Dispatch from California - William Rusher Urges Support for KALOOGIAN for SENATE

Rusher is a leading conservative figure who was publisher of National Review from 1957-1988

In my last dispatch of the goings-on in California, I reported that the Democrats who control the legislature were stonewalling Gov. Schwarzenegger's requests for a $15-billion bond issue to pay for their previous profligacy. They were also blocking a constitutional amendment that would prevent similar behavior in the future by allowing increases in state expenditures only for inflation and population growth. I predicted that the governor would get both, however, by putting them on the ballot as popular initiatives in November and having the voters pass them over the legislature's head.

This ghastly prospect seems to have sobered the Democrats considerably, for at the last minute they struck a deal that gives the governor most of what he wanted. He gets the bond issue, and he also gets a cap on legislative spending--though the cap simply limits the state budget to the revenues taken in (letting the legislature spend any increases in state revenues) rather than to increases only for inflation and population growth. This at least guarantees a balanced budget, stemming the wild overspending that produced California's current $38-billion deficit.

As a result of the compromise, both the bond authorization and a constitutional amendment to implement the spending cap will be on the ballot on Tuesday, March 2, the date of California's primary elections.

For a while it seemed possible that the bond issue would be defeated, since voters are understandably reluctant to saddle the state with more debt, but vigorous campaigning by the governor has had its effect. In addition, the Democrats in Sacramento have finally thrown in the sponge and endorsed it, because their pet special interests around the state faced brutal reductions in their usual subsidies if it was defeated (since Schwarzenegger grimly refuses to raise taxes).

So score one--in fact, two--for the governor. But the Republican voters of California have another big decision to make on March 2. The Democrats will be renominating Barbara Boxer to the U.S. Senate, and the Republicans must choose her opponent. Boxer is universally agreed to be vastly less appealing than her fellow senator and fellow Democrat Dianne Feinstein. But she has been in the Senate for two terms, and was lucky in having a weak opponent in 1998. A great deal, therefore, depends on who is chosen to run against her this time.

Schwarzenegger has endorsed Bill Jones, a former Secretary of State of California. Jones is a pleasant fellow, and a "moderate" by California Republican standards (which is probably why Schwarzenegger, who is a "moderate" too, endorsed him). But he lacks entirely the will and ability to "mix it up" that is essential in anyone who seeks to beat Boxer. There are also former U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin and former Los Altos Hills Mayor Toni Casey, whom are competing (unsuccessfully) with Jones for the "moderate" vote.

But that leaves a fourth contender, whom conservative Republicans have rallied around.

He is Howard Kaloogian, a former assemblyman from the San Diego area, who played a key role in launching the recall effort that toppled Democratic Gov. Gray Davis. He has received endorsements from an impressive number of leading conservatives, both in California and at the national level. State Sen. Tom McClintock, the solidly conservative Republican who impressed just about everybody in the debates among the gubernatorial candidates, is in his corner. So is Bruce Herschensohn, Boxer's opponent back in 1992. At the national level, he has been endorsed by Lew Uhler, chairman of the National Tax Limitation Committee, Jack Kemp, Phyllis Schlafly and Paul Weyrich.

The reason isn't hard to find. Kaloogian is a battler for conservative principles. He calls for lower taxes, including an end to the death tax, higher pay for the military, and more concern for national security. He plans to support President Bush "most of the time," but frankly disagrees with his proposal to make it easier for illegal aliens to work here and become citizens.

If California Republicans decide they want a candidate who will really tangle with Boxer, Howard Kaloogian is ready to oblige. Mr. Rusher is a Distinguished Fellow of the Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Political Philosophy.

P.S. Do you know who wrote the Jones email I was referring to? We were laughing pretty hard. Whoever wrote it slammed talk radio station polls, and the fact that Jones' opponents are touting their endorsements.

Why would Bill Jones' staff be so upset that a candidate - whether it is Rosario Marin or Howard Kaloogian - be touting their endorsements.

In our case it's pretty much all the conservative leaders backing us. We don't have Deukmejian (unfortunately) or Wilson and Schwarzenegger.

But there must be something about Dobson, Kemp, Schlafly, Herschensohn, Weyrich, et. al. supporting Kaloogian that really irks Team Jones. Ask around if you would!

Impeach98's "source" is that Bill Jones is calling up Kaloogian supporters, telling them that Jones is dropping and Kaloogian is surging. Hey, you interested in buying a share in the Golden Gate Bridge?

Bill Jones endorsements:

NEW: Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Darrell Issa, Tom Campbell

PLUS: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; Former California Governors Pete Wilson and George Deukmejian; Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas), Leader of the California Republican Congressional Delegation; Congresswoman Mary Bono, the only Republican woman in the California Congressional Delegation; Congressmen Devin Nunes, Doug Ose, George Radanovich and Ed Royce; State Senators Dick Ackerman, Jeff Denham, Bruce McPherson, Bill Morrow, Wm. J. “Pete” Knight and Rico Oller; State Assembly Members Greg Aghazarian, John Benoit, Dave Cogdill, Dave Cox, Guy Houston, Doug LaMalfa, Abel Maldonado, Ken Maddox, Bill Maze, Kevin McCarthy, Charles Poochigian, and Tony Strickland; Former California Republican Party Chairmen Tirso Del Junco and John Herrington; Board of Equalization Member Bill Leonard; California Women’s Leadership Association; California Farm Bureau; National Korean-American Republican Association; National Asian Republican Association; The San Diego Chapter of California Black Republicans Council; and Mayor Alan Autry (R-Fresno).

“I am honored to receive the endorsement of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association,” said Secretary Bill Jones. “Howard Jarvis and his group of tax fighters led the way in bringing sanity back to California’s property tax system, and they saved the homes of countless thousands of Californians, who were literally being taxed out of their family homes. I continue to stand with Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and my fellow Californians in opposing ANY changes to Proposition 13. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association represents Republican, Democrats and Independents. Their support is vital in my effort to defeat Barbara Boxer this November. Barbara Boxer is one of the biggest tax and spend Senators in Congress, who consistently votes against tax relief for millions of hardworking California families

“I am committed to making the President’s tax cuts permanent, and I will work with the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association to convince the entire California delegation to support these tax cuts.”

“Bill Jones has always been a strong supporter of Proposition 13 and will be an effective advocate for California taxpayers,” said Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association President Jon Coupal. “He strongly supports President Bush’s tax cuts and will fight efforts by the liberal tax spenders in Washington to repeal these tax cuts and raise taxes on all Californians.”

You also support the Bush Immigration plan

No, I don't. I think it would be better than what we have now, but I would prefer greatly expanded legal immigration, zero tolerance on illegals, and perhaps a guest worker program on the side.

and think Bill Jones is the best hope for the Republican Party to defeat Barbara Boxer

People who want the most electable candidate support Jones or Marin.
People (like me) who want the most electable conservative support Jones.
People who want to nominate the most conservative candidate, regardless of electability, support Kaloogian, or Ball, or Stoen . . .

so I think we're not going to see eye to eye on much.

Probably not.

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