[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

For years I suggested to then Speaker Willie Brown that I be allowed to do the hiring for the Republican Caucus to avoid the waste of scarce tax dollars. Brown declined my offer, mumbling something about putting the fox in charge of the henhouse.

But could I have done worse by the GOP than they have done to themselves?

First there was the “illegal alien” scandal, where not just one, but two non-citizens were put on the California Republican Party payroll. Both wound up facing immigration hassles.

Then there was the inability of our state's Republican Party to pay off a $3m loan to a major donor and a party teetering on financial insolvency. He publicly castigated the Republican regime for various failures and demanded action to his satisfaction by Party bosses.

by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

(Brian touched on the quirks of the primary process here; I ran the numbers.)

We hear a lot about the back and forth of the Democratic primary in California.  We hear about various campaign rallies, some of it useful and interesting.  Heck, I've written about them myself.  What I see less about is the actual nuts and bolts of the California election, and what its quirks will mean for the delegate counts for Obama or Clinton.  The AP came close the other day.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Randy Bayne
THE BAYNE OF BLOG'S CALIFORNIA NOTES

State Senator Abel Maldonado understands his roots. He has a grasp on who put him in office and who can take him out. He may not curry favor with the party bosses, but he will with his bosses. His is the lone Republican vote in the Senate for passage of the state budget. It has not curried favor with the party bosses, but will with his bosses.

Having lived in San Luis Obispo County several years ago and being active in local politics, I think I can say from experience that legislators who represent this area have more to fear from their constituents than they do from their party. The people of the central coast, whether they be Republicans or Democrats are very independent, and they respect the independence their representatives show. Maldonado is their kind of politician.

Fiercely independent, Maldonado's future is secure, as far as voters in his district are concerned. That is what has allowed him to do the right thing and vote for a budget that everyone can find something wrong with. His party bosses may punish him, but Maldonado is confident in being rewarded by voters.