** 10 PM UPDATE: In the latest Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) Poll, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has a 13-point lead over his Democratic challenger, Treasurer Phil Angelides. The former action superstar leads the former state Democratic chairman, 43% to 30%. Running in a distant third, Green Party candidate Peter Camejo garners 4% of the vote, while the Libertarian and American Independent candidates each pick up 1% of the projected vote.
The numbers are a little different from the Field Poll and the credible private polls on both sides of the partisan aisle, for two reasons. First, PPIC does not do a push question at this stage of the campaign. Second, the minor party candidates are included, something which Field and most of the other pollsters are not doing.
The PPIC Poll is primarily about the environment, not the political horse race. There it shows very strong public support for measures to combat global warming — which well over 60% of likely voters believe is well underway — and air pollution, and to promote renewable power development and energy efficiency. Schwarzenegger’s job approval rating is up to 49% among likely voters, as in the Field Poll.
But, in something of a warning sign for the former Mr. Universe, his rating on the environment is not as high as his overall rating. In this, he is probably hurt on two fronts. First, he and his previous team did not emphasize his environmental moves. Second, he wears the Republican brand. And that brand is associated with President George W. Bush. And Bush is seen as antithetical to environmental concerns by the overwhelming majority of Californians.
So that is a glimmer of hope for Phil Angelides and his legions of fans.
In addition, the oil severance tax initiative, Proposition 87, designed to raise $400 million a year from a tax on oil at the wellhead, is running way ahead with over 60% of the vote. Public anger against the oil companies is real, and desire to raise money to develop and promote alternative fuels is a major factor.
** Tomorrow’s peak electric power demand, at something over 46,000 megawatts in the Cal ISO service area (minus the munis in LA, Sacramento, and smaller cities) is just a tad over what was forecast in the fall of 2003 for this summer and so is back on the normal track.
** 5:30 PM UPDATE: California’s electric power demand topped out at 47,744 megawatts in the Cal ISO service area, nearly 2500 megawatts less than forecast today. The load is now down to 46,503 megawatts. The crisis is over.
** San Francisco and Los Angeles made the final cut of three cities for the U.S. pick for the 2016 Olympics Games.
3 PM UPDATE: Today’s forecast peak electric power demand for California has dropped by over 2000 megawatts. Barring massive equipment failure, the crisis caused by the current extreme weather event is past.
** 1:15 PM UPDATE: California has broken the state record for electric power demand set last July for the 10th day in a row in this extreme weather event, as of 1:10 PM. However, the peak demand trendline for the day is running lower than the forecast.
Meanwhile, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger tours a “cool center” set up by the state in the LA area. No late word on whether popsicles were available. Or whether pastels were optional in the obvious circumstance of black no longer being black.
** New West friend Marc Cooper is underwowed by Bush-style diplomacy in the Israel-Hezbollah War.
** Look for a New West Newsbreak on the California campaign tonight at 10 PM Pacific time.
** Common Cause and the League of Women Voters have endorsed the Clean Money initiative, Proposition 89 on California’s November ballot, sponsored by the California Nurses Association.
** Track California’s peak electric power demand, which is slowly declining during the current extreme weather event, in near real time with Cal ISO.
** Get continuous updates on global and national energy prices, with crude oil prices creeping upwards again toward record levels, courtesy of Bloomberg.
** Continuous coverage of the Israel-Hezbollah War from Pajamas Media. No ceasefire in sight.
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It seems the heat crisis will end tomorrow.
Ann,
I’m about three blocks away from the Sacramento River and I see slight movement in the trees. Leads me to believe there’s a slight delta breeze coming in. Hope it’s for real, but I’ll only believe it when I see the little fella in the red suit and carrying a pitchfork climb aboard the train and head south!
Is the water bubbling?
Real close to it and I saw broom sticks!
While we wait for the exciting (embargoed) newsbreak at 10 PM, which will tell you what you should already know, what do we think of the key cultural question of the week?
Miami Vice the movie?
Will it rock?
Or will it suck?
You’re not going to make us wait until 10 p.m. and then tell us Mike Curb is making a comeback, are you?
I’m feeling the ’80s. Miami Vice will Rock you like a Hurricane
Miami Vice is suppose to blow. That’s what the early reviews are saying and the “Industry buzz”
http://www.miamivice.com/main.html
I’m looking forward to it, even if the movie stars aren’t as cool as the TV stars and even though the take in the movie is even more downbeat than the series. Don’t forget how many Vice episodes ended on a big-time down beat. Plus there is no Edward James Olmos as Lt. Castillo to semi-dominate the movie with his ultra-terse appearances.
But Michael Mann is a great filmmaker — see “Heat” and “Last of the Mohicans” — and as the producer (though not creator) of the series, knows Vice inside and out. My beef regarding him is on the Howard Hughes movie projects. He finally won his little duel with Warren Beatty and his longstanding gestation of the ultimate Hughes movie, only to give it up to Martin Scorcese for a fairly surfacey though Oscar-nominated movie that barely skimmed the surface of what Beatty wanted to get into, i.e., Hughes’ role as arguably the central figure in the hidden history of America over the past half-century.
But that is another story entirely.
Excuse me, this little clown “Jose” is talking about “the industry buzz?” lol
It sounds funny, but I’m looking forward to a gloomy Miami Vice. I always felt the show had a strong tilt towards gloom and moodiness but was held back by the fact it was on TV. Let’s face it, the main characters are undercover; their personal lives are consumed by their undercover work; and they have to straddle the line between their police duties and underworld legitimacy.
It’s dark drama in a sunny setting. For some reason, that appeals to me.
I am certain Mr. Angelides is very happy with the passing of the crisis. His next hope, a tsunami!
Miami Vice, despite its glitz and brigh colors, was frequently described as the show with the broken heart. Even as it celebrated high fashion and glamour it identified money as the ultimate empty objective. We’ll see if a less flashy approach makes that downbeat anti-consumerist message go down well.
Hate to break it to you Hemlock, but the crisis isn’t over — and won’t be for the next few years (see the Merc today for the article Bill flogged me about earlier).
And yes, popsicles were delivered to the Governor’s office today to help his Administration help with the energy crisis. Check this out:
http://www.youngdems.org/blog/
Actually, Steve, the current crisis ended this afternoon.
You can check the figures.
Of course, you can always attempt to dispute what I am saying. That goes well.
The enegy crisis we be over as soon as we win the war on terror, drugs, poverty and the war against the war.
Feeling pretty down becuase I just watched the episode where Sonny got anemsia, thought he was a dealer and shot Tubbs.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let’s hope I don’t get amnesia and shoot you.
I remember the real power crisis. I wore out a laptop writing about it and the various escapades of the Dems surrounding it.
Gee, I think I can find all stuff …
Let’s put all this in perspective, folks. Normally in journalism, most of this incessant spin I am getting would be immediately roundfiled as errant nonsense.
How many journalists in California allow this?
The answer is: 1.
Of course, for some of the columnists at some of the alt-weeklies, they just regurgitate the spin (not you Bill, but I’m thinking specifically of the SFBG).
Sounds like “Power Crisis Returns ” didn’t pack the punch of the 2001 smash-hit (in the electoral guts of Gray Davis) “Power Crisis Begins: Rise of the Deregulators.”
When will have a sequel this summer that is as good as, or better than, the original?
I hear “Power Crisis 3: The Mailbox” is already filming. In this one, Keanu Reeves, reprising his role from the “Lake House,” goes to his mailbox, expecting a letter from Sandra Bullock, but instead is socked with his July power bill. And, in a Dick Wolf “ripped-from-the-headlines” plot, (http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-powerrates21jul21,1,425573.story?coll=la-headlines-business) there is also a notification of the utilities raising rates.
We’re talking boffo box-office here.
It occurs that Mr. Maviglio has wandered far afield from his employer the speaker’s positions. He seems like one of those Confederate diehards from the 19th century.
The only “power crisis” in this state is our Governor who will shamelessly pander to any group in order to hold onto power. Glad to see that the real Repubs can see right through it. It’s that kind of back bone that draws me to vote for that party anytime they have a candidate who demonstrates it.
Gospodin Bierko, why would the utilites raise rates when they will make plenty on the sheer volume of power consumed during the extreme weather event?
Besides, as you well know, any rate increase would have to be approved by the Public Utilities Commission. Which is unlikely to do that in an election year. If they do approve a rate increase, it will be under the chairmanship of a man appointed by a Democratic governor, one Michael Peevey.
So, how about that Miami Vice movie?!
Three of the five commissioners are Schwarzenegger appointees.
Apparently the Governor’s appointees must be more interested in pleasing the utilities than voters. Here are couple lines from the LA Daily News, 7/22/06.
“A month of triple-digit temperatures isn’t all that will contribute to eye-popping Southern California Edison bills – the utility will raise rates Aug. 1 by up to 55 percent…The rate increase, the third this year, was approved Thursday by the state Public Utilities Commission, the third hike this year. “
“why would the utilites raise rates when they will make plenty on the sheer volume of power consumed during the extreme weather event?”
For the same reason that the oil companies do it… to intensify their profits and demonstrate that greed is a virtue, in some circles.
Interesting Lou Dobbs piece on the GAS immigration flip-flop http://angelidesshare.com/press/upload/CNN_07-26-2006_18.14.34.wmv
I suspect that the GAS handlers are quite pleased, makes their guy appear quite centrist. Who knew? However, a flop by any other name, is still a flip…
I await the newsbreak.
Interesting, Steve.
Let us know what the PUC vote was, why doncha?
Eric, let’s not start on the recent “flip-flop” business again, okay. It bores me, since I reported Schwarzenegger’s change of heart on Prop 187 years ago.
As you should know, since you read it then.
And now for the rest of the story …
What Steve fails to mention is that:
“The revenue is needed to expand and renovate California’s power system, [Southern California Edison spokesman Gil] Alexander said.”
And
“The latest increase applies to medium and heavy energy users. For the average consumer – including residential, business and agricultural users – the three increases will amount to an additional 17 percent a year, Alexander said.”
And
“At the urging of the PUC, Edison created a tiered pricing system that means lower rates for residential customers who conserve power.”
The article, in its entirety, can be read at http://www.dailynews.com/santaclarita/ci_4081120.
Incidentally, Eric, i suspect you already know what the newsbreak will tell you.
In the meantime, why don’t you have another of your spin colleagues send me the Zogby poll?
I love amusement.
Lucas, are you saying that Steve failed to mention something?
That is so hard for me to believe.
Oh, wait, you are saying that Southern California Edison is for this?
Well, I don’t know why Steve would have a problem with it then.
After all, when he worked for Gray Davis, one of the top advisors to the governor told me: “The governor’s energy policy is Edison’s energy policy.”
His current boss, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, carried the bill devised for him by Edison to put them back in the thick of electric power generation, guaranteed as a monopoly, so that the parent Edison corporation can make back what it lost in the merchant power business.
And his candidate for governor, Phil Angelides, wholeheartedly backs this scheme.
So if Edison is for it, somebody better tell Steve to get with the program because that is the program, on the evidence of the three big politicians he has worked for in California.
This is what I mean by politics from the inside/outside.
This is a no-spin zone.
C’mon, Bill. You whipped me earlier today for posting an entire article and now you’re giving me grief for not including more??!!?? You asked about a rate increase and I gave you the answer. Geesh.
And here I thought I was providing a public service and all.
And while we are at it, let’s talk about who was for the state bailout of Edison during the power crisis. Which always seemed very fair to me, given Edison’s role in devising the scheme that led to the debacle …
Steve, you just kinda left out the key parts. Like who actually voted for it, and how little it would cost consumers compared to what you implied it would cost consumers.
This amuses me to a point, the point at which my time is wasted.
Although I do enjoy teasing out the truth.
Mr. Bradley, stop playing with the mice and go drink your bowl of milk.
Mr. Bradley, your perfectly prescient instincts are correct.
There’s nothing prescient about it, Eric. I read the deck of cards.
And I worked so hard to come up with that. Viva Zogby!
I would get tossed out of a casino in Vegas except this is a casino that I own.
These democrats should stop spinning their wheels and make sure they elect their other candidates.
Newsbreak! PPIC POll OUT TOMORROW! Schwarznegger up by 13. Game over! Let’s start planning the innuaguration tomorrow. Save the State a lot of money and negativity.
Well at least PA seems assured of a podium finish.
last one out please get the lights….and pass along Ann’s sage advice.
Mr. Bradley, is the Proposition 89 “Clean Money” campaign a real campaign or a vehicle to harass Gov. Schwarzenegger? I hear they have no money, Gail Kaufman of the late ABC is running the campaign against it for the Chamber of Commerce, and the entire thing is a badly planned joke looking for a punch line.
Well, that is an interesting question.
I have met with the Clean Money folks at length, told them I want dirt on all sides, and so far get only stuff about Schwarzenegger.
That needs to change.
Miami Vice will be the cultural event of the summer, as a 25 year old I grew up with far off memories of a profound and entertaning vision of good vs. bad battling on the streets of Miami. Through re-runs I experienced what was “the 80′s”. Heat was a great movie directed in a new fashion that portrayed violence and drama in a masterful light. Farrell and Fox are perfect characters for the roles. When I heard the remake of Phil Collins “In the Air Tonight”, when the drums come in and you see an explosion, a fast boat, a helicopter and plane, all in the course of 3 seconds, you know this will be a bad ass movie.
Perhaps the only thing that will trump it will be Transformers next summer?
P.S. Arnold lucked out he didn’t go down as Gray Davis, ala brown outs and neccasary last ditch energy deals, CA needs a better long term energy plan, cause it’s only going to get worse
Arnold – The Luckiest Guy in the Room