Keith Carlson

Prop 8 Upheld by the CA Supremes

By Keith Carlson | 05/26/09

I just saw that the California Supreme Court has voted to uphold Prop 8.  It has also said that the 18,000 marriages performed before the vote will stand. read more »

New Smash Hit: More Tax Trickery and Increases Coming Soon!

By Keith Carlson | 05/22/09

The same rockin' group of geniuses that brought you such smash hits as "Props 1A-F" and "Tax Increase California:  Greatest Hits" are about to release a new single.  This one is the "Closed General Election" Initiative.  As part of their studio deal, they put out a full album in February (the "balanced" budget and the largest tax increase in history.)  It went... read more »

A Case Against Prop 1F, and Other Feel-Good, Meaningless, Drivel Props To Come

By Keith Carlson | 05/20/09

Prop 1F passed yesterday.  Yippee.  Nothing will change because of it.  Sure, the politicians who needed campaign mailers for their upcoming ventures will use it as "reform" they brought about, but who thinks it will "teach those Sacramento politicians a lesson"?  Here's the lesson--if any--they'll learn:  "increase revenue" so we don't miss out on our precious per... read more »

Negotiating For Cuts

By Keith Carlson | 05/08/09

As you know, the Assembly Republicans just switched leaders from Mike Villines to Sam Blakeslee.  The hand over does not occur, however, until June 1--which is after the Special Election.  This is significant as Villines is an open proponent of the Proposition Band Aids, the connected tax increase, and the February Budget deal in general.  His caucus, however, is not.  Nor are most Republican activists, or--if the polls are... read more »

Hugh Hewitt On Fire: 1A, Arnold, Abel, and Arlen, Oh My...

By Keith Carlson | 04/29/09

OC blogger extraordinaire, Hugh Hewitt, is on fire in this recent post.  It is not just a review of the latest (collapsing) poll numbers for the Special Election (all losing except the virtually meaningless, "feel good", Prop 1F).  It is also a statement about the state of affairs in California, and the impact the May 19th election could have on the entire nation.  This is a stinging indictment from one of the most... read more »

When the Going Gets Tough

By Keith Carlson | 04/28/09

Sen. Arlen Specter simply quits.  He says the party left him, not vice versa.  Blah, blah, blah.  The Republican Party has not changed its core principles since Ronald Reagan was President.  In fact, the core itself traces all the way back to Lincoln--unchanged:  The Constitution, promoting limited government, exists to protect the fundamental truth in the Declaration of Independence:  All Men Are Created... read more »

FatCratz--Documenting Government Waste

By Keith Carlson | 04/21/09

A good friend of mine, and a fellow Claremont Institute Lincoln Fellow of 2007, has just launched a new website Red County readers will enjoy:  www.FatCratz.com It provides some disturbing insights, with a humorous approach, into waste by the federal government.  The site operators also accept tips on state and local government waste, so feel free to send them your stories.  One of the early offerings includes the... read more »

CRP ExCom Votes Against The "Politicians' Bailout" Props to Increase Taxes

By Keith Carlson | 04/20/09

The California Republican Party's Executive Committee met in Sacramento on Saturday.  The CRP's Initiatives Committee met telephonically the day prior. The Initiatives Committee recommended two things:  Support Sen. Runner's upcoming initiative on securing the ballot box against voter fraud and Oppose Props 1A through 1F as a package. The Executive Committee, on behalf of the entire CRP, overwhelmingly approved the... read more »

Another Failed Government Experiment

By Keith Carlson | 04/15/09

As the Tea parties flourish, people everywhere are giving voice to the frustration with the government machine.  California is center stage for a machine that taxes and spends out of control.  I'm convinced a number of institutional rules allow it to do so.  One that has frustrated me the most (even more than the horrible gerrymandering) is so-called campaign-finance "reform".  These "reforms"... read more »

CRP's Executive Committe Meeting Has Been Called

By Keith Carlson | 03/25/09

Chairman Ron Nehring just called the meeting for the party's Executive Committee.  It is the committee tasked with deciding the party's official positions on the measures--including Prop 1A--for the upcoming election.  This has the the source of a lot of discussion since the CRP's Board of Directors meeting last week.  John and Ken, for example, have talked about scheduling this ExCom meeting every day since last week.  The Board of... read more »