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GOP gubernatorial hopefuls Steve Poizner and Tom Campbell will field questions from the Twitterverse tonight at what's being billed as the nation's first major political debate to integrate questions from the micro-blogging platform. Four of the 12 questions selected for the 75-minute debate, which is co-moderated by Brandman University professor Mike Moodian and Bee columnist Dan Walters, were chosen from a pool of about 100 questions submitted via Twitter. "We were basically looking for general trends," Moodian said, noting that the topic for the debate is California's ongoing fiscal crisis. "We chose some questions that certainly were unique, but we...

Former Los Angeles Mayor and state Education Secretary Richard Riordan has endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman, adding to her collection of high-profile endorsements such as from former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. In the Whitman news release sent out this morning, Riordan says, "Meg believes the future of our state and the strength of our nation depend on Californians rededicating ourselves to education. Her commitment to returning control of our schools back to parents and teachers and demanding accountability makes Meg the best candidate." Whitman repeated the education theme in her quotes in...

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner said Monday he would restore order to the state's finances by cutting taxes, reducing the state budget by 10 percent over two years and creating a $10 billion rainy-day fund. Poizner's so-called 10-10-10 plan makes the deepest cuts in welfare, Medi-Cal and prison health care while finding the greatest savings – $3.85 billion over two years – by eliminating government waste revealed after a "top-down review" of programs. The plan predicts cutting taxes will immediately generate more revenue by encouraging businesses to invest in the state, Poizner said in a news conference. "My vision for...

Elaine McKearn is the kind of socially conservative Republican who used to dominate California Republican Party conventions such as the one that concluded Sunday. The Thousand Oaks resident opposes abortion rights and gay marriage and sees illegal immigration as one of California's main problems. In 2002, the now-66-year-old was so inspired by GOP gubernatorial hopeful Bill Simon that she jumped aboard as a campaign volunteer. At this convention, however, McKearn said she felt lost. All three of the party's gubernatorial candidates are pro-abortion rights social moderates who make only passing references to immigration, gay marriage, religion and other red-meat conservative...

A May 2009 video of California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman praising Van Jones, which was posted by TWI yesterday, has inspired a parody video from the campaign of California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. It touches all the bases, portraying Whitman as an out-of-touch elitist who hobnobs not just with a man who called Republicans “assholes,” but with Jimmy Carter. Michael Goldfarb has Whitman responding by saying she “did not do a background check of his past over dinner” and “it’s clear that he holds views that I entirely reject.” But that doesn’t even cover her comments in the original video....

Love Boat

Two of the three major California GOP gubernatorial candidates -- Tom Campbell and Meg Whitman -- oppose the proposal by leaders of the state Republican Party to bar independent voters from casting a ballot in the 2010 GOP primary, their campaigns have told the Chronicle today. With the controversial issue heating up -- and about to go before GOP delegates at next month's statewide party convention -- the Chronicle asked the current crop of GOP gubernatorial candidates to weigh in. Two of the candidates have indicated they oppose the idea -- and one won't take a stand. Excerpts from their...

SACRAMENTO — Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner would just as well bury his past support for taxes as he seeks the Republican gubernatorial nomination amid fears that levies could be on the table as the state remains mired in an economic funk. The problem for him is that his previous life as a moderate who considered taxes as a way to improve education is making it hard for conservative talk radio hosts and red-state bloggers — and presumably grass-roots followers — to swallow Poizner's newfound conservative pitch. "I absolutely do not buy his sudden fiscal conservatism," conservative blogger Warner Todd Huston...

Californians are soon to begin the process of deciding what Republican they’ll ask the voters to elect to the governor’s office. Apparently Insurance Commish Steve Poizner is claiming his right to that nomination. But what sort of “Republican” is he? Why don’t we let him tell us? "I am a frustrated moderate Republican, said Poizner.” “I don’t think either party in Sacramento does a very good job of representing people like me.” The Stanford Daily October 28, 2004 Poizner says, “I am not beholden to any party." That sure sounds like the making of the next Ahnold-Republican, doesn’t it? Well,...

As the next Governor of California gears up his – or her - campaign we are witnessing a near complete collapse of state government in the Golden State. It is a situation that the next governor will be faced with immediately, leaving not a second to celebrate victory. There are some obvious solutions to what ails California: lower taxes, an end to the opulent welfare state, cutting off the free ride for illegals, an end to the free ride that unelected, overly powerful state employees unions have been allowed to attain, and the like, but the question is do any...

<p>This is interesting because there are tens of billions of dollars invested in eurotrash companies doing business with the Iranian government. I like this. Obama can sit on his hands while others do what they can.</p> <p>By DON THOMPSON Associated Press Writer Published: Sunday, Jun. 28, 2009 - 11:12 pm SACRAMENTO -- California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner is initiating a review of insurance companies doing business in California to determine their level of Iran-related investments. Poizner, who will officially announce his review on Monday, is acting on two fronts. He wants to ensure compliance with a state law that took effect in January that prohibits California-based companies from investing directly in Iran's government or companies associated with it. He then wants to review investments in certain sectors for all insurance companies operating in California to determine whether they indirectly benefit Iran. The insurers will be required to list any investment in companies that conduct at least $20 million of business in the Iranian petroleum or natural gas sectors. They also will be required to list investments of any amount in companies doing business in the banking, nuclear or defense sectors of Iran. "Our preliminary analysis does indicate there are tens of billions of dollars by companies that do business in California invested indirectly in Iran," Poizner told The Associated Press. "They're investing in companies that it turns out have substantial investments in Iran, in defense sectors and energy sectors. That's what convinced me to take this next step." He will give companies 90 days to report their investments to his office. Depending on the information revealed, Poizner's office might share the reports with the state Legislature or members of Congress. It has not yet informed the insurance industry of the details of the investment review, said Darrel Ng, a spokesman for Poizner's office. Holding investments in private companies that may do business with Iran does not violate California or federal law, and Poizner has no authority to order insurance companies to divest in those companies. Yet he does have broad authority to scrutinize the financial soundness of the investments held by all insurance companies licensed in California. As a consumer-protection measure, Poizner can force California-based insurance companies to divest in any investment he deems unsound. He could, for example, order divestment if he determined that even an indirect investment in an Iranian defense, energy or banking sector was financially risky because of questions about the country's stability. A public hearing is required before such an order could take effect. The state cannot require divestment by companies headquartered outside California. Poizner explained his decision to seek the information partly as a way to determine whether indirect investments in the Iranian economy provide a way for California-based insurance companies to get around the state law that took effect this year. "That might be a major loophole here, where billions might be flowing into Iran," Poizner said. He also said his review could help determine whether insurance companies are helping finance a terrorist threat against the United States or its allies. The U.S. has listed Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism. Insurance companies in general are the world's largest investors, using premiums to invest $3 trillion to $4 trillion, Poizner said. About 250 insurance companies are headquartered in California, while about 1,500 do business in the nation's most populous state. Poizner said he is sending letters to other insurance regulators nationwide asking them to perform similar reviews using their powers to scrutinize insurers' investments.</p>

Times change, and in the case of the 2010 governor's race, so do political endorsements, apparently. Just ask GOP Rep. John Campbell of Newport Beach: he's switched his backing. A few months ago, Campbell issued glowing statement endorsing California GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner -- and this week, the 48th CD representative issued another glowing endorsement statement, this backing former eBay CEO Meg Whitman. Here's Campbell on Poizner last December, talking about his backing of the state Insurance Commissioner in the 2010 governor's race: "Steve is the right man at the right time for California. As our nation grapples with...

This just in from friends on the scene... California Republican Party (CRP) opposes Prop 1A-1F Mike Villines & Tom Campbell had spoken in favor of 1A and Steve Poizner against.

Georges Marciano, a co-founder of the Guess clothing empire, is the latest person seeking to become governor of California. The one-time fashion magnate's paperwork was recorded on Monday with the secretary of state's office, allowing him to run as an independent in 2010, when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is termed out. The 62-year-old Beverly Hills resident plans to campaign on a platform that focuses on exposing and eliminating political corruption and putting "the power of government back in the people's hands," said his publicist, Rod Harrell. "He doesn't really want to be tied into the same old good-old-boys network," Harrell said....

State Senator Abel Maldonado has issued a scathing rebuke to fellow Republican Steve Poizner, charging that the GOP gubernatorial candidate "would let the state fall into ruin just to win a political campaign.'' Maldonado's letter to the State Insurance Commissioner was just released publicly, and it's a tough critique from the Santa Maria lawmaker.Coming a week after Poizner sent a letter to the state Republican Party -- he urged the GOP formally oppose the May 19 special election budget ballot measures -- the State Senator accuses Poizner of grandstanding on the critical issue of budget reform. "Since the budget was...

The Republican Party has vowed a comeback. But when the California GOP meets Friday to reshape its party for 2010, they might just end up jeopardizing the one statewide seat they have a chance at keeping: the governorship. A handful of state party officials are trying to change the rules to help gubernatorial candidate Stephen Poizner, California's insurance commissioner and party insider, beat back a challenge by Meg Whitman, the former eBay CEO and political novice, party sources told FOXNews.com. Chairman Ron Nehring, state chair since 2007, sent a memo to party members Feb. 3 with a list of proposals...

State Insurance Commissioner and Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner called on lawmakers today to put the brakes on a contentious, 18-month budget deal and instead pass an emergency, six-month package to keep California from insolvency. With lawmakers one vote shy of a deal to close a $40 billion hole in the state budget, Poizner said all sides should back away from the plan in order to avoid tax increases he charged would disproportionately affect middle- and low-income Californians. ... "They don't have the guts to raise taxes on rich people because rich people have lobbyists and rich people are mobile...

<p>Former eBay Inc. Chief Executive Meg Whitman on Monday launched an exploratory committee to plot a possible run for California'a governorship in 2010.</p> <p>The 52-year-old Republican would be vying to replace Arnold Schwarzenegger, who must leave office in 2011 because of term limits. Former Gov. Pete Wilson would be her campaign chairman, her advisers said.</p>

OC Republican Party Chairman Scott Baugh invited me to attend a small get-acquainted lunch on November 20 with Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. As readers know, Poizner is already running hard for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2010. This was the first time I had listened at any length to Poizner, and I came away with an overall positive impression. Poizner brings a number of strong qualities to his campaign: he's energetic, articulate, personable and has a sense of humor. And let's face it: his ability to self-fund from his personal fortune is a tremendous asset for a Republican in a...

There are plenty of good reasons why state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner has the next Republican nomination for governor all but locked up. And there are a host of other reasons why the better-known Democrats now thinking of trying for their party's nod to run against him should not be taking victory for granted, despite the big Democratic voter registration edge that has made California a "blue" state in the last five presidential elections. Yes, two other prominent Republicans apparently intend to make serious attempts to deprive Poizner of their party's nomination. Those would be former Silicon Valley Congressman and...

It’s no secret that Republicans across the nation took a beating on Tuesday. As the magnitude of this loss sinks in, some may find it therapeutic to cast blame on the economy, a biased media, being grossly outspent or other external factors. If we do, we do so at our own peril. Tuesday’s outcome was not so much a Democrat victory as it was a Republican defeat. America elected as its next president an inexperienced candidate whose entire campaign did little more than offer rhetorical “hope” and promise undefined “change.” Why did this message resonate? To find the answer we...

Steve Poizner Launches 2010 Gubernatorial Exploratory Committee Former Senate Republican Leader Jim Brulte to Chair Committee 23 Republican Elected Officials Support Potential Candidacy California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner today announced that he has officially launched a 2010 gubernatorial exploratory committee. “This morning I filed the necessary papers with the California Secretary of State to establish an exploratory committee for Governor.” “I am taking the first formal step toward running for Governor in 2010 because I believe in California and I understand that meeting the challenges of the 21st century requires new and innovative ideas.” “Today, we no longer face competition...

Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner made official Monday what's been expected for months: He's running for governor in 2010. The state's only Republican statewide officeholder besides Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he will file paperwork today to open an exploratory committee to succeed Schwarzenegger in two years. The move is the first formal step taken to enter the race. "I am taking the first formal step toward running for governor in 2010 because I believe in California and I understand that meeting the challenges of the 21st century requires new and innovative ideas," Poizner said in a statement. Poizner, 51, sold a...

California drivers could be offered a new -- and often cheaper -- kind of car insurance next year under a voluntary pay-as-you-drive plan proposed Wednesday by Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. His plan would base annual rates partly on the exact number of miles driven and would allow people to pay less if they drive less. Poizner issued proposed regulations spelling out the plan, and the state's insurers Wednesday were enthusiastic about the idea but wanted to see more details. Two out of three households in the state could save an average of $276 per vehicle, and lower-income people, who generally...

Former South Bay lawmaker considers run at governorship SACRAMENTO - Former South Bay Republican congressman Tom Campbell - a fiscal conservative, social moderate and respected academic who twice before unsuccessfully sought statewide office, is eyeing a possible run in 2010 to replace Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Campbell, 55, filed papers last week to form an "exploratory committee" for governor, which allows him to begin raising money for a potential bid. He joins two other GOP moderates from Silicon Valley - state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and former eBay chief Meg Whitman - among Republicans who have expressed interest in running. On...

Should they decide to enter the 2010 race for governor, former EBay CEO Meg Whitman and State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner will likely have to explain to Republican voters why in recent years they have donated thousands of dollars to Democratic candidates. Contribution reports show that Whitman gave former State Controller Steve Westly, with whom she worked at EBay, $20,000 in combined donations for his 2002 run for controller and 2006 campaign for governor. In 2005 she contributed $1,000 to state Sen. Joe Simitian’s 2008 reelection campaign. She made contributions to candidates for national offices as well: $1,000 to U.S....

Next Tuesday may or may not be super, but it will definitely be important. Not only will Super Tuesday likely offer a decisive advantage to one of the candidates vying for both parties’ presidential nomination, it may also tip the balance on a key issue, one hated by politicians as much as it is loved by citizens: term limits. On Tuesday, in addition to the presidential primary, California voters will cast ballots for or against Proposition 93. Pollsters with California’s Field Poll explained recently, “as voter awareness of the initiative has increased, there has been a decided decline in Yes-side...

Proposition 93's fate may depend on whether voters perceive it as an increase or decrease in the length of time lawmakers are allowed to serve in the Capitol. Depending on the circumstances, it would do both, cutting term limits in some cases while increasing them in others. The Feb. 5 ballot measure would cut two years off the maximum time future lawmakers and most current legislators could serve, dropping it from 14 years to 12. But it would let them spend all 12 years in one house of the Legislature. The measure also includes a transition phase that would permit...

California's scandal-plagued government-run workers' compensation insurance company spent more than half a billion dollars over the last decade for outside marketing help that often provided "minimal services," a scathing new state audit shows. About half that money went to organizations with direct financial ties to two former board members of the State Compensation Insurance Fund, said the audit to be released today. The company sells workers' compensation insurance to 220,000 California employers. Some marketing groups were paid millions of dollars for merely sending members quarterly newsletters, providing few other services, the report said. The report paints a picture of an...

Dear Fellow Republican, Over the last few days, there has been some discussion in blogs and among CRP members regarding the state of the California Republican Party’s finances. There has been speculation about the Party’s debt and how it will be retired. Let me set the record straight. It is true that we incurred debt during the 2006 campaign to finance our unprecedented efforts on behalf of our candidates. Some of the money was an investment in building the infrastructure that will be vital to our work in future elections. Governor Schwarzenegger and his team know that our efforts were...

(snip) But political pundits are predicting something different for 2010: a trend toward newcomers with telegenic looks and charismatic personalities, especially in the governor's race, where two big-city mayors are already creating buzz. ``There's going to be a really interesting generational shift,'' predicted Chris Lehane, a Democratic consultant in San Francisco. ``We have a very deep bench of young talent, relatively speaking, that's up and coming.'' Topping the list in most political circles is 53-year-old Antonio Villaraigosa, the popular, first-term mayor of Los Angeles who, according to his associates, has long aspired to be governor. (snip) Things might be much...

BEVERLY HILLS--Sometime before midnight on election night, it was clear that despite the governor's easy re-election, the Democratic wave was sweeping over California. Early returns showed conservative darling Tom McClintock ahead of Democrat John Garamendi, results that drew enthusiastic cheers from Republican delegates still rummaging amid the orange, green and white balloons that had dropped after Schwarzenegger's victory speech. But as the vote totals filtered in from around the state, it became clear that California was in the midst of another big Democratic year. By Wednesday morning, Republicans woke up to find themselves in familiar territory. So what is to...

LOS ANGELES - Democrat John Garamendi won a close race for lieutenant governor, as Republicans faltered in their efforts to win statewide offices and gain power in Sacramento. Garamendi, who currently serves as insurance commissioner, edged out conservative Republican state Sen. Tom McClintock, an anti-tax ideologue, in Tuesday's election. Democrats also won races for California attorney general, treasurer and controller. "The conclusion to be drawn here is that California is still a true progressive state even though it has a nominally Republican governor," Garamendi said. With 93 percent of precincts reporting, Democratic state Sen. Debra Bowen had a slim lead...

Welcome to the live thread for the California Primary Election. Polls are open until 8pm tonight. If you are a registered voter, it is your duty to vote and defend your rights and civil liberties, protect your pocketbook, and vote the bums out where applicable. Feel free to discuss issues key to your local area that others may be interested in. Post your polling place experiences if you like. And post numbers as they come in later tonight.

As a news junkie, over the years I have seen a lot of political campaigns. Some were brilliant, some pathetic, some nasty as all get out. But I have never seen anything like this: A major party candidate trying to get elected by mostly talking about how much weight he has lost. That's right -- current California Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, a Democrat, who is running against liberal Republican high-tech billionaire Steve Poizner for the state Insurance Commissioner post, is battling a multimedia blitz portraying him as in the pocket of the insurance industry by talking about his 70-pound weight...

SACRAMENTO – A political newcomer seeking his first elected office faces a familiar figure admittedly nearing the end of his political career in this year's campaign for state insurance commissioner. Republican Steve Poizner and Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante are in an open race that appears to be among the closest of all the so-called down-ballot contests. For motorists, homeowners, business owners and anyone else who buys insurance, the choice may be one of the most important votes they cast on Nov. 7. The insurance commissioner has broad regulatory powers, including the authority to approve or reject the rates on...

Click Here To Watch Debate (CBS 5 / The Chronicle) SAN FRANCISCO--The San Francisco Chronicle Editorial board hosted a 60-minute debate between attorney general candidates Jerry Brown and Chuck Poochigian on Thursday afternoon at the CBS 5 studios in San Francisco. This was the first debate between the two candidates, and is the only one currently scheduled. The debate is presented via streaming video here on CBS5.com and is the first of several Chronicle Editorial board candidate debates that will be offered via live and tape streams here on CBS5.com. Other upcoming debates will include: Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2...

California's next insurance commissioner will face multiple challenges. The insurance industry will be pressuring him to back away from rules instituted by Commissioner John Garamendi to base automobile rates mainly on driving records instead of ZIP codes. The new commissioner will also influence any possible changes to the state workers' compensation system. Most crucially, he will need to take a tough look at California's earthquake insurance program and take other steps to ensure the state is insured against floods and other natural disasters. Of the two leading candidates in this race, Republican Steve Poizner and Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante,...

The next state insurance commissioner will be facing industry pressure to back away from some controversial regulations, including new rules that require insurers to base automobile rates primarily on driving records instead of zip codes.Consumer advocates support the new regulations. And both groups are closely watching the contest between Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, a veteran Democratic politician who says the job of insurance commissioner may be his last elective office, and Silicon Valley businessman Steve Poizner, a wealthy Republican who is hoping to make it his first.Both candidates promise to uphold the regulations, although insurers contend they are costly and...

Though more local school bonds are passing, voter support for these measures is in decline. This seeming contradiction can be understood by looking at the impact of Proposition 39 passed by voters in 2000. That year, a small group of multimillionaires and billionaires, most from the Silicon Valley, spent more than $60 million on a campaign to lower the vote threshold for the passage of local school bonds that only property owners are obligated to repay. The two-thirds vote for local bonds was established in the California Constitution of 1879 in recognition of the fact that not everyone who voted...

Moderate Republicans in California, having watched their party become increasingly dominated by conservatives as it sunk deeper and deeper into minority status, had big hopes after Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor in 2003. A new leader had arrived, one who because of a lightning strike of political good luck did not have to subject himself to the ideological litmus test of a statewide Republican primary. Just maybe, they thought, he could lead them out of the political wilderness. Schwarzenegger, as they saw it, was their kind of Republican: supportive of abortion rights, receptive to gay-rights issues, tough-minded on taxes, sensitive...

Please use this thread to post information, discussions, or links that will help readers decide on the California Statewide Partisan Republican Ballot Offices below. Please refrain from rants, petty arguments, name calling, and other unhelpful replies. Governor; Republican Party Arnold Schwarzenegger Jeffrey R. BurnsRobert C. Newman, IIBill ChambersLieutenant Governor; Republican Party Tony Farmer Tom McClintock Secretary of State; Republican Party Bruce McPhersonController; Republican Party Jim StieringerDavid L. Harris Tony StricklandBret R. Davis Abel MaldonadoTreasurer; Republican Party Keith S. RichmanClaude ParrishAttorney General; Republican Party Chuck Poochigian Insurance Commissioner; Republican Party Steve Poizner United States Senator; Republican Party Richard "Dick" Mountjoy For...

With all the talk about the former red state, Republican state, California, becoming a blue state -- which is not quite as true as some think -- there is someone talking about it becoming a purple state. That is California Republican Party chairman Duf Sundheim, who talked about his hopes for California during last week’s bus tour kicking off Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s re-election campaign against Democratic challenger Phil Angelides. The Silicon Valley lawyer came on a few years ago to put a moderate face on the party, whose apparatus was traditionally viewed as right wing and increasingly out of step...

Welcome to the live thread for the California Primary Election. Polls are open until 8pm tonight. If you are a registered voter, it is your duty to vote and defend your rights and civil liberties, protect your pocketbook, and vote the bums out where applicable. Feel free to discuss issues key to your local area that others may be interested in. Post your polling place experiences if you like. And post numbers as they come in later tonight.

Lawyers for Redistrict California, the committee controlled by Steve Poizner to pass Proposition 77, say they have returned $1.75 million in campaign contributions to Gov. Schwarzenegger and the California Recovery Team, after Democrats threatened legal action against the committee. Democrats say they are waiting to make sure the committee returns the money, and remain ready to file a complaint against Gov. Schwarzenegger and the redistricting committee controlled by Poizner for breaking the same state financing laws Speaker Fabian Nuñez's initiative committee may have broken. Last week, Nunez returned $140,000 in donations after Capitol Weekly reported those contributions may have been...

See http://politicalvanguard.com/index.php?id=scorecard for full report. I'll post the hot story of the week and a summary here... Hot stories of the Week: After Sen. Abel Maldanado (sic) opened his Controller's Monday, stories started circulating that Republican Assemblyman Keith Richman would move from the Treaturer's race where his trails Simon by 40+ points to the Controller's race. Tony Strickland would benefit from that move because that would mean two moderates - Richman (voted against Arnold's budget because it did not include tax increases) and Maldonado would be fighting it out against a lone conservative. Republican candidates (or potential candidates) for Senate...

Steve Poizner, the self-styled ``Arnold-Republican'' who spent $5.9 million of his own money to wrestle a gerrymandered Assembly seat away from the Democrats, conceded defeat today, acknowledging that despite the slow returns there was no hope of making up the thousands of votes that separated him from Democrat Ira Ruskin. ``It appears that the percentages, the trends are not changing,'' Poizner said at a news conference this afternoon. ``Because of that, we believe the results of the election are quite clear.'' Ruskin led Poizner by more than 9,000 votes as of Friday. As election workers continued to tally returns in...