** 6:45 PM UPDATE: Video footage of the global warming roundtable with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will reportedly be up very soon.
** The global warming roundtable featuring British Prime Minister Tony Blair and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is underway at the Port of Long Beach. The two are announcing what may become a new State of California/United Kingdom cap-and-trade market in greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, here is a story from today’s Times of London on heat storms around the world in the new greenhouse era. It makes some points also made in my “California’s Perfect Energy Storm” column below. Note an unanticipated problem with nuclear power, which would appear to be part of a global warming solution. Some reactors in Europe had to be shut down because the rivers providing coolant water were too warm.
Although the event is not being webcast live, I will have a link to recorded footage of the Blair-Schwarzenegger roundtable later today.
** Confirming previous reports, ace Democratic political consultant Gale Kaufman, quarterback of last year’s Alliance for a Better California (ABC) labor coalition that defeated Schwarzenegger’s special election initiative agenda, will work with a new business/labor coalition to defeat the Clean Money initiative, Proposition 89 on California’s November ballot. Prop 89 is sponsored by the California Nurses Association (CNA), which was a key element in the anti-Arnold campaign of last year. But this year the California Teachers Association (CTA) is strongly opposed to the CNA move, as is the laborers union. The California Labor Federation is neutral. Kaufman will work with several Republican consultants in running the “Stop 89″ campaign, the current co-chairs of which are California Chamber of Commerce chairman Alan Zaremberg, California Business Roundtable head Bill Hauck, and California Taxpayers Association chief Larry McCarthy. All close allies of … Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
** Sunday’s KNBC-TV L.A. News Conference show, featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger for Governor campaign manager Steve Schmidt, Phil Angelides for Governor chief strategist Bill Carrick, host Conan Nolan, and some guy standing next to a river squinting into the sun, can be found here.
** Watch global and national energy prices in near real time via Bloomberg.
** Continuous coverage of the Israel-Hezbollah War from Pajamas Media. Israel’s bombing of civilians in Lebanon led to its declaration of a 48-hour cessation of air strikes. However, a few Israeli strikes have occurrred subsequently, to protect Israeli forces, says the Israeli military.
** Former Governor Gray Davis consigliere and Steve Westly chief strategist Garry South‘s posts here at New West Notes criticizing the candidacy of Democratic gubernatorial nominee Phil Angelides discussed in articles in the L.A. Daily News and Capitol Weekly.
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It didn’t take the Israelis long to find an excuse to start up airstrikes.
In one of them, they thought they had tagged a Hezbollah leader. Instead they killed a Lebanese army officer and a jeep full of soldiers. How was that a strike to protect Israeli troops?
Israel has apologized for that incident.
Those other publications reporting the Garry South story seem very anxious to credit New West Notes. lol
Desperately trying to find an arguable reason to fault Israel in the Middle East is getting to be as convoluted as watching the Eiger Sanction itself.
The bottom line is that terrorists have been shelling, kidnapping and then killing Israeli citizens. After YEARS of trying to get the Government of Lebanon to stop it they had enough and decided to stop it themselves. When did protecting the lives of your citizens become something to be condemned and when did years of nonresponse by the appropriate authorities (The Government of Lebanon) become acceptable behavior. The problem is that Lebanon wouldn’t do their job. Funny how I didn’t hear any of the people complaining now about Israel saying anything when George Bush sent American troops into Columbia without an invitation because the Government there wasn’t doing enough to wipe out the drug trade.
How happy I am for you that your life is so simple, or perhaps simplistic.
Mr. Angelides? For it. Democrat? For it. Israel? For it.
I’m for Israel, too. I’m against stupidity. I let my mind think, not my knee. No wonder you found The Eiger Sanction so mystifying.
Garry South needs to learn the 11th commandment that the Republicans are so good at adhering to.
When your candidate loses, the candidate and his staff need to support the nominee. If Garry feels the campaign is not doing things right, he has enough friends in it that he can share his concerns with them.
Its really dissapointing that he vents his feelings and thoughts in this blog. All it does is hurt the Democrat candidate and make Garry look like a jerk.
Let’s shut up Garry South and make him a good little lemming, that will solve all Angelides’ problems. Here is another idea, he should resign the Democratic nomination and turn it over to Westly, then we could have a real race right now.
Mr. Bradley, give us the Miami Vice review.
I always thought the 11th commandment was “thou shall not spill drinks.”
re: “All it does is hurt the Democrat candidate…” it’s Democratic. Also, Angelides campaign might be anemic but it’s not so weak that it can be effectively hurt by comments on a blog.
I look forward to seeing more of Gary South’s comments. An election without sparing is unDemocratic.
Ann, there’s nothing wrong with Garry raising his voice and putting some pressure on the Angelitos folks. His counsel seems on the mark in many respects, and it’s delivered when there’s still time for Angelitos to clean house and reposition significantly.
Still, I’m skeptical of Garry’s claims that internal polling compelled Westly to go so negative, and in the manner he did.
I think Garry’s “I must have the last word” attitude demonstrated here reveals a personality characteristic that makes him potentially ill suited to call the shots in a professional political campaign that decides to go negative. Perhaps he lacks the temperment to call a halt after inflicting damage and absorb a return strike.
With Garry at the helm, it seemed that Westly responded to each and every personal attack, and repeatedly upped the ante on the mudslinging.
I’m not back in the Miami Vice review mood yet.
The LA marine layer is sitting at the head of the valley over the dam…and the fish are jumping!
How does Garry criticize anyone? He’s lost his last four campaigns, and his last big client was recalled. What advice did he give any of them that was so great?
Since you are obviously a sole purpose spinner here, “Jose,” it’s time for your full real name and political affiliations, in accordance with the established rules here, as you know.
I think I have this right. California is poised to institute a cap and trade on CO2 emissions, making it necessary for some factories and plants to relocate to Mexico to get out from under the cap, from where they can produce CO2 (and their products) as consumer demand, and their shareholders, require. As an added incentive to leave the state and/or the country, they can also sell CO2 credits to those companies that haven’t yet left. We end up with zero net CO2 reduction in North America — probably an increase — plus lost jobs as an added feature of this scheme. Sounds like a brilliant strategy to Bring California Back.
It does correspond neatly with the agenda of those who don’t really want any industry or technology to exist in the state. They want the modern conveniences, like HV/AC and endless electric power, they just want it all manufactured or produced out of view.
I think it is quite possible that global warming is upon us, and perhaps some percentage of the warming that may be happening could be attributable to human activity. But rather than jumping off Glacier Point I would suggest that we focus on improving the technology that is used to produce electricity and goods, and to power vehicles. In the meantime we should focus our efforts on conserving energy and perhaps getting by with a little less goods and services.
Of course that won’t happen, and I would expect that we will see passage of the CO2 cap and trade bill this year, followed by years of Commerce Clause and Clean Air Act litigtation.
I think the underlying stories for prop 89 will be tasty, the names, the money behind the names, the way it’s pushed. I’m willing to bet the no crowd will say “good intent, poor execution” for the prop. With that crew lining up to get behind the no message, it will be fun to observe.
The CA Dem party is meeting this weekend in the Bay area, to listen and perhaps endorse a position on initiatives, word on the street is delegates are getting lobbying calls already for a no vote. If the initiative dosen’t get the Dem endorsement, I’d consider it dead in the water, that being the natural constituancy of this idea.
GO ISRAEL, Hezbollah has it coming, thought for the day, “Mess with the bull, you get the horns”
Brian V. – I agree that if the Democratic party opposes Prop 89 that it is doomed for sure. I for one hope that is true. I hope that it is defeated so badly as to discourage further efforts in this area, unless further proposals would simply change existing nonsensical laws to require immediate disclosure of all campaign donations, with no limits on the amount or the source of the donation.
Angelides said he’s for public financing. Just not public financing that would pass. The pro Democrats are fake reformers. They make Schwarzeneger look principled here.
“Jose,” are you some kind of numbnuts or just a purposeful prevaricator? I lost my last four races? Really, and just which four might those be? I ran the only two winning Democratic gubernatorial campaigns in CA in the last 28 years. That’s my qualification. And your record is? And your name is? C’mon, chickenshit: You wanna spew all over me, have the balls to use your real name on your posts, like I do. Otherwise, kiss my ass.
Bill I just saw my first ad for the Miami Vice movie…..the car is black not red but that’s ok…..the music was the phil collins song re-recorded and the drums were still awesome….
I’m watching Bravo for a change not any of the 24/7 news stations….when I heard they were firing again into Israel and showed live reports saying Hezbollah was using mortars this time I had to change the channel…..
I know you still aren’t ready to write the miami vice review I just though I’d lighten my post up a little:)
As far as Garry South is concerned I haven’t read any posts from him anywhere in a while so it’s rather odd to me that it’s still getting any coverage…..maybe a sock was found? just some lame humor sorry:) he was fairly accurate in his posts though.
Bi partisan oppo to 89 is a very interesting concept that bears further watching
Back to West Wing.
Ah, yes, Hap, you are right. Like three of the five living governors of California, my goal is to destroy all industry in California. Global warming, which of course is still being debated, in some quarters, is merely a ruse. Not unlike various pollution laws of the past, each of which destroyed all industry in California.
Incidentally, I think John Burton never did endorse Gray Davis when he first ran for governor of California. I’m a Burton fan, but I recall him routinely cursing out the governor. Of his own party.
Jillian, the red Ferrari was in Magnum, P.I. The Ferrari in the Miami Vice TV series was black in the first season, white after that.
thanks for the ferrari correction…..my fingers and my brain were disconnected sorry…..blame it on west wing:)
Touche Mr. South very well stated….very accurate and true….I always enjoy reading your posts….
Garry South Says:
“ I lost my last four races? Really, and just which four might those be?”
Uhm, let’s see. The Westly primary 06. The Lieberman for President ’04.
The inititive you did with Westly. Forgot the Prop #, but it had to do with open primaries, and the Gray Davis recall. There! That’s four. More importantly, point to your last wins after Davis ’02, which as you know, was a squeaker. I think it’s fine to criticize Democrats all day long, but i think coming from you, so soon, seems like sour grapes.
Didn’t you see the PPIC poll. It’s over! Everyone can go home now. Throttle back and enjoy the summer, like Bill.
You don’t read so good, do ya, sport?
Your full, real name, with political affiliations.
Right now.
Enough of this nonsense. Hey Bill are you going to the big Press Conference tomorrow featuring Clinton, Villaraigosa, Newsom, and Tony Blair, and supposedly some surprise guests? Can you find out what it’s about and if they’re having a webcast you can post?
At the moment, I’m not going to any press conferences.
Why don’t you tell us more about this event you want me to publicize?
Bill – What is this, an episode of “Miami Vice?” calling everyone “pal” and “sport.” sorry for mixing cinema but, “we don’t need no stinking badges.”
No, poor soul, this is an episode of you are way out of second chances.
With your repeated gross violations of the rules and silly attempt to waste my time — although a bright person would wonder why I’ve allowed it — you are no longer allowed here.
“Jose,” I didn’t manage the anti-recall campaign, you retard. In fact, I declined to play any official role in it at all, as the papers fully reported at the time. I didn’t run the Lieberman campaign, I was one senior advisor among several. I also didn’t run the open primary campaign, I was an unpaid advisor who turned the actual campaign over to a consortium of paid consultants. You wanna talk about the two gubernatorial campaigns I actually ran? I think my record speaks for itself — and I’m pretty confident it’ll be sometime before anyone equals or surpasses it. But again, who the fuck are you, anyway?
Point of clarification for Jose:
I don’t think Mr. South was working for Gray Davis during the recall era. If only he would have been…
Now, Garry – of course “Jose” won’t use his/her real name. Then the Capitol Weekly could string together his posts and turn it into a “news story.” Or, they could take him and the string of other fake-email using folks who have incurred the wrath of Bradley around here and make a real story about using fake names all over the internet to further the purposes of a campaign…never forget Eli!
On a more serious note, I hope that isn’t the kind of language you use around your young’n. If it is, I hope you teach them one “prevaricator” for each “numbnuts.”
And – while I am blindly addressing you – how do you feel about being the namesake of an Angelides-smashed air hockey puck by old comrade and “Political Bill Brasky” Ed Emmerson?
The video of the dual Schwarzenegger/Blair press conference is up now. This gives both of them what they desperately want – distance from Bush.
Schwarzenegger offered Blair a job starring in Terminator 4. Blair claims this is the only job offer he’s had.
Is that bogus to call the UK “England”?
I wonder if the job Arnold had in mind for Blair was the same T-4 role he had in mind for Arianna Huffington…?
Seems like some of the folks at certain campaigns are taking this lackluster effort by their guy pretty hard, and want to silence any messengers.
Bill I wasn’t suggesting that you, or everyone who is supportive of global warming legislation, wants to run industry and technology out of here, but I would stand by the statement that I believe that it wouldn’t deeply offend SOME of the more fervent activists if that were the result.
Existence of global warming might not be a matter of serious debate. I do believe that to some extent, the percentage contributed by human activity is still debated in respectable places, and the most effective way to actually have an impact in combatting the problem certainly remains an open question in most places.
I would also argue that the proposals currently out there for global warming differ from pollution laws of the past like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, RCRA, and CERCLA. Those laws focus on defined, discrete air basins, water quality basins and disposal sites, etc., which make it easier for the regulators to design the remedy to get maximum effect within the region, and measure the results to see if more or less is needed. The South Coast Air Basin today is a good example of successful operation of the model. So industry complaints during the implementation of these laws rang hollow.
As the name implies, Global Warming is a bit different, and my point is that it is difficult to get the same kind of traction using the same kind of strategy used in air pollution laws, even though the temptation is great, given that we are talking about the atmosphere and all. I do think there could be unintended consequences if we proceed down that path in this particular instance. But I have a good track record of being wrong
Where is the video of the presser up please? Thanks:)
The web link is the top item on NWN.
thanks I had to change a setting to get it to work:)
Tommy Boy: Well, if I’m the only inspiration Angelides can come up with to beat a 12-year-old kid at air hockey. more power to him! lol But it does say something about the Democratic nominee’s priorities and targets, doesn’t it? If I were him, I think I’d be more concerned about the fact that less than two-thirds of Democrats are for me in the Field Poll, and just over 50% in the PPIC poll. I think that’s a far more serious problem than anything Garry South is saying on a blog. But then again, what do I know? Phil has run so many more successful campaigns for governor than I have.
Are you suggesting that “Jose” is Phil? Or simply that the two of them have equally successful gubernatorial success rates?
Okay…we have dumped on Garry and now I gotta say a few words…well, maybe more than a few words.
Not to give Garry a big head or anything (HAHAHAHAA, sorry that was funny to me)…but, lets face it, he took a virtual unknown and turned him into a serious Democratic gubernatorial contender (and damn near nominee). Which, frankly, Westly had no business being at this point in his career IF you look at him strictly on paper.
But, with South, Westly stopped being a political Pinocchio (i.e wooden) and became a “real boy.” The Westly I saw at the beginning was an absolute 180 degree difference between the guy I saw on election night. Westly learned to use his natural instincts to connect with people, to find out what matters, stay on message and work at getting better everyday. He didn’t act like someone who should be given the job of Dem nominee because he “had been here the longest.” (Sorry, this ain’t the 1950′s anymore in politics — you don’t climb the ladder anymore to success or expect anything because you waited in line like a good soldier — that thinking is soooooooo over.)
So, if any presidential candidate reads this (and who wouldn’t read Bill Bradley if they wanna know politics, right??), I would hire South, Kam Kuwata or another big consultant that we all know/respect and pay them all whatever the hell they wanted in a f&**()&()ing heartbeat. Why, BECAUSE THEY GET IT!!! They know what it takes to win a campaign on the big stage.
And screw the f(*&()*&ing critics who say he shouldn’t criticize Phil. Our erstwhile Democratic candidate still refuses to get his head out of rectal defilade (for you non-military types, that means “get his head out of his arse) and hire REAL political managers or listen less to certain ones and more to others. If it ain’t South saying it — its gonna be someone else. And if Phil can’t take it, than he doesn’t belong as the nominee for this party.
(And screw this feud nonsense b/w this two–please, if we all thought Phil had a chance of winning with this team, we would all get on board, sing f*(&)(*ing Kumbayah and go on to beat Arnold like a drum– besides, winning makes you richer than losing –or so I have heard– and thats enough incentive for anyone)
The fact is, the way the management of Team Angelides is currently are running this race reminds me exactly how one would be managing a Santa Cruz County Supervisorial campaign. They forget this new campaign isn’t appealing to a single-minded group anymore and that they have to campaign as they would govern– for the WHOLE of California, most of whom don’t think the way they do. Couple that with a candidate who simply doesn’t know where to go and won’t trust anybody to tell him. Plus, lets face it, Phil is a little f*(&)*(ing smarmy and know-it-all-esque — everyone inside./outside/between Sacramento and Needles thinks so and it comes across whenever he opens his mouth.
Best example, he takes pleasure in beating a f*(&()*ing TWELVE-YEAR OLD KID IN AIR HOCKEY. Phil, do us a favor and let the kid win next time — it makes for a better visual with the message being “Phil Angelides wants to give every kid a chance to succeed in California..whether at air hockey or in education (stage direction: Phil hugs the kid and for once smiles in genuine happiness).
Compare that against the current message which is “Well, I beat this kid in f89&)*(&(ing air hockey, compared him to Arnold Schwarznegger whom I dislike/despise and so now not only do I look like a ultra-competitive know-it-all NUMBSKULL (prevaricate that!!),I also lost F@#%#$^ING VOTES FROM PARENTS WHO SEE ME SCREAMING ACROSS THE PAGES OR TV SCREEN IN VICTORY LIKE SOME BUG-EYED, ULTRA-COMPETITIVE MANIAC WHO JUST SHOWED THEIR KID THE AGONY OF DEFEAT …AND, OH YEAH, WANTS TO RAISE YOUR TAXES THROUGH THE DAMN ROOF!!!(stage direction: Phil doing a really crazy version of Howard Dean in Iowa and trying to put the kid and/or his father in a head lock…okay, so I kid about the Howard Dean comparison)”
And yet, Team Angelides celebrates this because they want to make some stupid sophomoric point about a race that THEY ALREADY F@#%@#%ING WON and against a consultant they really didn’t beat — unless you consider, as I do, the “big win” to be a pyhrric victory.
Message received Phil, you beat big bad Garry South…big f987*()&*(ing deal!!!
But, honestly, thats the kind of attitude you take if you are running a local race not if you want to sit at the “big kids table.” I will say it again, you campaign the way you would try to govern.
Note to the Team Angelides management: “Time to move on kids — Arnold is the big fish now not Garry South. And if ya ain’t prepared to fight and catch the big fish — get the hell off the f(*&()*&ing boat.”
(Sorry, thats a total rant — but it needed to be said before I REALLY exploded.)
At the end of the day, you need strategists who think both strategically AND tactically on a large scale. South nearly did what Team Angelides has failed to do repeatedly in this campaign — that is create a message that works and f(&*()&9ing stick to it. Team Angelides reminds of that cruise ship recently that was all of the sudden was rudderless out in the middle of the Carribbean and a whole bunch of people got hurt…the only difference is that this management group is rudderless all the time and the people that will get hurt are working class men and women who are counting on a Democratic nominee to make their lives a little better. (btw, a lotta boating metaphors in this rant o’ mine)
Folks, the only thing bigger than the California political stage is running for President — and there is one or two consultants in this state who truly knows and understands that at every level and its not necessarily Garry. Thats the kind of team you need — people who see, think and act that big. Frankly, I wouldn’t give that job to anyone on Team Angelides save for the great, outsider consulting team. And I would give the overall strategic/campaign manager gig to South or a Kam Kuwata , etc, any day of the week and twice on Sunday because they work in the “now” of politics rather than one guided by people who think, act and strategize locally like its a County race. This kind of “local people’s campaign” does not and never will exist on a grand scale in this state — except only in places like, as I said, Santa Cruz or in certain parts of Mendocino County. I can’t even put San Francisco in that category — why you ask? Because the voters, for all that “liberalism” would never would have elected a Gavin Newsom, a Frank Jordan, a Dianne Feinstein or gasp, a Willie Brown, Mayor of what I consider to be the most beautiful city in America. All of these folks were party by name and pragmatic by politics…
Folks, I ask you all to remember that, as a whole, California may be Democratic as the day is long but do not doubt for a damn minute that we are just pragmatic about our politics too. We need leaders who are pragmatic as well, both on the campaign trail and in the big chair — and, right now, the Democrats don’t have that.
Yes, I think “Jose” and Phil have exactly the same track record on running winning gubernatorial campaigns — zero. As far as Angelides’ record on other campaigns, go back and read the piece I did on Jan. 12 for the Capitol Weekly on his real electoral history. Did we expect him to know how to beat a sitting governor given that track record?
Interesting presser….the PM would be great at the UN….
It’s nice to see a lol from Mr. South….still right on target:)
Again, we don’t have people running the Angelides campaign who know how to think BEYOND Sacramento. Honestly, I think in large measure, they are running the EXACT same kind of race they ran for Chairman of the Party (a total inside-the-building/Sacramento) game…
Jesus, I have no felt so frustrated by a campaign in all my life. Thankfully, we only have roughly 120 days more of this f(*&)*(ing disaster and then we can look forward to 2010.
CADTS -
I’ve enjoyed your wisdom around here, but your math leaves a little to be desired. We’re under 100 days! I’m guessing you’ll be happy/relieved to hear that. Unless you meant 120 anticipating a recount and/or court fight…but that would mean this thing would have to be close. I’m guessing you and Garry South don’t think it will be.
Sorry Tommy Boy, you are right…thank you for that. I feel so much better that we don’t have to wait as long as I predicted….
And no, it won’t be that close…if it is, it will because Arnold will have been found to have given anabolic steroids to Barry Bonds…but hey, it is California and ya never know.
Garry you’re Jan 12 article was right on and still holds true now….I loved the polling story
CADTS I’ve been where you are right now and it’s no fun you have my empathy
Very interesting, CADTS. Any progress on the Maserati front?
As far as Phil and Garry are concerned:
1. Putting lipstick on a pig still makes it a pig.
2. If you don’t want the truth don’t ask….if the Dems want to delude themselves that they nominated an electable candidate, I have a few words for them: Walter Mondale, Mayor Bradley, George McGovern, or how about Dukakis?
3. The primary should have been about who can win, not who is the faithful party flack whose time has come.
4. As far as Phil is concerned he told everyone that Steve was “Arnold Lite” and now what the big eared geek is about to get get is the real Arnold.
5. Party loyalty….that might be fine if Phil was running against the real George Bush, but Arnold is practically a Dem on 80-90% of the issues. And, on the one he isn’t, the unions, tell me that the big unions haven’t held the Democratic Party hostage for quite some time.
6. While the pro-union moderates will vote for Phil, all the pro-business Democratic moderates will vote for Arnold, just as they would have for Steve. At least that is what my friends tell me they are going to do.
All we are watching for a few months is the Dems falling on their sword. Pathetic.