** Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is sweeping the endorsements of liberal daily newspapers over his trailing, flailing rival, Democrat Phil Angelides. The San Jose Mercury-News weighs in today, joining the likes of the San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, and Los Angeles Times. The paper praises Schwarzenegger for learning how to be a successful governor and criticizes Angelides for poor leadership skills.
** Very good story by reporter Dan Morain in the LA Times on what we might call compensated endorsements. Very big money being spread around in exchange for police and firefighters unions opposing Proposition 86 (tobacco tax for health care) and Proposition 87 (oil tax for alternative energy) and for the NAACP head, whose group came out against Prop 86. Consultant Steve Smith points out police and firefighter endorsements on energy issues may not “track.” But they sure can distract from who is really advocating what and why.
** San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is expressing some doubt about his political career. Or, rather, its continuance. He’s noted that it is a round-the-clock endeavor being a politician climbing the heights. The rising Democratic star has drawn much media notice in the Bay Area for a brief change in his hair style and his new gal pal, a 20-year old model and hostess at the terrific restaurant Aqua. Perhaps he won’t run for re-election as mayor. Sorry, no sale.
Dealing with an unpopular war and an unpopular president — even in Virginia — and with the state’s senior senator, John Warner, who also chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee — critical of the policy, cheerleader Allen has adopted a more measured and somewhat critical tone. He’s also dealing with a Democratic opponent who served four years in the Reagan Administration, was one of the most highly decorated Marine Corps officers of the Vietnam War, and publicly predicted that Iraq would become a quagmire.
The only thing that is fortunate for Allen, shown here infamously welcoming a Webb intern to America,
is that Webb is loathe to brandish his Navy Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Stars, and Purple Hearts before the voters. So far.
** Monitor global and national energy prices via Bloomberg.
Read 
| Comments (0) |
Allen is a fatuous blowhard. Unfortunately many voters of a certain type like fatuous blowhards. Webb can’t afford to be too noble.
James Webb better win.
No! Gavin has to run and he has to marry that girl. Brittanie Mountz Newsom, First Lady of California!
That video will accompany Mr. Allen the rest of his life. It is his karma.
I’m watching the last F1 race of the season, the Brazilian Grand Prix. It’s a bit more engaging than politics this morning.
Dan Morain’s article:
I can think of better ways to raise and spend union money. The days of Monarchy in the unions are coming to an end. Either they listen to their members (in my case)…the dreaded politically active wife or they get their asses kicked in elections. This year My foot… is buried pretty high.
P.S. In my small town the Chamber/Republican candidates are so afraid of the local powerful Democrat club, they won’t show up for the non partisan Dem club sponsored debate…can you say “buck buck”.
“Brittanie Mountz Newsom”
Is that a married name or a plot line?
Aqua- Went there with my sisters on a sunday nite and we were looking at wines in the $40-50 range, which is not expensive for that place. We let the semolier pick the wine. When it came, it was white, and we put ice in it because it wasnt cold. Later, when the bill came, we saw the wine was a $270 bottle!
Shouldnt the semolier have told us its cost?
Dont remember any cute hostesses, though.
Re Newsome:
I don’t care about Newsome’s hair or his girl friend. If she was my 20 year old daughter, I would be offended at some of the stupid name calling regarding her last name married or not.
Many apologies, I know this is supposed to be a no-fun zone.
As long as it’s amusing and not meanspirited …
Ann,
You are funny. You can get away with anything.
Imagine growing up with the last name Pursglove and having the “r” changed to an “s” because folks thought I wouldn’t throw a punch?
Well, it really is her name. Hence the pun. I’m fairly certain I’ve heard it before, incidentally.
How come no reporting on the GOP “Hate Crime” perpetrated on the voters of So. Cal. Even Democratic stalking horse Arnold Schwarznegger called it a “Hate Crime.” This sort of intimidation and anti immigrant behavior seems be bubbling right below the surface. C’mon! Get on the ball.
Shouldn’t it have been a clue to Democrats in the primary that there was something about Angelides that wasn’t selling when he lost every single major daily newspaper endorsement but the Sac Bee and the LAT? Westly even took the liberal SF Chronicle, which had endorsed — of all people — Tom McClintock over him in the ’02 controller’s race, and the alternative LA Weekly, which trashed Angelides pretty good as a sleazy campaigner in their editorial. And now even both the Bee and LAT have abandoned Angelides and endorsed Arnold. My bet is Angelides gets totally shut out in the general election, which is almost unheard of. Newspaper endorsements don’t often swing an election, but they do provide hints about what a candidate is made of, particularly when they go en masse in the other direction. Oy.
Sorry there, first time loudmouth poster “Irv Tenowitz.”
Everyone in the world has denounced the local Orange County anti-immigrant incident, in both parties.
If I find something new to say — considering this is reported everywhere — I might say it. I’m under no obligation to report everything that happens in politics, especially since it’s all over the conventional media.
Meanwhile, you are not off to a good start here, since you just wasted more than a minute of my time with your spouting off.
This was posted by “Bill Brasky” under yesterday’s Non-Random Notes. Thanks, Bill.
I’ll be addressing it in tomorrow morning’s column.
>Word is some of the labor folks are finally moving money out of Phil and into down-ticket races that can still be won.
Too little, too late…
I wish the union money and endorsements would have gone to Westly.
Bill,
Are you and South ready to team up for a future run for office?
One thing I can assure you of, I’m not running for office.
Now Garry, that may be another matter …
Bill you could be Garry’s campaign manager or communications director…or even net guru..what a tandem the 2 of you would make….so who won the F1 race? I had to work today *sigh*
I would wager that that campaign would be a real barn burner:)
I can’t speak for Bill Bradley, but two words sum up why I’ll never run for office: LexisNexis! lol
rotflmao Garry….you do have a way with words:)