Now you know why the bus is green. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was on the final day of his second bus tour of the general election campaign yesterday as word came of a new Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) Poll giving him a 13-point lead over his Democratic challenger, Treasurer Phil Angelides. The poll was primarily about environmental issues and showed that Schwarzenegger has made great strides in public perception since a similar poll in February showed him standing no higher in public estimation on the environment than unpopular President George W. Bush.
Which had been quite remarkable, because the governor has a very pro-environmental record for a Republican, much more so than Bush. The Sierra Nevada mountain conservancy, ocean protection, global warming, offshore oil drilling, renewable energy, all areas in which Schwarzenegger’s administration had moved in ways unlike other Republican administrations. Yet just five months ago, he was viewed by Californians, according to the PPIC poll released on February 23rd, as about the same as Bush on the environment. Which disappointed Schwarzenegger and his people.
Indeed, as I wrote then, Schwarzenegger had enacted the biggest solar energy program in history just the month before. Yet none of that had connected with the public, in large part because his previous group discouraged much public airing of his environmental views.
A top Democratic advisor, who wished the governor no good fortune, marveled in February at this vaunted communicator’s “failure to communicate.” His team, said the strategist, “and he need to do what Gray Davis did on the Democratic side, emphasize what makes him different as a Republican. Not as a fake Democrat like they’re doing now, but different as a Republican. Like Gray did constantly playing up his Vietnam War service and support for the death penalty. The environment is that thing for Schwarzenegger. I won’t say this publicly, but he has good policies there. But if he doesn’t keep reminding Californians, they don’t know. He thinks because he’s famous and he says something everybody pays attention and remembers. Well, they don’t. They’ve seen the act and nobody is hanging on his every word.”
That, of course, is precisely what Team Arnold did do, play up the environment. In a ramped up schedule of events as governor, including a high-profile global warming summit in San Francisco, and in TV advertising, including two ads running around the state right now. As a result, Schwarzenegger has gained strength and credibility in the issue area, which he is using effectively to differentiate himself from Bush.
Schwarzenegger leads Angelides in the new PPIC Poll, 43% to 30%, with 4% going to veteran Green Party candidate Peter Camejo and 1% each to the Libertarian and American Independent candidates.
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.
Schwarzenegger’s numbers on the environment have come up sharply from their previous Bush-like levels. But that means that Schwarzenegger’s approval ratings for handling environmental issues are somewhat mixed. 44% approve of his performance on the environment, 36% disapprove, and 20% don’t know. And, notwithstanding the governor’s big push on renewable energy, views of his energy policy are split, with 40% approving, 38% disapproving, and 22% unsure.
It’s fortunate for the former action superstar that the long heat storm has ended without rolling blackouts.
Still, he has made tremendous strides in this area and as a result is well-positioned for re-election.
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There are only 190 Fish & Game Wardens in the field in California, while Texas has 500 and Florida has 700; yet, California is second only to Hawaii in the number of threatened and endangered species.
Sonoma County just took up the issue to fund fish and game enforcement on the Russian River because the state isn’t doing its job and the Klamath River fiasco has resulted in commercial fisherman being put out of work and sturgeon have been decimated in the Klamath too.
The Legislature appropriated up to $30 million to fix the warden funding issue. If the Governor has any sense he’ll take care of the wardens, before they join the Angelides camp.
More good news for Schwarzeneger. It is too bad Angelides is such a poor candidate, Schwarzeneger is worst when he is cocky.
On the fish and game warden issue – I watched the Governor’s first webcast interview were he fielded a question about the shortage of fish and game wardens. He responded, after a few seconds of fumbling around, that he thought there were plenty of wardens. He ought to just say he doesn’t know the answer to a question (if he doesn’t) instead of struggling to make up one.
I understand that the Resources Agency Secretary, Mike Chrisman, is only going to use about $3-4 million of the $30 million to fund game warden positions and is diverting remaining funds elsewhere.
I hope the wardens call Angelides and do a big fat ad for him telling Californians how full of BS the Governor is. Arnold isn’t even close to Phil on the environment. Farmers, environmentalists, anglers and hunters all love the wardens and I suspect they’ll believe a warden over the Pretend-enator any day of the week. Keep pimping your environmental record Arnold it will only come back to bite you.
Arnold’s support of Game Wardens is so good that Sonoma County Sheriff’s office has asked the Board of Supervisor’s for $200K to allow them to enforce salmon and steelhead regulations on the Russain River this fall because of the lack of wardens in the county. One of the wardens in Sonoma County is leaving DFG for Sonoma S.O. and will more than double his pay the first year. It is hard to call yourself Green when you allow this to happen to those who are the voice and protectors of California’s wildlife resources and their habitat.
Let me think here…game wardens are state employees. State offices open at 8 a.m. and that’s the report time for most state employees. Given that, one would hope game wardens aren’t using state computers to press their case on this site. One would hope that MY tax dollars aren’t being used for that purpose. But, given three comments above, that might be asking too much.
I would love to believe that Governor Schwarzenegger is truly suppotive of the environmental resources of this great State. However, until Fish and Game Wardens receive fair compensation and the ability to retrain and recruit more officers, I will remain doubtful. It saddens me that I am unable to answer all of my calls and am rarely able to patrol anymore. Our staffing levels have been inadequate for years; but it has never been as bad as it is currently. As a Field Training Officer, I love working with new wardens and seeing their enthusiasm for protecting the resources. So many of these awesome officers have now left to work for other law enforcement agencies- in order to feed their families and pay their bills. We desperately need the governor’s help and support right now!
Sacramento Solon,
Ya hit the nail on the head.
So now, while they should be working on our dime, state employees are spinning for more resources?!
Game wardens got a tough job. Now it’s even tougher as their credibility (in my eyes) just went down the toilet.
Hey Bill, do all these folks’ email addresses end in dot-gov?
yeah, it’s only OK for political appointees to use tax dollars to employ press reps etc. to publish the official spin
Huh? What political appointees are you speaking of? I haven’t seen any here that are currently on the state payroll.
Wardens have a union. Let them do the spin. I’d rather they do what they’re paid to do.
I noticed that only 2 of the game warden posts were after 8 am and presumably game wardens have all different sorts of schedules like other public safety officers. So its a little unfair to criticize them Solon or Phil, because you guys DON’T actually know. Would you guys have the same ire for a Republican legislator who publicly boasted about using his district and Capitol offices to attempt toget concert tickets on the telephone only to to get diddly squat and complain about it? I’m waiting.
Okay, with all due respect to the game warden issue, which i am very sympathetic to, would anyone like to discuss the rest of the column?
Okay Bill – I’ll take the bait. What do you think of the fact that Arnold only got 43%, which is right in there with the Rassmussen and Zogby numbers?
Also, I noticed that 22% were not accounted for in this poll. What happened to them? Didn’t the Field Poll and PPIC have Westly in the lead right before the Primary? Although, I will admit, the wind these days seems to be blowing in Arnolds direction. Angelides thus far has run a pretty crummy campaign.
Don’t waste my time.
Moderate Dem…
I’m a retired state employee. During my career I worked for the legislature and a state consitutional officer. Prior to becoming a state employee I did political campaigns. All for Dems.
So, to answer your question:
1) given the time of the first post, my comments were probably unfair.
2) given the time of the other posts, probably not.
3) I would say the same about any state employee no matter who they worked for using state equipment to post on this or any site prior, during or after working hours. State equipment is issued to conduct state business.
ditto…
As the wife of a game warden I have watched my husband make many difficult choices. The most recent choice has been whether or not to remain in the job he loves or move on so that he can support his family. Game Wardens perserve what is left of California’s natural resources and arrest people who do have respect for everything this great state has to offer. I am confused as to why Game Wardens are not paid more since they are expected to cover all law enforement issues ranging from traffic stops, drug enforcement and wildlife violations . I have heard of Game Wardens arresting someone for driving under the influence but I don’t think I have ever heard of a CHP officer arresting someone for an undersize Sturgeon. Is that how is works in California…..The people who do the most get paid the least?
Mr. Bradley “Public anger against the oil companies is real, and desire to raise money to develop and promote alternative fuels is a major factor.”
This poll is such an education…it is highly worthwhile to download it and read through it…On Prop 87 …a majority of (likely voters) Reeps support it…this prop has hit a nerve…I am still surprised Arnold did not endorse it…
TO SAC SALON AND PHIL…
They may be an employee of the state but they have no set hours and some go to work at midnight. It must have been nice to have a job for the state where you could go to work at 8, be home in time for dinner, and afford your own computer. Mabye one day we will be as lucky!
Folks, I get all this stuff on my blackberry no matter what I am or am not doing. Today, of course, I deal with trolls predictably very upset and acting out about the fact that the governor’s race is not what they supposed. (I warned you that the Zogby poll was not real. Among other things … )
Then there is the game warden situation. I don’t know enough to endorse the game wardens position, but I think the game wardens and their supporters clearly have legitimate issues here. With all due respect to our friends Sacramento Solon and Phil, I don’t particularly care what time of day, or from where, the people are posting about this issue.
What are the promises or ideas from each campaign as related to alternative fuel? Do we have an actual date when we will driving electric or using bio fuels?
Bill, on enviro issues I dont think the governor should get so much credit. Everyone Im a Angelides supporter with a biased view.
Has he helped spur the growth of renewables? No. Has the ‘hydrogen highway’ gone anywhere? No. Most importantly, as Ive pointed out befor, the actual Global Warming bill that Arnold talks about is a waytered down version of Fran Pahvleys bill. Its about collecting information but setting NO caps on emissions. The Gov says we need to first get the info then we can create a ‘trading system’. The Solar bill was great, but thats it!
he could; order the state fleet to convert to flex cars or CNG-but hasn’t. Pushed for a larger share of renewables from the IOU’s but he is content to keep it where it is now, which means the IOU’s can satisfy the requirement using mainly hydro ( large scale at that).
On a macro level this Gov wants to be a moderate on social issues and a Republican on business issues. So..when push comes top shove, if something will cost business money, he will not go against them. And, you cant have it both ways, all the time.
My final bit of evidence on this ( befor I post and get back many angry replies) is that the Gov wont sign onto the oil extraction fee initiative( Prop 87), which is opposed by big oil.
Actually, you are wrong about the global warming caps (it’s not just info but cap and trade, I’ve already written about this) and the renewables, in that the Million Solar Roofs bill — which Phil opposed because labor wanted prevailing wages and because they didn’t want Schwaranegger to have a victory going into the special election last year — will be the biggest solar program in the country’;s history.
Bill, there is one bill AB32, on Global Warming, sponsored by Nunez-Pahvley. Arnold has set up the climate registry network to ask companies to ‘volunteer’ their information so they can then plot a strategy. In all your reporting Bill, I have not seen what EXACT steps Arnold will take to reduce emissions. Please enlighten me! And, it cant be Arnold saying something, it has to be concrete actions to reduce emissions.
IT does NOT exist!
Well, Bill, you asked for comments on the general enviro. issues and I’ll offer my observations. As for game wardens, I’m sympathetic to them, but hey, I get that they feel under-paid and under-appreciated.
First – I’m a Dem. and long been involved in green/enviro. issues, but in DC, not California. And I’m supporting Arnold. I think he’s got a good record on the environment and I agree with your post that it can be – and looks like it is – his way of branding himself as a “different” kind of Rep., much as, in ’98, Davis talked about his death penalty stance and his Vietnam Service. I saw those polls numbers in the spring, same as everyone else, which showed AS wasn’t getting any credit on the enviro. issues and it struck me also, as you quoted people as saying, that it was because no one in the public – the voters – knew what he was doing, enviro-wise. Now, he’s talking about much more pro-actively, and more often, and he should, in my view. He’s got a lot to talk about which, in my humble opinion, the voters will like – Sierra Conservancy, million-solar roofs, ocean & beach stuff….
Mitchell, I am glad you think there is only one proposal, but you are wrong. Read the Climate Action Report available at the California Energy Commission web site.
Bill, just read thru the 20 page report you mentioned. According to the report, they need to make a policy recommendation to the Governor by Jan 2008. While various ideas are discussed, NOTHING had been, or will be, done, in a mandatory way, till…who knows!
In addition, the Gov has set a goal of reducing emissions by 2010 to 2000 levels. Given they wont even have a plan till 2008, how will this be possible?
Now, this may be a good way to do policy if we had the time. But given the fact that the Gov has said that the proof is there and what we need now is action, where is the action?
hey, Bill:
can I digress from the subject for a movie trivia question? you seem to be a movie buff…
Mitchell, you have misread it.
Tim, please do talk about movies.
Anxious Democrats are not as entertaining.
OK, Movies:
I was at the SF courthouse today, waiting to be called for jury duty(I was, but was dismissed)…I got to talking to another guy waiting – who, as it happened, was a private practice lawyer…so we got to making a list – The 3 best legal/law movies of all time: we agreed on 1) To Kill a Mockingbird 2) “12 Angry Men” 3) It was a tie between “The verdict” and “the firm.”
Bonus question: we all know Fonda starred in 12 Angry men. But the other jurors were played by a number of actors who were either minor-league stars/names in their own right, or who went on to become well-known actors/character actors. So, the bonus is – who were the other jurors in “12 Angry Men.”
Jack Warden, Lee J. Cobb, Jack Klugman, E.G. Marshall, and Robert Webber come to mind.
I feel badly now that I think of this that I didn’t write anything when Jack Warden died last week.
I think I’ll make up for it tomorrow.
Oh, yeah, Martin Balsam was also in 12 Angry Men.
Bill – What are your favorite pirate movies? Like most, I really like the Disney POTC things, though more for the awesome scenery than the story. All the Errol Flynn stuff seems to keep the pace of the movie up nicely.
The only other name from 12 Angry Men was Ed Begley – Sr., not Jr.
My favorite pirate movies?
Uh, I really liked The Crimson Pirate. But that was when I was four.
Cutthroat Island was going to be good until Michael Douglas dropped out, but the musical score is great.
I liked the first Pirates of the Caribbean.
Yeah, see I don’t know what Ed Begley, Sr. looks like.
One of the best overlooked legal movies, though not viewed by many, was True Believer, with James Woods and Robert Downey Jr. James Woods is one of the best overactors in H’wood.
BTW Tim, youre right. To kill a Mockingbird was the best. And, who was the great actor who played Boo Radley?
Robert Duvall … aka Augustus MacCrae in Lonesome Dove.
I’m on the Sierra Club mailing list and I got a message titled “Schwarzengger joins Sierra Club”. It’s some blurb about his opposition to offshore oil drilling and support for renewable energy. But wait, I thought the SC endorsed Angelides for governor. Oops.
It’s just green paint, Bill — while Schw. is clearly, as you say, much greener than his party and president, that’s no a high bar nor surprising given the, um, political climate of California these days.
Another example I’m surprised you missed was public lands. Schw.’s moves to petition the feds for the equivalent of Bill Clinton’s protection for roadless areas on national forests in California, as well as the administration’s appeal of the four SoCal forest plans, place Arnold completely cross-grain to the Bush Administration. I know I’m not alone in seeing in these moves a serious attempt by the Schw. crew to put some real distance between them and the most unpopular of the White House’s domestic policies.
But. While Arnold’s initiatives are symbolically powerful, and do in some instances even actually mean something will change for the better, they are essentially green paint for a machine that has changed neither course nor essential character. Let alone the wardens’ woes, if you will, and consider their bosses — the people calling the shots at DFG, State Parks, let alone CDF and the Board of Forestry — well, let’s just say Pete Wilson would be very pleased. Schw’s appointments to water boards, air boards, even the Coastal Commission, have been generally awful. Pretty much what you’d expect from a regular old Republican, the kind who has one ear for the Chamber of Commerce and another for developers. I’d go on about the policies, too, but this is already too long a comment.
So the question is, can Angelides effectively contrast Schw’s sappy gestures with his crappy policies? I sure hope so. There’s absolutely no question in my mind that Angelides would be a much, much greener governor than Arnold — still not a high bar, and I’m sure Phil would be less than great, on many fronts, but given the public support for real changes, we could be doing a great deal more than painting busses by next year. It could be an important moment for environmental issues in the US generally.
But my bet is not — I’m guessing Schw’s green camo will be enough both to blunt Angelide’s attacks on these fronts, and to herd Phil out far enough that if he tries to outflank, Arnold can fall back on attacking Ds for their environmental extremism.
Must be nice being a Republican. To have and eat cake.
You’re ignoring a lot of facts.
I am sorry, but when Atticus Finch accepted at face value that his black client convicted of the rape of a white woman in the 1930′s South was killed “attempting to escape” and wonders why he would do such a thing when his appeal looked so promising, the legal aspect of To Kill a Mockingbird collapsed. How could such a great trial attorney be so unaware of the society in which he lived?
If you want some great legal movies: Anatomy of a Murder, Inherit the Wind, The Caine Mutiny, A Man for All Seasons, and Witness for the Prosecution.
I do think the Schwarzenegger administration needs to be credited for supporting the creation of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. Many local organizations and individuals worked tirelessly for many years to create the SNC, and support form the Governor was the critical final support that put the creation of the agency over the top. Because this agency was created the Sierra Nevada finally has a chance to compete effectively for fundng in state resource bond measures, and as a matter of fact has a $54 million earmark in the 2006 resource bond.
I admit that this amount is just a drop in the bucket compared to the work that needs to be done to manage and restore the critical resources of the Sierra Nevada, which supplies 60% of the states water, has 50% of the states biological diversity and is the playground of every Califonaian.
But it is a start.
MY understanding of the warden issue is this:
The AS Administration has funded 400 positions, and only 100 are filled. They put more $$ in the budget this year to add incentives (right now, qualified candidates are chasing after CHP and other higher-paying law enforcement jobs). If these incentives don’t work, the administration will re-assess. They will be watching the recruitment process closely.
This is what Terry Tamminen told a group of statewide Sierra Club leaders at the beginning of the summer.
It is terrible that we don’t have enough wardens. If enforcement were made more of a priority, some of the fines collected could actually fund more important programs. It does seem that the Governor understands the importance of the wardens, from what Mr. Tamminen has said. But keeping the pressure up is always a good thing.
More good things happen during election season. Gray Davis, whose appointments to many of the Commissions mentioned above (including the Coastal Commission) were terrible, did a great number of wonderful things in the months and weeks leading up to the recall election.
s’funny — I thought I was adding some facts, and throwing in my own opinions.
Bottom line is even those of us who are full-time on environmental policy can’t begin to cover the whole range of envtl politics.
If you’ve time sometime I’d be happy to hear about what I’m ignoring, how my basic take is wrong. But I won’t be convinced by “you’re ignoring a lot of facts” anymore than I would think you’d be.
You’ve posted here before.
I’m fairly certain you’re already convinced.
I dunno. I recently was interviewed for half an hour on a very well-known radio station in one of NoCal’s major cities about the roadless petition, and I praised the Schw admin without reservation. And they fully deserved it.
But I still think that the hydrogen Hummer is a pretty apt metaphor for the admin’s overall environmental policies. That may well be enough to make the political difference Schw needs. But it doesn’t make great envtl policy.
Sorry to belabor, and I don’t mean to offend — I’ve learned a great deal from this blog, and have come to rely on it. I offer my take not to convince you I know better, but to add a perspective you may not get from your regular contacts.
The Gov. doesn’t care about the environment. He has a picute of Yosemite on his bus and the background for his press releases and stage are green. That is all window dressing. He is concerned with votes. This crap about being green is ridiculous. He is protecting the oceans and designating wildlife areas? I don’t think so. Without anyone to physically protect these areas they will go on being neglected like the Salmon and Abalone fisheries. On any given day there are as few as 0, that’s ZERO, wardens patrolling the Sonoma Coast. Even on minus tides during abalone season. You can make laws and designate areas as protected all you want but WITH NO ONE THERE TO ENFORCE THEM THEY ARE AS WORTHLESS AS THE PAPER THEY ARE WRITTEN ON.
The Governor has the ability to put more Fish and Game Wardens in the field. The pay disparity between Fish and Game Wardens and other state and local law enforcement is a crime. Like-pay for like-work. If the governor is really green he will give wardens the pay they deserve, and attract and retain quality people.
Okey doke.
You’ve now convinced me the game wardens are the latest pain in the ass special interest.
Special interest? You bet. Game Warden’s special interest is protecting the wildlife resources and their habitat. That includes clean water. Use any of that lately? There are 192 wardens patrolling the entire state and 200 miles out into the ocean. We can’t do it. We are tasked with protecting California’s natural resources, the environment, and the wildlife. Wardens know what is at stake, and realize that we fall short of doing even a fair job. It would be easy to draw a pay check and do nothing, but game wardens are so testy because we care. We see the effects of poaching and pollution on California’s natural resources and it sickens us. 50 warden positions cut last year, and 65 vacant positions now because we can not recruit and retain wardens. Wardens work out of their homes and maintain an office in their residence for no compensation. The desk, chair, file cabinets, stapler and tape dispenser I paid for. Know any other state employees that do that? My phone rings all day and all night with everything from where someone can camp and catch a fish to calls regarding poaching. Friday night I received a call that a hunter is killing three to five bears a week, and is probably a convicted felon. When a warden contacts him it will be in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere, and the warden will probably be alone. When I tested in 1976 there were 3,000 people who tested. In March of this year only 178 people tested, the lowest number in 30 years, and it all has to do with pay-or maybe they don’t want to be put in with the rest of us special interest pain in the ass wardens.