Holiday Home Tour

This is the very best Sacramento Christmas event. In the heart of the Fabulous Forties, where Governor Reagan once lived and where Governor Schwarzenegger may soon live, the Sacred Heart Catholic School hosts a tour of 6 homes decorated for Christmas. We've been featured on HGTV and in Sunset Magazine. Worth driving from the bay area or the valley. It takes place December 5,6 & 7. Tickets are $25 per person ($20 in advance)

Arnold makes Sacramento home

In just a few days, Arnold and his family have learned about Sacramento's good life and people. Miller's Time reports that Arnold went to a Kings game and received a standing O. The Bee says that Maria and their oldest daughter met with Sacramento's finest philanthopist, Father Dan Madigan. They're on the hunt for the best places to eat, like the Esquire Grill (Stacey and I highly recommend the crab cakes) and where to hang their hats.

I've been invited to a welcome luncheon for Maria next month, and instructed to bring a business card of a biz I'd recommend so that Maria can "fill her Sacramento rolodex". I'm thinking Corti Brothers, Tosh for Hair, Cafe Bernardo, the Ivy House, Le Jardin. Still contemplating -- anyone have suggestions?

We Will Prevail
"The regime of Saddam Hussein is gone forever."

BY GEORGE W. BUSH
Friday, November 28, 2003 12:01 a.m. EST


BAGHDAD, Iraq--Thank you. I was just looking for a warm meal somewhere. Thank you for inviting me to dinner. Gen. Sanchez, thank you, sir, for your kind invitation and your strong leadership. Ambassador Bremer, thank you for your steadfast belief in freedom and peace. I want to thank the members of the Governing Council who are here, pleased you are joining us on our nation's great holiday, it's a chance to give thanks to the Almighty for the many blessings we receive.

I'm particularly proud to be with the First Armored Division, the Second ACR, the 82nd Airborne. I can't think of a finer group of folks to have Thanksgiving dinner with than you all. We're proud of you. Today, Americans are gathering with their loved ones to give thanks for the many blessings in our lives. And this year we are especially thankful for the courage and the sacrifice of those who defend us, the men and women of the United States military.

I bring a message on behalf of America: We thank you for your service, we're proud of you, and America stands solidly behind you. Together, you and I have taken an oath to defend our country. You're honoring that oath. The United States military is doing a fantastic job. You are defeating the terrorists here in Iraq, so that we don't have to face them in our own country. You're defeating Saddam's henchmen, so that the people of Iraq can live in peace and freedom.





By helping the Iraqi people become free, you're helping change a troubled and violent part of the world. By helping to build a peaceful and democratic country in the heart of the Middle East, you are defending the American people from danger and we are grateful.
You're engaged in a difficult mission. Those who attack our coalition forces and kill innocent Iraqis are testing our will. They hope we will run. We did not charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq, pay a bitter cost in casualties, defeat a brutal dictator and liberate 25 million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins.

We will prevail. We will win because our cause is just. We will win because we will stay on the offensive. And we will win because you're part of the finest military ever assembled. And we will prevail because the Iraqis want their freedom.

Every day you see firsthand the commitment to sacrifice that the Iraqi people are making to secure their own freedom. I have a message for the Iraqi people: You have an opportunity to seize the moment and rebuild your great country, based on human dignity and freedom. The regime of Saddam Hussein is gone forever.

The United States and our coalition will help you, help you build a peaceful country so that your children can have a bright future. We'll help you find and bring to justice the people who terrorized you for years and are still killing innocent Iraqis. We will stay until the job is done. I'm confident we will succeed, because you, the Iraqi people, will show the world that you're not only courageous, but that you can govern yourself wisely and justly.





On this Thanksgiving, our nation remembers the men and women of our military, your friends and comrades who paid the ultimate price for our security and freedom. We ask for God's blessings on their families, their loved ones and their friends, and we pray for your safety and your strength, as you continue to defend America and to spread freedom.
Each one of you has answered a great call, participating in an historic moment in world history. You live by a code of honor, of service to your nation, with the safety and the security of your fellow citizens. Our military is full of the finest people on the face of the earth. I'm proud to be your commander in chief. I bring greetings from America. May God bless you all.


--thanks to the Opinion Journal for posting this so quick.

Surprizing Us All

I watched FoxNews last night, but they (and I) missed President Bush's secret surprize trip to Iraq. I love a man who can keep a secret.


Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

We Gather Together

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens his will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,
Sing praises to his name: He forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom devine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be thine!

We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,
And pray that thou still our defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
Amen

California Legislative Candidates

Any of my Bear Flaggers know anything about any of the candidates running for Assembly? I see that Heather Peters (former candidate for governor) is running for AD41. Has anybody met her? Just curious. How about any other Republican candidates? I'm not interested in the placeholder candidates - those who are running for office in order to a secure membership in the county party and the state central committee. I mean real candidates.

Update: I found a page from Allen Hoffenblum's Target Book with some info.

Congratulations Cassandra

A couple weeks ago I blogged on how great an appointment Cassandra Pye would be. Apparently, Arnold agrees. Cassandra now serves as Deputy Chief of Staff.

And congratulations also to former Bill Jones Chief of Staff Mike Chrisman on his appointment as Resources Secretary. Mike was always very helpful back in the day when I was with the California Young Republicans. I'm sure he'll be great.

The Senate voted, 33 to 0, to repeal the law after only four minutes of debate

In a victory for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senate Democrats joined with their Republican counterparts Monday to repeal a controversial law that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain California driver's licenses.

Good news reported (for once) by the dog trainer.

And On the 8th Day

Some of you may know that I am a friend and big fan of Congressman Bill Thomas (R-Bakersfield) the Chairman of Ways and Means. He is the one who pushed through President Bush's tax cuts and is going to get us social security reform.

I was thinking of him as I read the reports on how whiney mad the Dems were about the extended voting period for the medicare bill. I recalled Congressman Thomas telling me about a similar tactic the Dems had used against us when Jim Wright was speaker. I've been e-mailing people and commenting on other's blogs, hoping someone could remember the incident.

Thanks to Joel B visiting the Fresh Potatoes who pointed me to Pejmanesque It happened in 1987. First they added an 8th day to the week, then they stretched 15 minutes out and out and out. Pej' writes:

The initial vote on the bill--which the Democratic majority supported--was defeated as a result of 41 Democrats defecting, and all of the Republicans standing fast against the bill. Initially, the Democrats were going to come back the next day with a new bill, but feared that overnight, word of their defeat would make them look bad. So Wright's chief of staff suggested that the House adjourn early for the day, and then reconvene again on the same day. The adjournment would create a second legislative day within the same calendar day, the Democrats could lean on defectors, and win the vote--thus erasing their earlier loss from the headlines. Wright agreed to the suggestion.

Republicans were enraged. One Republican confronted then-Majority Leader Tm Foley (who succeeded Wright as Speaker, and later served as Ambassador to Japan), and mentioned that as the Book of Genesis had stated that God had created the world in six days, and rested on the seventh, the creation of an eighth day was quite the big deal. Sarcastically, the Republican asked Foley what the new day was being called. Foley replied that it was going to be called "The Guaranteed Deficit Reduction Act."

Go and read the whole thing.

Google Hits

I just got a google hit Is George Clooney Irish? Who cares - He's Creepy.

Wictory Wednesday Roundup

I'm getting lots of out-of-state visitors. If you want to some day visit California, I've got the real deal on the most fun you could have with Things You Should Do In California.