Free Republic

State Sen. Abel Maldonado, the moderate Santa Maria Republican running for lieutenant governor, opened his speech to party convention delegates Saturday afternoon by acknowledging the discomfort many of them have with him for supporting new taxes, among other votes he has taken. When he walked into the room, he said, a delegate greeted him by saying, "Hey Abel, I think you're with the wrong party." "And I looked at him, and I said, 'I'm not with the wrong party, I'm with the right party. Let me tell you why.' " Maldonado, who spoke after the room had somewhat emptied following...

LOS ANGELES (Oct. 21) - Spike Lee has left his Hollywood talent agent of more than 15 years in the wake of the dismal box office performance of his latest movie. The combative filmmaker jumped to Endeavor from William Morris, three weeks after his World War Two movie "Miracle at St. Anna" opened to just $3.5 million (2.06 million pounds); the Disney release has grossed just $7.5 million to date. Before "Anna," Lee directed his largest-grossing film to date, the heist thriller "Inside Man," which drew $176 million worldwide in 2006. A sequel is one of several upcoming projects set...