** California’s prison guards union is going on the air today with TV advertising to help endorsed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides in Central Valley markets. Other public employee unions, in the form of what has been the very low-key Alliance for a Better California, will begin “independent” expenditure TV advertising on Angelides’ behalf tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the California Democratic Party, under the shade of what looks like a drafting error, as election law expert Rick Hasen puts it, is continuing its “issue advocacy” advertising on Angelides’ behalf even though we are clearly within 45 days of the election, the period in which such advertising funded by unlimited party contributions is supposed to be prohibited. Through the Democratic Party funding, the Angelides campaign will roll out another Bush/Schwarzenegger ad tomorrow produced by Angelides media consultant and senior strategist Bill Carrick.
In such a situation, the question of legislative intent becomes the key. Did the Legislature intend to disallow such ads promoting a candidate but allow such ads attacking a candidate? That seems doubtful.
Of course, if this stands, Schwarzenegger can go back to running all his negative advertising through the state Republican Party. Be careful what you wish for.
** Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s Darfur bill-signing went off with out a hitch, as some of you watched. He had good chemistry with his old Batman and Robin co-star, George Clooney, who got off a good quip: “The last I was on a podium with the governor, I was Batman and he was Mr. Freeze. Now I still think I’m Batman and he’s the governor.” Clooney was also quite eloquent in discussing the Darfur crisis, which he has championed in appearances before the United Nations and elsewhere. Schwarzenegger likened the move divesting state investments from the Sudan to the movement in the past century to do the same with businesses in then apartheid South Africa, citing the work of his friend, Nelson Mandela. Don Cheadle, the award-winning actor who brought public attention to crises in Africa through his film, Hotel Rwanda, spoke with passion and precision, noting that the move reflects “human common sense, rather than mere dollars and cents.”
Schwarzenegger has two fundraisers today featuring the world’s most successful investor, Warren Buffett. A rather liberal Democrat, Buffett is an old friend of Schwarzenegger’s. His appointment by the former action superstar as his chief economic advisor during the 2003 recall campaign set off some controversy among conservative Republicans, which blossomed further when Bufffett mused to a Wall Street Journal reporter about the need to increase property taxes in California.
** Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appears live at noon today in this webcast of his bill-signing ceremony for legislation opposing the Darfur genocide. Also on hand will be two actors you may have heard of, the great Don Cheadle and some guy named G. Clooney, along with another fellow who was U.S. secretary of state, name of George Shultz. A couple of Democratic bloggers were warning that Schwarzenegger was likely to veto this legislation, which positions the state to leverage its ability to divest investments in Sudan in order to force changes in a disastrous policy there. But since you don’t put bold face names like that together overnight, that seems off.
** Track global and national energy prices in near real time via Bloomberg. Crude oil prices are hovering around $60 per barrel.
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There goes Arnold again, sucking all the mildly-progressive-centrist “oxygen” out of the room and leaving none for Phil, who again is forced leftward to find anything differentiating to talk about.
The fundamental question continues to be whether these moves are just brilliant election year posturing, or represent the “real” Arnold who will govern another four years. That’s a significant question, but Phil’s been unable to get any traction on it, perhaps partly because its explication is a little too “inside baseball” to communicate to the voters.
Ooh, George Clooney and Don Cheadle. Ocean’s 11 …
“Arnold supports genocide” is another pathetic Angelides ‘Hail Mary’ message that will thankfully never take flight.
It is interesting to watch in real time a major campaign managed by previously competent professionals fail so spectacularly.
Thanks to Bill for the front row seat.
This is another act by Arnold showing that his smartness is accompanied by a sense of “moral responsibility.” (as in the Teddy R reference previously quoted)
I am also very happy but not surprised that George Schultz is there …his public life was all about moral responsibility. He is one of Israel’s greatest friends.
The governor’s webcasts don’t have The Governor is Late Again theme song anymore.
Maybe Clooney is late and they don’t have his theme music.
Cheadle’s great. He played the lead in Hotel Rwanda, a movie about genocide in the 1990′s, and is immortalized in song by Yo La Tengo.
They were all very good but Cheadle’s remarks were certainly the most substantive and eloquent…
This sounds terrible cheesy…but Cheadle speaks in public like he acts. Its a power, passion and commitment that every politician I know would kill for — kinda gave me chills.
Glad to see Arnold behaving like a good Democrat again. He and my son Jerry will get along just fine.
This bill signing today is yet another example of what a remarkable year the Legislature has had! …so much important public policy was passed…while I was waiting for the web cast I read (on Guv’s site) about the package of bills signed that will improve the lives of foster kids!…Arnold takes the bow at these bill signing moments ..but hats off to Nunez and Perata..they deserve all the great credit for passage of so much forward looking legislation especially with so much opposition/negativity from their Republican colleagues…
There were some real smoothies on that stage there. lol
Cheadle is a very powerful actor. Very strong in Bulworth, Hotel Rwanda, Boogie Nights, and of course a blast in the Ocean’s 11 films. They have another one coming.
Wilbur:
Phil has to my knowledge made the argument that this isn’t the “real” Arnold and raising the spectre of the unpopular rightward lurch of the 2005 election measures only with the Ohio speech for Bush ad. And it isn’t doing the job.
I ran across a reference that the Unions are reconsidering whether to do an IE for Angelides or use their resources for other races and some of the ballot measures. If they ran ads with firefighters, nurses and police making a case that voting for Schwarzenegger risks a replay of the 2005 lurch vs. his current moderate stances would that get some traction in eroding the Gov’s poll numbers?
Mr. Bradley,
Did you see this in the news:
BBC Indefinitely Postpones Top Gear
Do you think the creators can continue the show the way they envisioned it? Or will this be the end of Top Gear?
I’m sure they can keep doing the show. It’s very popular.
I was looking Cheadle’s movies up on IMDB and I was floored when I saw he was in Colors, that LAPD film with Sean Penn and Robert Duvall.
Why?
What the hell happened to the other blogs?
The La Times dropped comments to avoid embarrassment that nobody cared. The California Plurality Report has been down for 2 days not that anybody noticed. The other daily newspapers post once in awhile, guess they need more reporters! lol The other lib/lab blogs are ghost towns. Only Weintraub keeps up his end.
So the CDP is now attempting to re-interpret the intent of bills that were likely authored by, and certainly received the support of, Democratic legislators?
Art Torres’s new slogan “We’re gonna do what we need to do”.
They have no other option than to try this. Angelides’ fundraising has seriously lagged.
The danger is that the Dem party does not do much for the down ballot candidates.
Prison Guards coming to the teli? Good thing we have Tivo.
Just received an e mail for the EQ CA party October 21 honoring Mr. Newsom. Sounds like a good party! Is Mr. Bradley going to attend and video?
Who’s job was it to catch the drafting error in Prop 34?
You aren’t the A type cameraman but I think you’ve done that movie stuff before. What do you do, wave the camera around to make it look more amateurish? lol
EQ CA folks are fun! I think I would be able to firmly hold that video camera if I was looking at Mr. Newsom. Great assignment
No, smart aleck, I don’t try to look homespun or whatever.
I do believe in a lively camera, though, and that means shooting handheld. (I’m constantly swinging around for reaction shots, though you don’t always see them.) The image you see is dramatically stepped down from what’s on my Mac, first when it is compressed into QuickTime, and especially when it is uploaded to YouTube.
Incidentally, much of the time in these mob scene type situations, I am holding the camera up over my head to avoid the still photographers who scurry around everywhere getting into everyone’s sight lines. Also, Schwarzenegger is pretty funny, and I’m frequently chuckling at something.
Ann,
How hard can it be to hold a camera focused on Newsom and take pictures? The apre’ party includes dancing and drinks? I have invites if u wanted to go:)
WOW I just watched the bill signing video from the link – thanks Bill:) I just got home from work and was so glad I could see the bill signing. Cheadle blew me away as he usually does… what powerful words he spoke. I’m glad this bill was signed it’s important and I hope others will follow our lead. I hope there is a stiff fine for “the ad” this is just nuts. Someone should go to the EQ CA and take video I’d love to see it. Speaking of video I take it your new video isn’t ready for viewing yet? I know it will be worth waiting for. I’ve watched video being shot the way you shoot it and it’s not easy so I applaud your efforts always. Cheadle is an amazing actor and I’m glad he’s getting the recognition he deserves and I can’t wait for Oceans 13.
Thanks, actually, the new video accompanies this morning’s column, the item just below. Click on the picture of Arnold, Mayor Bloomberg, etc.
Geez if it was a snake it would have bit me. I scrolled right past it but have watched it and it’s very good. The Mayor isn’t a dull as you might think but next to the Guv not many can outshine him.
Okay so another non-football but very moving kind of moment…I just watched the Saints tear up the Falcons 23-3 in their first game back in the Superdome post-Katrina. I have a very personal connection with New Orleans and was so happy to see at least a small part of what I remember come back from near-death.
I have never seen a team in my life play with such emotion. And thats how they won.
There is a lesson in that for Phil or any of the Democrats. We can’t win by issues alone — we have to be passionate about what we believe and in how we communicate. Voters notice those things.
Game on….
hey,
just read the scripts for the alliance ads against the guv. they are posted on salladay’s blog.
they carry a pretty good sting.
Forgive my ideological ranting but I can’t let this comment go by: “I am also very happy but not surprised that George Schultz is there …his public life was all about moral responsibility. He is one of Israel’s greatest friends.”
As Sec. of State for Bush’s forefather Reagan, Schultz may have been a friend of Israel, but he was also a friend of Guatemalan dictator Gen. Rios Mott, the terrorist contras who tried to overthrow the Sandinistas in Nicaragua, and Gen. Pinochet in Chile. Wasn’t he also good buddies (constructively engaged) with the apartheid rulers in South Africa? All the while he profited through Bechtel’s defense contracts and environmental degradation.
He lives high on the hog in an elite San Francisco neighborhod. He resigned from the board of Gilead pharmaceuticals in December after having sold more than $7 million worth of Gilead stock since the beginning of 2005, according to Fortune Magazine.
http://www.slingshot.org/?cat=4&paged=1
AIDS activists tried in vain to urge Schultz to stop Gilead’s profiteering on AIDS medecines that could save lives of Africans.
I hope you don’t mind reading this inconvenient truth / ideological rave.
Game on?
Game over.
Waste your members’ money, learn the new reality of tv advertising. lol
Let’s all play nicely now. I am sure it is going to be an extraordinarily exciting six weeks of campaigning ahead …
Why doesn’t this damn smiley face work yet?
wow,
just saw an ad for the tobacco tax.
juxtaposes the supporters–health organizations vs. philip morris and rj reynolds then says ‘tough decision, not really’
gotta love it.
Ehh, I think that consultant is overrated.
Ummm…I heard Phil Angelides say that, if elected, “he would pull California’s National Guard out of Iraq.”
Ummm….so can anyone tell me when exactly did California secede from the union?? When did I miss it?
CADTS I agree with your comments about Nawlins:) I watched the game until Studio 60 came on at 10. It was great to see the dome back and better than ever and filled with fans. I’ve spent many weekends there as I have relatives all over the coast there and it was great to see that great city coming back. The game was awesome and your point is well taken passion and politics go hand in hand. I haven’t seen the tobacco ad yet but it sounds like something I need to see. Bill who did the ad? I’ll go look at the anti Guv ads shortly I didn’t realize they were up.
Incidentally, just so we’re all clear, I am occasionally kidding.
And with reference to an earlier comment, I’m also sometimes tongue in cheek, a variation on kidding.
Speaking of kidding, there’s a great old saying: Don’t kid a kidder.
Well, ya see, CADTS, there is just one little problem with this big “independent” expenditure campaign for Angelides — which, by the by, is about 45% less than it would have been earlier this year — there is a candidate who is equally malaprop-oriented as the guy who fought the Predator, as Schwarzenegger referred to himself in the recall.
No, Phil, can’t do anything with the National Guard.
As was obvious the first time I heard about him calling the papers that endorsed him to sell the notion on Saturday.
I’d love to go slap the gnomes who won’t fix the smiley faces….that’s just not nice….Bill I hope you have your boots ready for the next 6 weeks…
Bill: “They have no other option than to try this. Angelides’ fundraising has seriously lagged. The danger is that the Dem party does not do much for the down ballot candidates.”
I have three large concerns about this. The first being that the party looks incredibly hypocritical and just a bit desperate with this attempt to circumvent the law.
Second, the down-ballot candidates need help, and aren’t getting any from the party.
Third, if you’re going to try and circumvent the law, for the love of all that is good and holy, do it with an effective ad strategy that has proved effective in focus groups, polling, etc. If the CDP and Carrick had developed some blockbuster ad that was going to generate buzz and revive the campaign, all the power to them. But more Bush/Schwarzenegger spots is like betting on Art Shell’s coaching skills, it may seem like good odds on the surface, but the devil is in the details.
I am curious–will the IE by the Unions be pro-Angelides or anti-Schwarzenegger? Will they try to sell voters on Angelides or just attempt to erode Schwarzenegger’s support in hopes his victory margain is lessened. Is their goal electing Angelides or premptive action out of concern that if he wins in a landslide Schwarzenegger’s in a stronger position as he engages with Union’s legislative agenda and resumes contract negotiations with CCPOA next year.
I saw some of the coverage from yesterday’s bill signings. All of it had to do with whether Clooney would run for office. Surprisingly, I didn’t see any analysis about what everyone was wearing.
Mr. Burton,
I have not bothered nor will I take the time to research all your assertions (ON Schultz) I respect your position but unlike you, I do not believe that all REEPs have horns…I am distressed that the REEP Party has allowed itself to be hi-jacked by the evangelical Christian conservatives and now the anti- immigrant/isolationists Buchananites,(which is why I am no longer registered as a Reep)
But then there are individuals like Schultz, Arnold,Mc Cain,Hagel, Graham, Gulianai,.. et al…no horns on them!…and yes Schultz is very much one of the good guys!
Hi Barbara,
I never said “all REEPs have horns.” Don’t believe in using such meaningless phrases.
I only objected to your characterization of George Schultz acting out of some ‘moral’ conviction. The few examples of his friendships with right wing dictators only scratches the surface. We could add Papa Doc Duvalier in Haiti and the Phillipines’ Ferdinand Marcos as further friends of Reagan and Schultz who can hardly be described as ‘moral.’ Please do look up the recent history and have a nice day.