The Republican Liberty Caucus of San Diego (RLCSD), a local chapter of The Republican Liberty Caucus, endorsed Leo Hamel’s bid for California Assembly in the 71st District. The Republican Liberty Caucus is a 527 voluntary grassroots membership organization, dedicated to working within the Republican Party, to advance the principles of individual rights, limited government and free markets. Hamel, a successful …
Graham out too: His full statement
The full statement from Phil Graham… Friends, I declared my intent to run for California Assembly last summer because I got tired of California entrepreneurs looking to Texas or Nevada as friendlier places to do business. I’d seen one too many comparisons of California’s once-great education system to that of Mississippi. The California Dream had become something to reminisce about, rather …
It’s Official: Leo Hamel Announces Candidacy for State Assembly
Well-Known Jewelry Store Owner Makes Announcement on the DeMaio Report Leo Hamel appeared on the DeMaio Report today to make the surprise announcement that he’s running for the California State Assembly. Hamel will run for the District 71 seat currently held by Assemblymember Brian Jones (R) which includes east county San Diego. Hamel is well-known in San Diego for his …
Rocky Chávez Running for Re-election Unopposed Now
Phil Graham is the latest domino to fall. From Joshua Stewart at the Union Tribune: “While my motivation for running for Assembly has not changed, nor my vision for a better California dimmed, 2016 is not my time,” Graham said in Thursday’s statement. “Being part of a divisive and expensive intra-party fight that takes valuable resources away from electing Republicans …
Leo Hamel For California Assembly
We might be saying Assemblyman Leo Hamel next year — that could be a very good thing for the Republicans in San Diego. I met Leo Hamel in 2012 at a Lincoln-Reagan dinner. I knew his name because of his high-profile jewelry business but I had never met the man. During our conversation, I realized that Leo was a libertarian. …
Why Immigration Is THE Issue
I was challenged on Twitter two days ago by Benjamin Katz as to why immigration is my number one issue. So I thought that a little recap is in order. 1. It’s about fairness and the rule of law. The culture of this country is sliding towards conditions that foster dictatorship. Specifically, how one is treated before the law depends …
Leo Hamel eyeing State Assembly seat
Updated 3/9/16 with a quote from Leo Hamel Yesterday Michael Harrison announced he was ending his bid for the 71st Assembly District seat, potentially leaving Santee Mayor Randy Voepel as the clear front runner in the contest to succeed a term-limited Brian Jones. But, today jeweler Leo Hamel — also a Republican — pulled nomination papers at the Registrar of …
Carl’s Jr, an iconic CA corporation, is moving its HQ to Tennessee
Carl’s Jr. IS a California company. Always has been. But now it’s a nationwide business, and there’s millions and millions of reasons for the company to move its HQ out of the uber-anti-business Golden State. Tennessee won the HQ sweepstakes — and Carl’s Jr. is only their latest business acquisition. The HQ’s employ only about 150 people. But many if …
The feminism of glaciers
Glaciers are key icons of climate change and global environmental change. However, the relationships among gender, science, and glaciers – particularly related to epistemological questions about the production of glaciological knowledge – remain understudied. This paper thus proposes a feminist glaciology framework with four key components: 1) knowledge producers; (2) gendered science and knowledge; (3) systems of scientific domination; and …
The Tea Party Movement — R.I.P.
The Tea Party movement was a remarkable happening. It was started in February 2009 with a rant by a Chicago bond trader. But what remains of this movement today largely backs the OPPOSITE of the reforms that drove the 2009 Tea Party phenomenon. Today’s Tea Party (what’s left of it) has little interest in the Constitution, or the safeguards incorporated …
Thank You For Everything
Someone recently told me that sometimes the right decision can be the hardest. Two years ago I announced my intention to run for the California State Assembly in District 71 here in East County and, since that time, I have worked to earn the support of those who live in our communities. I have made many new friends and have …
The hidden costs driving California gas prices up
This op-ed originally appeared in The Orange County Register and can be viewed here. Gasoline prices around the country have dropped dramatically so far this year, as the price of oil has slumped. Gas prices in California, however, remain much higher than the national average. At the February meeting of the State Board of Equalization, I voted with the majority to …
Lori Saldaña Wants To Debate Mayor Faulconer
San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer looks to be re-elected to a four-year term, this June, with no endorsed opposition from the Democratic Party. Former (acting) Mayor Todd Gloria opted to run for State Assembly, in a District which wouldn’t elect a resurrected Reagan, and Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins found it easier to intimidate fellow Democrat Marty Block, from running for …
Lightner’s husband said to “appropriate” Ellis website
From the Ray Ellis campaign…
Why Conservatives Have Nothing to Fear from a Trump Presidency
Guest Column by John H. Horst Republican Candidate, California’s 52nd Congressional District Donald Trump is a lot of things. But one thing he isn’t – and I imagine he would agree – is a student of political philosophy. He has been too busy making deals and building businesses to gaze at his political navel and wonder whether he is a …
GOP in Crisis
Frank Chodorov, William F. Buckley’s mentor, writes in The Rise and Fall of Society that what marks the difference between conservatism in the twentieth century and that which engaged the best minds of the eighteenth and nineteenth is, “…there is no faultfinding with the institution itself. The State is alright, by common agreement, and it would work perfectly if the …
TRUMP: Mi Ricardo Grande
Lincoln. Coolidge. Eisenhower Reagan. Trump.
#NeverTrump Has Never Been About Trump Supporters And Always Been About Trump
I’ve made this statement a few times before; #NeverTrump has nothing to do with the frustrated Republicans who support or lean towards Donald Trump but has everything to do with the poor character of the candidate. Moreover, supporting Trump is a losing proposition against Clinton; he is the only Republican candidate remaining whose polling signals a loss to her in …
Dennis Miller on Mitt Romney
This. “I believe the only thing Romney can do to hurt Trump is to endorse him. Sorry, Mitt. Didn’t want to, had to. Let the people speak.”
Not Today. Not in November. #NeverTrump
The established Republicans are pushing back on a Trump nomination. Note that I haven’t said “Republican Establishment” because it would be destroyed if it took sides. That’s fine. If “The Establishment” won’t provide leadership (and it can’t), movement conservatives and established Republicans can (and are). As many as one out of five Republican voters have said they will not support …


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