Former legislator and now state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell came to Bakersfield today to tout Fran Florez for the Assembly.

According to O'Connell's bio, he even once got both the Democratic and Republican nominations during an election.

But he's not being nonpartisan today. Instead, the Democrat was lending support to another Democrat.

Republican Danny Gilmore has made "career technical education" a mantra in his campaign, and Florez apparently wanted to respond. Both she and O'Connell used the phrase in their remarks today.

Neither Gilmore nor Florez have any direct education experience.

Gilmore, in his press release today, pointed to 35 educational endorsements he's picked up. He also tried to stake out territory as the Defender of the Valley. Both Gilmore and Wasco school board member Danny Rueda, in the release, said Central Valley education dollars have been routed to Los Angeles and San Francisco.

— James Geluso

So who are the political campaigns targeting with those now-ubiquitous TV ads?

News watchers, for sure. Fran Florez is also going for the law-and-order vote, apparently, buying ads during “Law and Order” and other crime dramas, as well as court shows. (Actually, do law-and-order voters watch Law and Order? I have no idea.)

KGET (NBC): Danny Gilmore bought ads, all in news time blocks.

Fran Florez bought the same, but also went for ads on “Law and Order: SVU,” “America’s Got Talent,” “Dateline” and “Saturday Night Live.”

KBAK (CBS): Gilmore has bought news slots, including “60 Minutes,” plus prime time slots. He bought undesignated spots, so he can pay for the average ranking, but he has no control over when they air.

Florez went for news, plus “The Price is Right,” “Oprah,” “Two and a Half Men” reruns, “David Letterman,” and “Cold Case” and “The Unit” on Sunday nights.

The Yes on Proposition 8 campaign is also buying up ad time in every block from 5 a.m. through the soaps ending at 3 p.m. And they’re going for prime time on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Oh, and the big gun: Sunday night football.

KBFX (Fox): Gilmore’s got some news spots, plus some unspecified primetime slots.

Florez has ads during the afternoon court shows, plus “The Big Spin,” “Inside Edition” and the late reruns of “Seinfeld.”

Yes on 8 is also going for some news shows, plus “Terminator,” “Kitchen Nightmares” and “House.” Oh, and football.

KERO (ABC): Gilmore's going for news, plus Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.

Florez is targeting the news, "Regis and Kelly," "The View," "Ellen," and some game shows.

Yes on 8 is also targeting "The View," "Wife Swap" and "Super Nanny," the judge shows, college football.

Cable: Gilmore has purchased spots on A&E, CNBC, CNN, Disney, Fox News, CNN Headline News and History.

Florez is going for CNBC, CNN, Fox News, CNN Headline News, MSNBC, ESPN, Food Network, Fox Sports West, HGTV, Lifetime, TBS, TNT and USA.

Also, Planned Parenthood has bought some anti-Prop 4 commercials to air during the vice presidential candidates' debate on Thursday.

— James Geluso

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Name: Jim Costa, incumbent

Office sought: 20th Congressional District seat

Present home address: Fresno

E-mail address: congressmanjimcosta@mail.house.gov  &nb sp;    

Web site address: www.costaforcongress.com

Date and place of birth: 1952 in Fresno

Spouse's name: N/A

Number of children and ages: N/A

Current occupation/employer: Congressman, U.S. House of Representatives

List employment history (past 20 years):
Member, California State Legislature, 1978-2002
CEO, The Costa Group, 2002-2004

Professional licenses:

How long have you lived in the jurisdiction you seek election?
I am a lifelong resident of the 20th district.  The Costa family has farmed in Fresno, Kings, and Tulare counties for over 100 years.

Political offices you have held:
Member, California Assembly, 1978-1994
Member, California State Senate, 1994-2002

Political offices you have sought: (dates, locations, outcomes):
Elected to California Assembly in 1978
Elected to State Senate in 1994
Elected to US Congress in 2004


Board memberships/Community activities:
Member, Board of Directors, Fresno-Madera Agency on Aging
Member, Board of Directors, Fresno Historical Society
Member, Board of Directors, San Joaquin River Parkway
Member, FACT Steering Committee, Fresno County Farm Bureau
Kenneth L. Maddy Professor, Fresno State
Past President, National Conference of State Legislators

Education:
Graduate, San Joaquin Memorial High School, Fresno 1970
Graduate, Fresno State, 1974, B.A. Political Science

Military: None

Describe anything you have published, invented, discovered, painted, etc., and events or hobbies that would be interesting for a biographical story:
I enjoy reading American and World history, hiking, horseback riding and sailing.

Campaign manager (if not yourself): Larry Sheingold

State or Federal campaign ID number: C00391029

Campaign consultant: Larry Sheingold

List all criminal convictions or pleas in this county and others (Include year):

List all civil court judgments against you or any business you have had a financial interest in (partnership, sole proprietor, corporation) in this county and others (include year): None
 

Just learned Republican Kevin McCarthy voted against the failed bailout bill while Democrat Jim Costa voted for it.

"Unfortunately, the Wall Street bailout proposal the House voted on today went too far to reward bad decisions on Wall Street at the expense of America’s middle class and the freedom of America’s markets," McCarthy said in a statement.

"I continue to support working out an improved solution strengthening our financial markets that is paid for by Wall Street, not American taxpayers.”
 
You can keep up to date on the vote here.

What do you think of the bill and how our lawmakers voted? What should happen next?

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After picking relative unknown Sarah Palin and suspending his campaign for a while, Slate.com has predicted the next 10 John McCain campaign stunts.

Here's a taste:

1. Returns to Vietnam and jails himself.

Here's the full list.

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He's done fixing the economic crisis. Now McCain has said he'll fly to Mississippi to fix Obama.

It's on like voltron.

So I just got back from Fresno, where I was one of three panelists in a televised debate between Danny Gilmore and Fran Florez.

It was an interesting exercise, let me tell you.

The moderator set up six broad topics, and then he'd ask a question. After the candidates answered, he punted it to us panelists, who each got to ask a question. That meant the candidates faced 24 questions in 45 minutes — a one-hour program slot, with commercial breaks. Initially, they had 45 seconds to answer, but when time got short, that was cut down to 30 seconds.

In terms of how they performed, I'd say they did equally well, or equally poorly. They both retreated to talking points every so often, often not answering the question put before them. (This is, of course, the same as any debate, from president on down to mayor of a small town.) We really had no interest in making it easy on them; the three panelists were all print journalists, accustomed to conversations with candidates instead of quizzes, so we asked what and how questions instead of yes or no questions.

Gilmore and Florez seemed very friendly with each other. They chatted amiably, and not at all awkwardly, during the time we were waiting for it to start, while the KSEE-TV crew dragged their cameras from the news studio into the production studio.

I think everyone would agree that it would have benefitted from more time, but that's the reality of TV.

— James Geluso

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David Letterman was right miffed when John McCain called to cancel his appearance on Dave's show.

(Video with the best clips here)

And then he stewed even further when a news feed showed McCain on the Katie Couric show.

Said Letterman:

"This is not the John McCain I know."

"It makes me believe something is going haywire with the campaign."

More on Couric's interview with McCain and Palin here.

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I thought this guy was suspended, but lo and behold there he was on his radio show a few minutes ago apologizing for stealing Chad Vegas' signs.

"I let the radio station down and myself."

"With any luck I'll be back on the air real soon."

Now some woman called Danielle Sullivan is taking phone calls from listeners.

One man just called with a suggested punishment:

"Every Sunday for 15 Sundays Scott has to go to Chad Vegas' church."

But she's not trying to make light of the situation.

— Andrew Mockett

I'm heading up to Fresno Thursday night to join journalists from Visalia and Hanford on a panel for a televised debate between Danny Gilmore and Fran Florez, the people who want to succeed Nicole Parra.

I'll get to ask six questions, one each on these topics, selected by the moderator:

• Balancing the state budget
• Improving the state’s economy
• Ensuring an adequate supply of water
• Cleaning the air we breathe
• Decreasing the cost of energy — including the price of gasoline
• Improving our over-burdened transportation system

So what should I ask?

Keep in mind that the question must be for both candidates; I don't get to decide who answers first.

The debate will on TV in Fresno this weekend; they're still working out a time and channel for broadcast in Bakersfield.

— James Geluso

KERN suspended Scott Cox, its irreverant morning talk show host, indefinitely Wednesday evening after he admitted "kidnapping" campaign signs belonging to high school Trustee Chad Vegas.

Cox said the whole thing was a prank that went bad once The Californian started following tips about the thievery. Here's the story.

What do you think? Does the punishment fit the crime?

So what do you think of this: John McCain is suspending his campaign, wants to postpone Friday's presidential debate, to  work on the economic crisis.

L.A. Times is covering it here.

What do you think? Does he genuinely want to work on the economic legislation or is something else going on here? If it's political, do you think it's a good move?

And how many debate parties are potentially ruined? MIne's looking that way...

Even Joe Biden thinks Obama's ad claiming McCain doesn't know how to send e-mails is a stupid idea.

"I thought that was terrible."

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Democratic Assemblywoman Nicole Parra threw her endorsement behind Republican Danny Gilmore Monday, ending a months-long dance in which she supported him, praised him, introduced him — everything but endorse him.

Gilmore, who is running to succeed the termed-out Parra, also picked up the endorsement of former Kern County Supervisor Pete Parra, Nicole’s father.

Gilmore is running against Fran Florez, D-Shafter, in a race that observers consider one of the most important in the state. The 30th District is one of the few that isn’t safely in the hands of one of the two major parties.

Read more here.

What do you think of the endorsement? Parra's already catching partisan flak but is it so wrong to cross party lines like this?

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The few Republicans in the audience were probably shifting uncomfortably in their seats at the Emmys last night as politically astute celebrities like Howie Mandel made uproarious gags about the current presidential race.

Fortunately, deer-in-the-headlights presenter Lauren Conrad of "The Hills" fame didn't get in on the act. That would have required deviating from the teleprompter.

Perhaps the first Obama-McCain debate should revolve around the pair's primetime viewing habits and whether "Project Runway" or "Wipeout" makes for better TV.

The viewers had the final say, voting not to watch the show.

Democratic Assemblywoman Nicole Parra endorsed Republican Danny Gilmore as her replacement this morning at the Liberty Bell in downtown Bakersfield.

An e-mail from Gilmore's campaign announcing the the 10 a.m. press event would revolve around a  "campaign announcement."

But there was little suprise about the event's topic.

Parra spoiled the surprise last week when she told other Dems that she would be endorsing the Republican.

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Democratic Assemblywoman Nicole Parra said Thursday that she will endorse Republican Danny Gilmore to take her seat, according to a lawmaker.

Parra made her comments during a talk to the members of New Democrat Caucus, a group of moderate Democratic state legislators.

Assemblyman Jose Solorio, who is taking over the chairmanship of the caucus from Parra, quoted Parra as saying she will endorse Gilmore.

Parra’s chief of staff, Derek Chernow, said she would address the issue next week, after the state budget is wrapped up.

Gilmore is running against Democrat Fran Florez to take Parra’s 30th Assembly District seat, as she is termed out this year.

Parra has supported and praised Gilmore, although she stopped short of endorsing him. That didn’t stop county Democratic party members from criticizing Parra this summer, prompting her to consider leaving the party — although she decided to stay a Democrat.

Florez is the mother of State Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter. The Florez and Parra families have had a long-running feud, with the peak being when Florez aide Michael Rubio ousted Kern County Supervisor Pete Parra, Nicole’s father.
 

John McCain leads Barack Obama 45 percent to 40 percent in the Central Valley, widening his margin from two months ago, according to a Field Poll released Wednesday.

The poll had McCain up just one point here in July.

Other valley tidbits this time around:

• 46 percent of McCain voters are “very enthusiastic” about his candidacy, up from 18 percent in July. 56 percent of Obama voters feel that way about the Illinois senator, which is up seven points.

• 55 percent of likely voters have a favorable opinion and 31 percent an unfavorable opinion of GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. The numbers for Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden were 34 percent favorable and 42 percent unfavorable.

• But likely voters were pretty evenly split on who would make a better president — 40.6 percent picked Palin, 40.4 percent Biden.

Overall in California, Obama leads McCain among likely voters 52 percent to 36 percent.

For more of the poll, go here.

Source: 830 likely California voters interviewed from Sept. 5-14. Margin or error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
 

I found this part of the Sac Bee's story on Arnold's budget veto plans fascinating:

"Schwarzenegger's veto sent Capitol historians scrambling today to look for precedents.

"It's not clear when - or even if - a governor has ever actually vetoed an entire budget. H.D. Palmer, a spokesman for the Department of Finance, said research as far back as 1921 found no instances of it occurring."

"... The last successful overrides were in July 1979. Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a bill that sought to ban banks from getting into the insurance business. But the bill's author, Assemblyman Lou Papan, D-Daly City, succeeded in getting the veto overridden on his second try."

Here's the whole piece.

Fran "Valley Tough" Florez has a new ad out, which will start running on TV tonight. (Or you can watch it by clicking that link to the story.)

She got her numbers from this report (.pdf).

What do you think? Should the state be willing to pay more for uniforms in order to have more jobs in California?

UPDATE: Danny Gilmore's launching his first ad of the season on radio. It's posted here.

The L.A. TImes is reporting that Gov. Schwarzenegger plans to veto the state budget passed early this morning.

Here's its story.

And state Sen. Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield, who voted against the budget, called the spending plan "terrible" today.

He complained to us that the budget would create a massive budget deficit at the end of this fiscal year and is full of "gimmicks."

He found particularly egregious cutting certain operating loss deductions for businesses and increasing taxpayers' income tax withholding by 10 percent —  then returning overpayments via refunds.

"The government gets its grubby hands on people's money quicker," Ashburn said.

Ashburn did vote for some budget trailer bills such as to create a rainy day fund and restore mid-year budget cutting authority for the governor.

Asked about any provisions that affect the Central Valley uniquely, he said the budget would preserve funds for rural law enforcement that were originally slated for cuts.

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As state lawmakers voted on a hastily-brokered budget deal early Tuesday, one of our state Assembly members didn’t weigh in.

Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, the Hanford Democrat who is termed out at the end of this year, abstained from voting, her chief of staff Derek Chernow said this morning.

No immediate reason was given but Parra also abstained from voting on a spending plan the Democrats came up with last month because it wasn’t paired with a water bond to build new dams and storage to help the sate’s farmers.

In sessions that dragged into the early hours of today, the Senate and Assembly passed a budget that plugs a $15 billion gap with stop-gap measures that include increasing state income tax withholdings by 10 percent in 2009 — with a promise to pay it back during the 2010 tax season — and borrowing against future state revenues.

On Monday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger threatened to veto the budget unless further restrictions on spending were added. That didn’t happen, however.

If the governor vetoes the budget, the legislature would need a two-thirds vote — the same it needed to pass the budget — to override his veto.

Here’s how our other local lawmakers voted:

• Sen. Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield — No

• Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter — Yes

• Assemblywoman Jean Fuller, R-Bakersfield — No

In an opinion letter submitted to The Californian Monday, Assembly members Nicole Parra, D-Hanford, and Jean Fuller, R-Bakersfield, along with Mike Villines, R-Fresno, said increasing production at the Bakersfield refinery will help secure domestic fuel supplies and invigorate the local economy with an infusion of new jobs and taxes.

“Despite our differences, one thing we can agree on as Republicans and Democrats is that more production and refining of oil and gas in the Central Valley is key to increasing our domestic supply, lowering prices and keeping our economy moving forward by providing jobs,” they wrote.

You can read more here.

Campaigns and Elections' Politics Magazine has named Congressman Kevin McCarthy one of the politicians "poised to lead their party in coming years."

It names a handful of congressmembers, governors and state legislators who've "got game."

Here's a taste of the piece on McCarthy:

"One of just 13 Republican freshmen elected to the House in 2006-the smallest freshman class since Congress expanded to 435 seats-McCarthy has already turned heads.

He's got big shoes to fill, having taken over for his former boss Bill Thomas, the once-powerful Ways and Means Committee chairman.

But in only a year-and-a-half on the job, McCarthy-along with an emerging cabal of other young leaders-has taken up the cause of rebuilding the flailing GOP."

Read more here.

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So much for yesterday's Sept. 11 ceasefire.

Obama's campaign came out firing today with a new TV commercial mocking McCain.

Here's the narrator on the ad:

“Things have changed in the last 26 years. But McCain hasn’t. He admits he still doesn’t know how to use a computer, can’t send an e-mail. After one president who was out of touch, we just can’t afford more of the same.”

Obama wasn't the only one going back on the offensive.

McCain's new ad accuses Obama of attacking Palin because “his star’s fading.”

Narrator: Obama “desperately called Sarah Palin a liar. How disrespectful.”

Anyone else ready for the end of this nonsense?

More details here.

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Someone complained yesterday about there not being a list of hot male politicians to accompany Maxim's list of the world's hottest female pols — which had Assemblywoman Nicole Parra as No. 4.

So we're starting our own list here and with a poll at the bottom of  The Californian home page.

Sorry to those who think this is beneath Politics, anyone? It's called FUN!

Below are five to choose from. To see who's who in the photos, click on "larger view".

• 5th District Supervisor Michael Rubio

• Congressman Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield

• State Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter

• Kern High School District Trustee Chad Vegas

• Congressman Jim Costa, D-Fresno

Don't accuse Politics Anyone of being sexist.

After bringing you a Maxim article on the hotness of Nicole Parra, our high brow reporting continues with a Matt Damon interview about Sarah Palin.

The Hollywood heartthrob likens her appointment to a really bad Disney movie.

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This is a questionnaire completed by Jim Lopez, who'd like to unseat Congressman Jim Costa, D-Fresno, to represent California's 20th District.

Name:  Jim Lopez

Other name(s) used:  Santiago Munoz Lopez, Jimmy Lopez, James Lopez

Office sought: House of Representatives, 20th District of California

Web site address:  www.jimlopez08.com

Date and place of birth: 1937, Phoenix

Spouse's name:  Dolores Lopez

Number of children and ages:  Robert 46, Debra 44, David 43, Daniel 40, Tony 35, Carmen, 33

Current occupation/employer:  President/CEO/TCB Advertising Specialty Products Inc.

List employment history (past 20 years):
City of Fairfield
Self Employed
Coyote Canyon Golf
United States Census Bureau
Self Employed

How long have you lived in the jurisdiction you seek election?
I currently live just outside the jurisdictional lines but well within the “sphere of influence” of the 20th Congressional District. There are no residency requirements for congressional races, but I have lived in the Valley for 66 years.

Political offices you have held:
Chairman, Kern County Republican National Hispanic AssemblyState vice chairman, California Republican National Hispanic AssemblyState chairman, California Republican National Hispanic Assembly

Political offices you have sought:1980, Vacaville City Council, not elected
2002  Kern High School Board of Trustees, not elected

Board memberships/community activities:
Member, North Bay Health Systems Agency
Member, Solano County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Committee
Board member/President Solano/Napa Counties Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
State vice president, California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce
Board member, Kern Hispanic Chambers of Commerce
Board member, Tax Advisory Committee (Board of Equalization)
Member, California Republican Party Executive Board
Member, California Republican Party Resolutions Committee

Education:
U.S. Air Force NCO Academy Graduate 1970
AA Degree, Social Science, Solano Community College

Military: Over 22 years of combined service, Marine Corps and Air Force.

Awards:  Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal w/14 Clusters, USAF Commendation medal, Marine Corps Presidential Citation, USAF Presidential Citation, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/crossed Palms, Vietnam Service w/4 Bronze stars, Air Force Combat Crew Badge among 14 other awards & decorations.

Describe anything you have published, invented, discovered, painted, etc., and events or hobbies that would be interesting for a biographical story:
Awarded The United States Small Business Administration's Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year 1993

Campaign manager: Jack Duncan

Campaign committee members:
Fernando Chavez - Treasurer

Carmen Perez - Scheduler

Toby Alvarez - Signage

Faby Delgadillo - Research

State or Federal campaign ID number:  FEC # C00440768

Campaign consultant:  Jack Duncan

List all criminal convictions or pleas in this county and others (include year): None

List all civil court judgments against you or any business you have had a financial interest in (partnership, sole proprietor, corporation) in this county and others (include year):

Divorce , Solano County — 1998

Bankruptcy, Solano County  — 1998
 

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Watch out, Sarah Palin. Our Assemblywoman Nicole Parra is nipping at your heels as one of the world's "hottest" politicians.

Maxim magazine has named Parra fourth hottest politician on the planet, two spots behind vice presidential hopeful and Alaska Gov. Palin.

They follow #1 Mara Carfagna of Italy and #3 Ruby Dhalla of Canada.

Here's what Maxim says:

"Nicole has the looks to mask her ferocious bite. She recently gave her party the ol´ eff you after refusing to vote for a Democratic budget bill that screwed her hometown out of a better water supply. Her punishment? The assembly speaker has now moved her office out of the Capitol building. (If you need a desk, Nikki, we have one for you!)"

You agree?

Does anyone else find this whole lipstick on a pig thing vaguely juvenile?

Yes, it was silly for Obama to make his remarks, which may or may not have referenced Palin's convention acceptance speech.

It was also silly for the McCain group to call the remarks a sexist attack and to demand an apology.

And then it was more silliness for Obama to refer to the apology demand as "phony outrage."

And now the "Palin Truth Squad" is involved and a 'lipstick' TV commercial has been produced.

Am I the only one who thinks there are more important issues to discuss than these playground politics?

— Andrew Mockett

Project Vote Smart, a non-partisan voter-education group, is out with its "Political Courage Test" results for the general election.

The test is an in-depth questionnaire submitted to state and federal candidates asking for their detailed positions on issues and a bit about their background.

Forty-seven percent of California candidates for U.S. House and Senate and 27 of candidates for state legislative office revealed their positions.

Here's who, among our local pols, participated and links to their tests:

20th Congressional District Republican candidate Jim Lopez.

32nd Assembly District Assemblywoman Jean Fuller, R-Bakersfield.

Fuller's challenger, Democrat Virginia Martinez of Bakersfield.

Kern County's two congressman haven't taken the test.

That's Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, and Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, (whom Lopez is challenging). A spokesman said Costa's test is in the works and he will send it to us when it's complete.

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There's only so much credence you can put in political polls, but the USA Today/Gallup poll is pretty well respected.

So the numbers out Monday that McCain now leads Obama among registered voters would seemingly be cause for alarm for Obama's camp.

Not so, said Obama spokesman Bill Burton who called the numbers "meaningless."

Is Palin's addition to the Republican ticket really causing such a reversal in fortunes?

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Gov. Sarah Palin's speech Wednesday night was described by the Associated Press as a "star-turning performance."

Even Brit paper, The Sun, called Palin's speech a "sensational performance" and claimed the speech had turned the election "upside down."

Indeed, the Boston Herald could only find this fault:

"With her long, straight, often pinned-up locks, Palin looks one humid day away from fronting a Kiss cover band."

The full text of her speech is here.

Is the gushing praise deserved?

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By JAMES GELUSO, Californian staff writer

Phil Wyman spent the first part of his Wednesday on one end of the Mississippi River, packing bags to be sent to the other end.

An alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention, Wyman joined other delegates in packing relief packages for victims of Hurricane Gustav, which hit New Orleans Monday.

“Our delegation and other delegations have continued to remember that we’re Americans first,” said Wyman, a former state senator and Assemblyman from Kern County.

He said he was reminded of being in basic training in 1969, when Hurricane Camille hit the Gulf Coast.

He spoke Wednesday as he was heading back to the convention hall for a program to be capped by Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin’s address.

“I think Sarah Palin will do an outstanding job,” he said.

Her current job — governor of Alaska — is a reason Kern County Republicans should be especially excited about her. She has experience in oil issues, he said.

“In that particular way, her preparation could not be more appropriate for the nation,” he said.

He said Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, was a “rock star” for introducing the Republican platform on Monday, especially given the tightrope he had to walk between declaring Republican principles and being careful to not be overly political.

Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting John McCain had asked to limit politics at the convention on Monday because of the hurricane.
 

Bakersfield Congressman Kevin McCarthy was part of a panel discussion with journalists and other GOP officials at the GOP convention about women's issues and the pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate.

Here's a link to the discussion.

McCarthy predicted Palin has a lot of hard questions coming but she will handle them well. He said if he were on the McCain campaign team, he'd book her on Jay Leno, David Letterman and other talk shows.

Here genuineness would come through, he said.

"Let her be her and she will be," McCarthy said.

Here's the raw press release:

Brehmer to Officially Launch His General Election Campaign and Announce Key Supporters for Superior Court Judgeship

Bakersfield-Charles R. "Chip" Brehmer supporters, and endorsers will gather in front of
the Beale Library on Truxtun Avenue in Bakersfield at 10 AM, Thursday September 4th
to officially begin his General Election campaign to replace retiring Superior Court Judge Clarence T. Westra.

Westra who is concluding a quarter century on the bench endorses Brehmer's election.

"As I retire after 24 years on the bench, I believe I have the experience and perspective to know what it takes to do the job. That is why I support and endorse Charles R. 'Chip'
Brehmer for Superior Court Judge," stated Judge Westra.

The event will begin with invocation and remarks from Candidate Brehmer's father Rev.
Chuck Brehmer, a well known and retired local St. John's Lutheran Church minister; also speaking will be representatives of the public safety community and former Presidents of the Kern County Bar Association and Prosecutors Association including Deputy District Attorney John Mitchell.

"I'm honored at the amount of support I have received in my campaign, and I am proud to have the support of local law enforcement and many individuals both within and outside of the legal community. I look forward to gathering and teaming with them and other members of our community on September 4th to officially launch my campaign to promote strong values for a safe community."

Superior Court Judge Candidate Brehmer will conclude the 20-minute event that will
include the announcement of new endorsements, following the event Brehmer will be
available to address questions, take photographs and interviews. 

A more complete list of endorsements can be found at brehmerforjudge.com.

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Here's the filled-out questionnaire from Fran Florez, the Democrat from Shafter running for the 30th Assembly District post held now by termed out Nicole Parra, D-Hanford.

Florez is up against Republican Danny Gilmore of Hanford, whose questionnaire is posted below this one.

Name:  Fran Florez

Office sought:  30th Assembly District
 
Web site address: Under construction

Date and place of birth: 1943; Bakersfield

Spouse’s name: Ray Florez
 
Number of children and ages: Son, Dean, 45; daughter, Kris, 40; three grandchildren ages 17, 8 and 2.
 
Current occupation/employer: Retired from banking industry in 2000
 
List employment history (past 20 years):
Bank of America, 1964-2000; last position, branch manager, Shafter
Pacific Gas & Electric, 2000-2004; consultant on charitable giving
Mayor and councilmember, Shafter City Council

Professional licenses: None
 
How long have you lived in the jurisdiction you seek election?
 
Political offices you have held: Member, Shafter City Council, 1996 to present. Also served as mayor and am currently mayor pro-tem.
 
Political offices you have sought: Elected to Shafter City Council, 1996, 2000, 2004
 
Board memberships/community activities: Vice chair, California High Speed Rail Authority; board member, Bakersfield College Foundation; community advisory member, Bakersfield Adult School; past president, Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; past board member, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation; member, Shafter Kiwanis Club
 
Education: High school graduate; some college
 
Campaign manager: Bob Sanders
 
Campaign committee members:
 
State or Federal campaign ID number: FPPC ID# 1292679
 
Campaign consultant: Richie Ross
 
List all criminal convictions or pleas in this county and others (Include year): N/A
 
List all civil court judgments against you or any business you have had a financial interest in (partnership, sole proprietor, corporation) in this county and others (include year): N/A

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Every election season we ask candidates for major offices to fill out questionnaires about their backgrounds. It's a great way to start vetting these folks.

Here's one from Danny Gilmore, the Republican from Hanford running for the 30th Assembly District post being vacated by termed-out Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford. Next we'll post the one from his opponent, Democrat Fran Florez of Shafter.

Name: Danny Desmond Gilmore

Other name(s) used: Danny D. Gilmore

Office sought: 30th Assembly District

Present home address: Hanford

Previous addresses for the past 10 years: Same

Web site address: www.gilmore4assembly.com

Date and place of birth: 1949, El Paso, Texas

Spouse's name: Cynthia Annette Gilmore (Cindi)

Number of children and ages: Damon D. Gilmore, 36, Deanna D. Drewry, 34

Current occupation/employer: Retired California Highway Patrol; (asst. chief)

List employment history (past 20 years):
California Highway Patrol … Central Division Headquarters, Fresno, assistant chief December 2000—May 2003 (Retired)
Visalia area, captain/area commander, January 1996— December 2000
Hanford area, lieutenant/area commander January 1986—January 1996    
Banning area, lieutenant, executive officer October 1985—December 1985
King City, sergeant/field supervisor January 1981—October 1985

Professional licenses: California private investigator license

How long have you lived in the jurisdiction you seek election: 22 years, eight months

Political offices you have held: None

Political offices you has sought: 2006: 30th Assembly Race. Lost to Nicole Parra (Parra 51.6 percent, Gilmore 48.4 percent)

Board memberships/Community activities:
Hanford Chamber of Commerce
Tulare/Kings Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Education:
Monterey High School, Lubbock, Texas: Graduated 1967
Palomar College, San Marcos, Calif.: A/A degree 1976
P.O.S.T., Basic, Intermediate, advanced, management
Adjunct California Community College credential (West Hills College) 

Military: U.S. Marine Corps, August 1969 — July 1971. 3rd Marine Division and  3rd MAW: Honorable discharge

Describe anything you have published, invented, discovered, painted, etc., and events or hobbies that would be interesting for a biographical story:
My wife and I enjoy all forms of travel. Our favorite mode of travel is RV-ing.

Campaign manager: Julie Griffths

State or Federal campaign ID number: FPPC #1293625

Treasurer: Jennifer Frankito

Campaign consultant: Steve Presson

List all criminal convictions or pleas in this county and others (Include year):  None

List all civil court judgments against you or any business you have had a financial interest in (partnership, sole proprietor, corporation) in this county and others (include year): None
 

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Teen pregnancies, DUIs, child custody battles: Sound like the topics of conversation at your family's Thanksgiving dinner table?

It's actually the details of Sarah Palin's private life, bits and pieces of which are finding their way into the public.

It all sounds exciting on blog headlines and scrolled across the bottom of TV news tickers, but it's all a bit blah if you ask me.

And from the reaction so far, it's unlikely to affect her vice-presidential campaign.

— Andrew Mockett

P.S. If you're really interested, here's a picture of the baby daddy and a story on their relationship.

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The first day of the Republican convention was truncated by Hurricane Gustav but our Congressman Kevin McCarthy still got a speaking part -- as co-chair of the platform committee.

I am such a junkie that I actually watched it live but if you didn't, here's the text:

Prepared Text of Congressman McCarthy’s RNC Convention Speech