to the Shriver-Schwarzenegger household — the battle over state ballot initiatives backed by the governor — California’s first lady has remained virtually silent.

Here we go!

One week before the California Special Election and the hatchets come out for Governor Schwarzenegger’s wife.

Paul Pringle the reporter is a committed leftie with a left wing agenda. And he is happy to oblige the Moonbat editors of the Los Angeles Times

Ask Flap how he knows?

Aides to the couple say that isn’t expected to change before the Nov. 8 special election. They and others don’t blame Shriver for her silence, even if it has deprived Schwarzenegger of one of his most articulate and charismatic advocates.

After all, Shriver would be breaking family ranks no matter where she came down on the measures, Democratic and Republican activists say. As a Democrat and a Kennedy, they say, she would have to all but shape-shift to endorse proposals despised by the party that counts three of her uncles as icons.

And if she were to publicly criticize the initiatives, things presumably would get chilly on the home front.

And who from the Los Angeles Times ever asked Sharon Davis about why her husband bankrupted the state while he was California Governor?

This is disgraceful BIASED journalism from the Los Angeles Times.

Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Recovery Team, California Special Election, Bear Flag League, Proposition 74, Proposition 75, Proposition 76, Proposition 77, MariaShriver

Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page

President Bush watches Judge Samuel A. Alito of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Philadelphia speak after he announced him as his new nominee for the Supreme Court, Monday, Oct. 31, 2005, in the Cross Hall in the White House.

They Said It!: Sens. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), And Former Sen. Bill Bradley (D-NJ) On Samuel Alito.

SEN. TED KENNEDY (D-MA): “You Have Obviously Had A Very Distinguished Record, And I Certainly Commend You For Long Service In The Public Interest. I Think It Is A Very Commendable Career And I Am Sure You Will Have A Successful One As A Judge.” (Sen. Ted Kennedy, Committee On The Judiciary, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 4/5/90)

SEN. FRANK LAUTENBERG (D-NJ): “I Believe Mr. Alito Has The Experience And The Skills To Be The Kind Of Judge The Public Deserves – One Who Is Impartial, Thoughtful, And Fair. I Urge The Senate To Confirm His Nomination.” (Sen. Frank Lautenberg, Congressional Record, 4/27/90, p. S5281)

FORMER SEN. BILL BRADLEY (D-NJ): “[T]he Confirmation Of Sam Alito As U.S. Attorney For New Jersey Is Testimony To The Commitment He Has Shown And The Success Of His Efforts As A Law Enforcement Official. I Am Confident That He Will Continue To Do All He Can To Uphold The Laws Of This Nation With The Kind Of Determination And Vigor That Has Been His Trademark In The Past.” (Sen. Bill Bradley, Congressional Record, 12/8/87, p. S17427)

But Chuckie Schumer is already talking about a filibuster and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid wonders if Alito is too RADICAL for the American people.

Judge Alito has twice been confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate.

Now the Borking will begin from the LEFT.

Real Clear Politics has set up an Alito resource page.

This undated photo provided by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit shows Judge Samuel A. Alito of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Philadelphia. President Bush is nominating Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court, The Associated Press has learned, choosing a long-time federal judge embraced by judicial conservatives to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

The ASSociated Press has Bush Picks Alito for Supreme Court.

President Bush has nominated conservative judge Samuel Alito to replace moderate Justice
Sandra Day O’Connor in a bid to reshape the Supreme Court and mollify his political base.

The Lefties are already talking filibuster.

Stay tuned.

Michelle Malkin has SCOTUS PICK: WHO WILL IT BE?

Fox News reporting tonight that the White House will announce its SCOTUS pick tomorrow.

The Washington Post has Bush May Name New Court Nominee on Monday

Real Clear Politics has a round-up of SCOTUS vacancy news (see right sidebar).

SCOTUS Blog looks at front-runners.

Reuters/WaPo on Alito and Luttig.

The Prowler hears it will be Judge Samuel Alito. So does Erick at Confirm Them.

Todd Zywicki hears Luttig, and and also points to Ideoblog’s analysis of Alito’s business and commercial law jurisprudence.

Patterico takes a closer look at Alito’s dissent in Casey.

Hugh Hewitt supports Luttig and underscores his War on Terror rulings. More background here.

Flap has his choices SCOTUS WATCH: LUTTIG vs. ALITO? and SCOTUS Watch: A NEW Short List.

Reuters has Luttig, Alito contenders as Bush mulls court pick.

President George W. Bush on Saturday was narrowing his choices of Supreme Court nominees to replace Harriet Miers as Republicans said the short list consisted of highly credentialed, solidly conservative judges.

Among the candidates most talked about were appeals court judges Michael Luttig and Samuel Alito. Bush, who is spending the weekend at his Camp David retreat, was expected to unveil his choice within days.

A source close to the selection process who spoke on condition of anonymity said avoiding a battle with Democrats, who have warned Bush about picking a right-wing activist, would not be the president’s top priority.

“What we know from the Miers nomination is that people on all sides of the political spectrum wanted the highest quality, and that’s what the president will deliver,” the source said.

“I think it will be extremely difficult for Senate Democrats to oppose someone who is extraordinarily well qualified and who shares the president’s judicial philosophy,” the source added.

Previously on Flapsblog, SCOTUS Watch: A NEW Short List.

Samuel Alito, a 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge from Philadelphia.

J. Michael Luttig of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, considered one of the most conservative judges on the federal bench.

Luttig, 51, a judge on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, worked as a clerk for Scalia when Scalia was an appeals court judge.

He helped in the effort to get Thomas and Supreme Court Justice David Souter — both nominated to the high court by Bush’s father — confirmed by the Senate. Luttig also has worked in the Justice Department and private practice.

Alito, 55, is sometimes given the nickname “Scalito” – a comparison to Scalia, who shares his Italian heritage as well as his reputation for conservatism and a strong intellect. He is a judge on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia.

Both men are fine judges on the federal court of appeals.

President Bush could not go wrong with either of them.

In addition to Luttig and Alito, Bush is also said to be looking at appeals court judges Michael McConnell, Edith Jones and Alice Batchelder.

Priscilla Owen and Janice Rogers Brown are also possibilities, although the two judges — who were named to the appellate court by Bush — were initially blocked by Senate Democrats before making it through on a compromise deal.

Flap handicaps the following choices in order of probability:

1. Samuel Alito

2. J. Michael Luttig

3. Priscilla Owen

4. Janice Rogers Brown

5. Michael McConnell

6. Edith Jones

All six of these judges would make excellent nominees for the Supreme Court.

Stay Tuned…….

Update #1

Knowing the President likes surprises Flap is mentioning another great judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, Sixth CircuitAlice Moore Batchelder.

Flap still thinks it will be Alito but with President Bush you never know……….

Stay tuned………

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks to the media while touring the Koreatown Galleria in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005. Elected two years ago to shake up a stagnated statehouse, the Republican governor is trying out various campaign messages in the closing days of a political campaign in which he hopes to push through a slate of ballot initiatives that would weaken public employee unions and clamp down on state spending.

The San Francisco Chronicle has Schwarzenegger trolls for votes at San Diego restaurant

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger waded into a lunchtime crowd Sunday to kick off a final full week of campaigning for his four state ballot initiatives, telling customers waiting on shrimp salad and clam chowder that lawmakers have failed them.

Schwarzenegger emerged quietly, without introduction, from the kitchen of Point Loma Seafoods. For 45 minutes, he shook hands, handed out campaign booklets, signed autographs and posed for photos. There were no speeches, no loudspeakers and — unlike many of his appearances — no protests.

“Remember one thing: the Legislature couldn’t do it, so the people have to do it,” he told one customer.

“The people have done a better job than the Legislature,” he told another, his voice barely carrying in the noisy crowd.

With close races for Proposition 74 and 75 the Governor has taken the show on the road. Will it be enough?

Why, of course!

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks to members of the Persian community during a roundtable discussion in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005.

Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Recovery Team, California Special Election, Bear Flag League, Proposition 74, Proposition 75, Proposition 76, Proposition 77

Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page