• Pinboard Links

    Flap’s Links and Comments for March 8th from 10:21 to 10:46

    These are my links for March 8th from 10:21 to 10:46:

    • Is Chuck DeVore Making A Comeback in OC 3rd Supervisoral District? – The FlashReport.org today released an intriguing poll of the 3rd Supervisor District that revealed some surprising results.

      There are, as yet, no definitively declared candidates. The closest is former 3rd District Supervisor Todd Spitzer. Couple of weeks ago, I saw an e-mail from a wealthy donor soliciting support for Spitzer and stating he would be announcing about now, but no word as yet.

      Former Assemblyman and U.S. Senate candidate Chuck DeVore is actively looking at the race, as well.

      But let’s get to the poll, conducted for FR by SmithJohnson Research. The survey was conducted March 1-2 of 300 registered voters in the 3rd District. The margin of error is 5.6%.

      The poll tests a five-candidate field of Spitzer, DeVore, Orange Mayor Carolyn Cavecche, Irvine Mayor Sukhee Kang and Anaheim Councilman Harry Sidhu but the most interesting stuff comes from the one-on-one poll testing of a Spitzer-DeVore contest.

      +++++++

      This will be a race to watch.

    • Sen. John McCain back fundraising in California this week – Former 2008 presidential candidate John McCain, a strong supporter of gubernatorial hopeful Meg Whitman, is back fundraising in the Bay Area this month — this time at a pricey benefit to fund campaigns to win a 2012 Republican majority in the U.S. Senate.

      The Arizona U.S. Senator stars at a what's being touted as "an intimate roundtable breakfast" on March 22 for the National Republican Senatorial Committee in the venture capital enclave of Menlo Park.

      The invites specifically say the purpose of the McCain fundraising is "to gain a majority in the Senate in 2012!"

      McCain's CA visit comes the weekend after the state GOP's big convention in Sacramento, where Mississipi Gov. Haley Barbour will deliver the Saturday night keynote address; but so far, McCain has no announced plans to visit the 3-day statewdie party gathering starting March 18.

      +++++++

      The California ATM foe the GOP has already started a new cycle

    • California Tax and Budget Debate – Fact, Fancy and Fudges – As the rhetoric heats up, it may be useful to explore some of the main talking points.

      Anti-tax groups contend that voting to place taxes before voters would violate GOP legislators' no-new-taxes pledges. There is, however, an obvious difference between enacting taxes directly and placing them on the ballot. And since anti-tax groups routinely insist that taxes should require voter approval, chalk up one for hypocrisy.

      Likewise, the anti-tax groups also insist that voters have already spoken when they rejected a 2009 budget package that would have kept the temporary taxes in place for a longer period.

      Wrong. The length of the income, sales and car tax increases was not directly before voters in 2009; the election hinged largely on other issues.

      Brown and supporters of the taxes stress that they are temporary – an additional five years – and that the proceeds would go to local governments and schools.

      In fact, however, they would go to local agencies only because those agencies would be taking on functions that are being shifted from the state, so the net effect of the added revenues would be to take pressure off the state budget.

      The argument that the taxes would be temporary is also suspect, since under Brown's plan the state would be constitutionally obligated to pay for the programmatic shifts to local governments even after the tax extensions expired.

      A permanent obligation financed by a temporary revenue stream is folly; it's a better than 50-50 bet that were Brown's plan adopted, five years later he or his successor would be seeking to extend the taxes again or make them permanent.

      Brown also contends that the tax extensions would fill only half the budget hole, with sharp spending cuts, especially in health and welfare, filling the rest.

      But many of the cuts are actually funding shifts; Democrats are scaling back the real cuts and many of them would either require federal waivers, be subject to litigation, or both.

      +++++++++

      The GOP doesn't want to raise taxes and wants cuts in California's State Budget.

      Jerry Brown and the Democrats don't want to cut spending and wish to shift responsibilities and funding tothe cities and counties who have no easy way to pay for them.

      Looks like a stalemate to me.

  • Day By Day,  Ed Rollins,  John McCain,  Sarah Palin

    Day By Day December 2, 2010 – Cut Out the Middleman

    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    Sarah Palin and American voters care wit not what Ed Rollins, now a CNN media pundit has to say. Rollins who ran Ronald Reagan’s re-election campaign in 1984 and who lately ran Mike Huckabee’s 2008 failed Presidential campaign is flailing about as usual. He really does not have to remind us about Reagan’s past and his legacy.

    Sarah Palin is NOT Ronald Reagan.

    Does Sarah Palin hold the same or very similar views on the role of government?

    You betcha.

    I remind Ed Rollins and other “establishment” Republican types is that the 2012 Presidential nomination will be decided the old fashion way – by voting in elections. Everything else by the pundits, like Rollins, is nothing but HOT AIR.

    Here is John McCain on Sarah Palin and Reagan:

    Previous:

    The Day By Day Archive

  • Dream Act,  Illegal Immigration,  John McCain

    AZ-Sen: Think John McCain is Against Illegal Immigration Amnesty?

    Undocumented(illegal alien)students speak to Arizona Senator John McCain

    If anyone thinks now that John McCain has beat back a challenge by a Republican challenger in an Arizona GOP Primary election is not for illegal immigrant amnesty, I think they have another thing coming.

    Watch the video above and see the REAL John McCain.

    Think McCain will vote to filibuster the Dream Act when Harry Reid brings it to the Senate next week?

    Nope.

    I think the next group of GOP Senators that will be targeted by Tea Party activists for GOP Primary defeats will be those who support the Dream Act.

  • Joe Arpaio,  John McCain

    AZ-Sen: Sheriff Joe Arpaio Calls John McCain a LIB

    Maricopa County, Arizona, Sherif Joe Arpaio is urging Arizona voters to throw Senator John McCain out of office in favor of GOP challenger, former Congressman J.D. Hayworth.

    And, calls McCain the L-word: LIBERAL.

    Maricopa Co. Sheriff Joe Arpaio is urging GOPers to shelve Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in favor of ex-Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R), a challenger attacking from the right, in a new letter sent to primary voters.

    “Senator McCain has served this country admirably but it’s time to replace his moderate or even liberal positions on taxes, the border, social causes and big bank bailouts with a consistent conservative like J.D.,” Arpaio writes in the letter. “”I just wish Senator McCain had run as hard against Barack Obama as he is against a conservative like J.D. That could have prevented the harmful, liberal agenda we are all now suffering through.”

    “Indeed, Senator McCain is already attacking J.D. by name in advertisements because [McCain] knows [Hayworth] is the type of exciting, principled conservative that excites people like you and me,” Arpaio adds. “And he knows that after years of running over Republican principles his entire career no election year conversion to our way of thinking will save his campaign from voters that want conservatives to be a part of the solution rather than part of the problem.”

    This endorsement won’t make any difference this time around since McCain, unless he has health problems, should sail to easy re-election. Sarah Palin will give McCain cover from the right. But, in six years…..

    Good ol’ Sheriff Joe never minces words, now does he?


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  • John McCain,  Sarah Palin

    Sarah Palin Supports John McCain “100 Percent” Despite Blacked Out Sunvisor

    Photo Courtesy of TMZ

    This whole flap is pretty silly really but former Governor Palin issued a response to the story on TMZ.

    Declaring that she “was honored and proud to run with him,” former Alaska governor Sarah Palin pushed back hard Wednesday against a report that she had disrespected Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) by blacking out his name on a sun visor she wore on vacation.

    The website TMZ accused Palin of “a frontal attack on Sen. John McCain” during a Hawaii vacation this week: “Sarah chose to wear a visor from her campaign — a visor that was emblazoned with the former presidential candidate’s name … that is, until Palin redacted McCain’s name with a black marker.”

    But Palin said in a statement to POLITICO that she was just trying to “be incognito” — to go unrecognized and shield her children and husband, Todd, from paparazzi.

    The hotel where she was staying had to chase away five photographers, a friend said.

    Palin said in the statement to POLITICO: “I am so sorry if people took this silly incident the wrong way. I adore John McCain, support him 100 percent and will do everything I can to support his reelection. As everyone knows, I was honored and proud to run with him. And Todd and I were with him in D.C. just a week ago. So much for trying to be incognito.”

    Well, the press is always trying to make a story and these stories sell. But, it is noteworthy tht Sarah Palin pushed back so hard and so quickly.


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  • Carly Fiorina,  John Kyl,  John McCain,  Tom Coburn

    Carly Fiorina Endorsed by Eight GOP Senators in California U.S. Senate Race Against Barbara Boxer

    Carly Fiorina last night in San Diego last night speaking as part of her California U.S. Senate announcement tour

    The endorsements are not really a surprise since I had this fundraising invitation last week. But, it does make the support offiicial.

    carlyfiorinainvitenov17 Carly Fiorina Begins Fundraising for 2010 U.S. Senate Race

    From the press release:

    Support for United States Senate Candidate Carly Fiorina grew today as she earned the endorsements of eight Republican United States Senators including Tom Coburn, Susan Collins, Lindsey Graham, Jon Kyl, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski and Olympia Snowe.

    “I am humbled to have earned the endorsement of each one of these distinguished Republican Senators. They are all dedicated public servants and it is a true honor to have their support. I look forward to working with each of these Senators to get our economy moving again and to restore fiscal accountability to Washington,” said Fiorina. “California is not getting the kind of representation it deserves in the United States Senate. In nearly 18 years, Barbara Boxer has only managed to get a handful of inconsequential bills signed into law and I don’t believe that is good enough for California. It’s time for a change.”

    What is most interesting to me is that Fiorina is being supported by a broad base within the Republican Party. There are liberal Republican, moderate Republican and conservative Republican Senators from the East Coast to the Far West who are endorsing Carly and most importantly will help her raise money for her campaign.

    Each Senator issued the following:

    • “One of Carly’s greatest strengths is that she has never served in elected office.  Her frame of reference was shaped by the real world, not politics.  Our nation is facing serious economic challenges because we keep rehiring the same failed career politicians who have proven themselves incapable of making hard choices.  Carly’s common sense and fiscal conservatism will be a welcome addition to the United State Senate.  I am glad to offer her my endorsement,” said Senator Tom Coburn, M.D.
    • “As a business leader and innovator, Carly Fiorina will bring great perspective to the United States Senate and she has my full support. She understands that Americans are concerned with the state of the economy and our expanding federal deficit and has the knowledge to help address those issues in a real way,” said Senator Susan Collins.
    • “Carly’s experience as a business leader has given her the knowledge and tools to help craft policy that will get our economy moving again. There is too much waste in Washington and we need leaders like Carly who can apply what they have learned in the business world to government. She is the best choice for Californians,” said Senator Lindsey Graham.
    • “During these tough economic times it is critical that we have leaders who can bring a dedication to fiscal discipline to Washington, and Carly is exactly that kind of leader. I am proud to endorse Carly Fiorina for Senate,” said Senator Jon Kyl.
    • “Carly Fiorina is a visionary Republican leader and I am proud to endorse her to represent the people of California as their next United States Senator. Carly is an outstanding business leader and I benefited from her no-nonsense way of getting things done when she served on my campaign last year. Carly dedicated her time, energy and intelligence to our cause working with Republicans at every level across the country,” said Senator John McCain.
    • “I believe that Carly has what it takes to serve as a U.S. Senator. She will serve the people of California and this nation with integrity, honesty and will fight each and every day to ensure that California is getting the kind of representation it deserves. I am proud to endorse Carly Fiorina,” said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.
    • “Carly is a strong Republican candidate who will put ego aside, reach across the aisle and develop real solutions to the problems we are facing. Her style of innovative leadership and ability to bring people together is desperately needed in Washington. I hope the people of California send Carly to the U.S. Senate next November,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski.
    • “Carly will help us create policies that will put Californians and all Americans back to work. Washington needs business leaders with experience who can help us restore fiscal accountability and get our financial house back in order. I am pleased to endorse Carly and look forward to working to help send her to Washington, DC,” said Senator Olympia Snowe.

    And, three of the four Republican women Senators have quickly endorsed Fiorina. 

    The fundraising potenital of all of these Senators will translate into millions of dollars for campaign ads to use in the GOP contested primary election against Chuck DeVore and later in the general election.


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  • Afghanistan,  Barack Obama,  John McCain

    Day By Day by Chris Muir October 7, 2009 – Coin of the Realm

    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    Time is running out for President Obama on an Afghanistan troop deployment decision. The United States military wants MORE troops and Obama’s GOP opponent John McCain says a SURGE is needed. But, the fanatical Democrat Congressional LEFT who Obama needs for Obamacare and his domestic agenda are anti-war.

    Will Obama split the baby ala King Solomon or is it an all or nothing decision?

    Even though Obama entertained GOP leaders for a briefing and chat yesterday at the White House, the decision is his. There is NO political cover.

    A decision is necessary and NOW not later. Obama has to make up his mind.

    Previous:
    The Day By Day Archive


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  • Afghanistan,  Barack Obama,  John McCain

    Senator John McCain’s Advice to President Obama on Afghanistan War: SURGE

    Senator John McCain on The Today Show this morning

    Linkage of Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan and more troops are among the recommendations to the President.

    Sen. John McCain says Obama administration policy decisions in Afghanistan shouldn’t be based on viewing the insurgent Taliban and the al-Qaida terrorist network as separate and distinct issues.

    Interviewed Tuesday morning on NBC’s “Today” program, the Arizona Republican said, “You can’t separate the two. … If the Taliban returns, they will work with al-Qaida. It’s just a historical fact.”

    McCain is among a host of key congressional leaders slated to meet later Tuesday at the White House with President Barack Obama. The administration is debating what changes may be necessary in Afghan war-fighting policy amid increasing violence and a call by the U.S. commanding general for thousands of additional fighting forces.

    McCain’s recommendations will carry weight and an Obama divergence will heighten the partisan divide on war and peace.


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