German Chancellor Angela Merkel marked the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall — which is still a few days off — on Tuesday in a speech to Congress urging the world to “overcome the walls of the 21st Century.”
** NEW COLUMN COMING UP … THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF OBAMA’S ELECTION.
** QUICK HITS. The Virginia governorship is going easily, according to exit polls, to Republican Attorney General Bob McDonnell. He has the right office, which he won by less than 400 votes from last time from Democratic gubernatorial nominee, state Senator Creigh Deeds, he kept Sarah Palin away, and he racked up bipartisan endorsements. … Exit polls, like earlier polls, say New Jersey’s governor’s race, featuring unpopular incumbent Jon Corzine, is tight. … The Maine anti-gay marriage initiative may be in trouble with a bigger than expected turnout, especially amongst younger voters.
** SCHWARZENEGGER SPEAKS. (FROM THE YEARLY WILLIE BROWN BREAKFAST IN SAN FRANCISCO.)
WILLIE BROWN:
When seeking reelection one of the first stops that he made was right here. He won the job in 2003 and one of the first telephone calls he made was to me to say, “You didn’t beat me. Now you have to join me. I want you on my transition team.” And when I told him that we were doing this event again he said, “I’m interrupting my schedule to come by and say hello.” Ladies and gentlemen, the governor of the state of California, the Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger. (Applause)
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
Well, thank you very much for this nice welcome and thank you very much, Willie, for inviting me to speak here today. Of course, you can never turn down Willie. Whenever he asks you for anything you just say yes, Willie, I’ll do it. I have been doing this for every year since I have become Governor, you know and he has been an extraordinary friend and has been very helpful at my administration, so I really appreciate that. Let’s give a great hand to the man that organizes this event, Willie Brown. (Applause)
We have all kinds of interesting people and they maybe have been introduced, I don’t know but I just got here. So I just wanted to say it’s great to see you, Treasurer Bill Lockyer, here. Thank you very much for being here. Then Attorney General Jerry Brown — I don’t know if he stayed. Oh yeah, he’s right here. Hi, Jerry. (Laughter) He’s so tanned. (Laughter) You must be working hard. (Laughter) But anyway, it’s also great to see Steve Poizner. Where is Steve? He’s right here. I never can find you. There you are. Tom Campbell, is he still here? Yes, right here, Tom Campbell.
And, of course, my friends George and Charlotte Schultz are here today. Charlotte, of course, is extraordinary. Yesterday she did such an unbelievable job in having His Highness the Aga Khan be coming for a visit and of course Charlotte has organized the whole thing, the big, big event and the luncheon and all of those things. She does an outstanding job. And of course George has been a dear friend and very helpful in my administration. He’s a mentor of mine and a great, great advisor. And so let’s give a big hand to all of the special guests that are here today. (Applause)
And I know that there are 27 — Willie told me there are 27 elected officials that are here today also, right? We want to say welcome to them all. And I don’t know all the names, Willie didn’t give me the card. He maybe doesn’t care about you but I mean — (Laughter). You know, I actually wanted to mention all of those names but Willie says, “Forget them.” But anyway, so — (Laughter)
But anyway, I just wanted to come by. You know, I’m really excited about this audience, because I have been standing up here now for four minutes and no one has yet screamed out, “Kiss my gay ass.” (Laughter) I mean, this is big time, this is big time. I mean, things are happening here in San Francisco. I love it. (Applause) I love it. What a great audience. Maybe they wanted to behave because George Schultz is here, the secretary. (Laughter)
But anyway, I wanted to just come by here and talk about three things that are very important and that we need to get done here in California. But before I talk about those three things — which is water, our infrastructure, it’s just so important and then reforming our tax system and reforming education — I just wanted to say that I just came from Washington.
I was at the White House and doing a press conference with Vice President Biden. And the reason why I was back there is because they had a press conference announcing about the great success that the economic stimulus package has had on America and they wanted to have a Democratic governor standing there beside him at this press conference and a Republican governor.
And I, of course, was one of the first governors that came out and supported the economic stimulus plan because I don’t see it as a political issue. I see it as a people’s issue, I see it as a job issue. It’s about jobs, jobs, jobs, not is it a Democratic administration that came up with that idea or a Republican administration. And this is why I wanted to go back there and be supportive of the administration, because I think they have done an extraordinary job with this economic stimulus package. California has gotten a lot of money because of that and we have created or retained 110,000 jobs in California and we wanted to go back there and just let them know how much we appreciate that.
And, of course, the critics are saying that the economic stimulus package didn’t mean anything and it had no effect. I think they should tell this to the 62,000 teachers that it saved and kept their jobs here in California and also professors in higher education. And so I think it had a tremendous impact, not only in education but in green technology and also the billions of dollars that we got in infrastructure. So we got so far $18.5 billion of this money. There are $50 billion altogether coming our way and the rest is coming this coming year.
And, of course, I’m also negotiating with them right now about getting billions of dollars for high-speed rail because, as you know, that we are the first state that really has talked about high-speed rail and how important it is. (Applause) And I’m very excited about it. You know that this state has started already 10 years ago talking about high-speed rail and planning and now last year the people have approved $10 billion to start the high-speed rail project.
But there are $8 billion available in federal money and we want to get a lot of that money, because other states are talking about high-speed rail now also. But they really don’t talk or mean high-speed rail, because for them when it travels a little bit faster than the regular train, which is like 100 miles an hour or 120 miles an hour, they call it already high-speed rail but it’s not high-speed rail. We are the only ones really to talk about true high-speed rail where the train will go past 200 miles an hour, just like they do in China or in Germany or in Italy and in Japan and so on. So we are really looking forward to getting billions of dollars from the federal money, of part of that stimulus money also.
Now, the second thing that I wanted to talk about is water infrastructure. As you know, we have had a major, major challenge here in this state when it comes to water infrastructure. And the basic challenge always has been that 70 percent, 75 percent of the water comes from northern California and of course two-thirds of the people, 70, 75 percent of people, live in southern California. So the trick always was, how do you get some of this water from northern California to southern California? I don’t see it as that divisive of an issue, even though sometimes people say, why we should give water to the southern Californians? But southern California is part of California and northern California is part of California, so I think that one has to help each other in this case.
And so I think that Pat Brown was a great visionary. Pat Brown was the one that was very much in charge and created the great infrastructure of California that we have still been living off. And he created the water infrastructure because of the great challenges, which was called the State Water Project, which is a 600-mile maze of canals and dams and pumps through the middle of California all the way down to southern California.
However, one of the very important parts and important pieces of the puzzle really never got built, which was the canal. And he had, in his plan there was a canal that goes around the Delta in order to protect the Delta and to protect its ecosystem. But that never was built because California ran out of money in the late ’60s and then during the Reagan administration they got into a big battle on who should pay for what. And so the federal government, you know, felt that they shouldn’t pay for it, California felt the federal government should put in some money and so in the end the canal never really was built.
And since then, you know, it was a huge holy water war, for decades, for the last four decades. And it was everyone going against everybody. I mean, you saw the — it’s pitting north versus south, rural versus urban and environmentalists against businesses and farmers and so on and it was a disaster. And we became paralyzed here in this state and I think, because of that, nothing got done.
And, of course, it was part of an initiative in 1982 and it was defeated, to build the canal. And since then, again, everyone was kind of frozen on this whole thing. And I have talked about rebuilding our infrastructure here in California and we have, you know, won on the ballot initiative a lot of the infrastructure that I proposed. But I proposed $68 billion and only 42 billion has really been passed by the people of California and also by the legislators and so what was left behind really was to build more prisons cells and to build the water infrastructure.
And now we are back again. I think there is a lot of great, great work that is being done in Sacramento. But in the meantime, the Delta has been dying, federal judges have been turning off the pumps, farmers can’t plant crops and building permits are being denied. And this, of course, all hurts business, it hurts our businesses here in California. And these are all self-inflicted wounds, just because the legislature never got its act together for the last four decades to really start get going and to build the water infrastructure.
And so this is why it is very important now to recognize these are self-inflicted wounds. It has nothing to do with the economic slowdown or with the recession or anything like that. And that we have to get, you know, everyone together, Democrats and Republicans together. And I’m very happy to say that they are working together now, Democrats and Republicans in Sacramento and it’s very encouraging of the development that is going on.
Of course we are talking here about two issues, which is the bond issue and also policy bills that have to be passed, which is about fixing and creating above-the-ground and below-the-ground water storage, building the canal, fixing the ecosystem in the Delta, fixing the Delta itself. And also making sure that we go and monitor the groundwater and clean the groundwater, because we have a lot of chemicals now in the groundwater and it’s totally unacceptable, so that has to be part of that water infrastructure package.
And also, we are revisiting the water rights, which as you know are more than 100 years old. So those are all the things that are part of this overall package here. It’s a very comprehensive package.
And I’m very happy to say that last night the Senate passed the infrastructure bond part of this whole package and is now lobbing it over to the Assembly. And the Assembly now, at 9:30, is in session to go and to hopefully pass that bill and to pass also the policy part and lob it over to the Senate, where they hopefully approve it. So all of this is going to go and happen this week.
If that all works out, which I think it will, this will be a historic accomplishment by the legislature. I just want you to know, because we criticize the legislature a lot of times because they are slow. They are slow in things and this is just because the way it works in California because it’s very divisive, the way the system is set up, you know, with the redistricting. And we have talked about it and luckily California has passed redistricting reform so we’ll get Democrats and Republicans closer together. And then eventually, next year, there will be also be open primaries. And I hope that you all vote for that, because all of that will bring Democrats and Republicans closer together, rather than the way it is now, where they are so far apart because of the redistricting the way it works.
But you know, I’ve very happy that they are now getting the water done. And then, of course, after that we have other challenges that are ahead of us but I think this is a historic thing.
And then, of course, I want to also mention that it’s not over when the legislature passes that, because then it will go on a ballot and the people will have to approve. I don’t know what the number ends up being but it’s somewhere between $9.5 and $10 billion. The people then have to approve that.
So next November, in November of 2010, it will be on the ballot and again you will see Democrats and Republicans going up and down the state of California and campaigning for these measures, because that’s what the people want to see. When they see Democrats and Republicans campaign together usually the initiatives pass and this is why it is so important to do that. So this challenge, all of those challenges will be ahead of us.
The other thing that I wanted to talk about briefly is education reform. I think that it is very important that we get some of this economic stimulus money that the Obama administration has put out there, $4.3 billion for the Race to the Top. This is billions of dollars that are available for the states. And we, of course, this state is not competitive right now because we cannot even compete for that money because there are certain laws that still have to be passed.
I think the legislators have done a good job on passing two of the laws, which is tearing down that firewall that prohibits linking student achievement data to teachers’ evaluations. There was always, between the teachers’ performance and the students’ performance, there was always a firewall that didn’t allow us to link the two together. But now, for the first time, the legislators have passed that bill and now we can link the two together, which is very important.
And also providing greater opportunities for our students. Up until now the way it was, was that when students were stuck in a low-performing school they couldn’t get out. They needed the permission from the principle. But now we changed that law. Not only can they get out of that school and go to another school but they also can go to another district, which is a huge breakthrough for the state of California. It’s something that certain elements and special interests have fought for many, many years but now we broke through that.
And I think it is because, again, of the Obama Administration and because of Arne Duncan, who is the secretary of Education in Washington. And he has given us that extra push, because this is something, that those are laws that we tried to get passed over the last few years and couldn’t. But they gave us that extra push and gave that extra push to the legislators, because there’s money involved. And so I think that was an additional inspiration to the legislators so we can compete for these billions of dollars, so I think that that was a really great breakthrough also.
The other thing that I wanted to talk to you about is our inadequate tax system. It’s an outdated tax system and it’s a horrible tax system and the reason why I’m saying this is because our current system is just too volatile. We have seen again in this recession what has happened, exactly the same as has happened in the last two decades in California, that when our economy goes down just a little bit, which means that instead of increasing our economic activities by five percent, which usually is the case in California, it increased only by two percent. But because of that drop of three percent we have seen a drop in our revenues by 28 percent. …
Now, we had to raise taxes because of that. That makes a lot of people angry, when you raise taxes. And then we had to make severe cuts across the board on all of the programs, which also makes a lot of people angry. And this is why you see the poll numbers now of the legislators and myself being way down, because the people are basically angry. …
And I have to tell you that one of the reasons, what made me interested in becoming governor is not to take on the little challenges, anyone can do that but to take on the big challenges. Like rebuilding California was one of those big challenges because it hasn’t been done for four decades. Or, you know, reworking and reforming the system in such a way so it is workable. There are so many things, if it is in water or if it is in building infrastructure and roads, or affordable housing, or the levees and all of those things. They just couldn’t do it in California. But we came in and we started doing that and moving it in that direction. The same is again with the tax system. It’s a very difficult thing to do but we are going to get it done.
And so this is why I think it’s very important that Democrats, again and Republicans work together on that and go and look at it and say OK, this has been a problem for decades, so let’s get it done. And so this is why I urge the legislators, both parties, to work together on this very important issue.
So anyway, I just wanted to run some of those big challenges by you. I also wanted to let you know that even though people ask me all the time, aren’t you regretting now to not having done Terminator 4 (Laughter) and make another $30 million? And that you have stepped into this arena and have become governor with all those headaches and the recession and the problems left and right and negative stories in the press and all this?
And I always tell them no, not at all. It is such a great honor for me and such a great pleasure for me to do this job and to give something back to our state. Because the bottom line is that even though yes, I missed out on the $30 million for Terminator 4 and, you know, each year I could have done a movie. And you know, running for governor and doing all those initiatives, I had to actually spend a lot of my own money. As a matter of fact, I had to spend $32 million of my own money. My wife is going nuts about all of this. (Laughter) That’s why even though, no matter how many times Willie Brown writes about that my wife should jump into the race for governor, she will never do it. Just alone when she looks at the dollars that are involved, she will never do it, trust me.
But I can tell you that it has been such a pleasure doing this job. Every day it’s exciting to get up in the morning and say I’m going to work for the people of California, because the reality of it is that I wouldn’t be in this position and I wouldn’t have been able to be as successful in bodybuilding, winning 13 World Championship titles and doing all of the movies that I have done and working my way up being a leading guy and making the most money of any actor in the history of the world. (Laughter) It was all because of California, all because I came here. I could have gone to any other place in the world. It’s because of coming here. (Applause) So I love my job, I love giving back to the state.
Thank you very much for having me here and thank you, Willie Brown, for the great, great invitation here. Thank you.
** WILL MERKEL BACK BLAIR? German Chancellor Angela Merkel met today with President Barack Obama. Relations between the two nations have been a bit frayed of late, as Germany is heavily dependent on Russia for energy and there is unfinished business between the two great powers, Russia and America.
Left unclear at the noon hour is how successful the president was in lobbying for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to become the first president of the European Union.
Despite earlier signals, Merkel has emerged as the principal roadblock to a Blair presidency. Which would be helpful to America in geopolitics.
President Barack Obama says the economy is back from the brink and on the right track during a meeting with his Economic Recovery Advisory Board.
** OBAMA TODAY. President Barack Obama is in Washington today.
Obama has received his intelligence and economic briefings in the Oval Office.
He has also met in the Oval Office with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and held a press availability with her.
At 7:30 AM Pacific, Merkel addresses a joint session of Congress.
At 8:35 AM Pacific, Obama meets with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in the Oval Office.
At 11:05 AM Pacific, Obama meets with senior advisors in the Oval Office.
At 11:40 AM Pacific, Obama participates in the U.S.-European Union Summit in the Cabinet Room.
At 1:30 PM Pacific, Obama and Vice President Joe Biden meet with Secretary of Defense Bob Gates in the Oval Office.
The topics? The Afghanistan strategy review, the latest on the Pakistani offensive against the Taliban, and the Iranian nuclear crisis.
At 2:15 PM Pacific, Obama and Biden meet with Nebraska Senator Blanche Lincoln in the Oval Office.
The principal topic? National health care. She’s an opponent of the public option.
Obama is monitoring geopolitical crises in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq.
Iran, which seemed, after a typical stalling tactic, to accept the nuclear deal it negotiated the week before last in Vienna, albeit with big caveats, then said no to it. Now it says it wants to negotiate “details.” Which is typical Iranian stall ball.
Obama continues deliberations on Afghanistan, where President Hamid Karzai is officially re-elected with the weekend election now canceled.
Virginia and New Jersey vote today for governor.
Obama also monitors statewide elections in New Jersey and Virginia, the city-wide election in New York City, and Maine, where an anti-gay marriage initiative is on the ballot.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger holds private talks in and around the Capitol today on the big proposed California water deal.
A portion of the water legislation passed the state Senate last night. However, there is a long way to go, so don’t get too excited yet.
Schwarzenegger will also speak early this morning at the Willie L. Brown Jr. Institute on Politics and Public Service breakfast annual breakfast in San Francisco.
He will be joined by former Governor-turned-Attorney General Jerry Brown, the de facto Democratic nominee for governor in 2010.
GOP gubernatorial hopefuls Tom Campbell and Steve Poizner are also scheduled to speak.
Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman won’t speak.
** IT’S NOVEMBER 22, 1963 ON MAD MEN. “Everything’s going to be okay.” — Don Draper
No, Don. It won’t. It really won’t. …
** AFGHANISTAN, AGAIN: THE THICKET OBAMA’S NOT GETTING OUT OF. President Barack Obama is fixing to reveal his latest strategy for Afghanistan, perhaps after the election a week from Friday. He appears to be preparing to split the difference. Perhaps he should be preparing to split the territory.
Afghanistan has a government, of a sort, but it doesn’t really have a nation. It won’t have a nation unless we build it. And there is no guarantee that, as the saying goes, if we build it, they will come. … From my October 29th column.
** MAD MEN REVIEW: “THE GYPSY AND THE HOBO.” … From my October 26th review.
** CHINATOWN’S 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION AND THE POLANSKI SCANDAL. In one of the great ironies, the 35th anniversary edition of Chinatown came out this month, nearly at the same time that its director, Roman Polanski, was arrested in Switzerland after fleeing Los Angeles over 30 years ago following a downward guilty plea and brief imprisonment for unlawful sex with a minor.
Chinatown, the tale of a smart, tough detective investigating what he thinks, at first, is a simple case of infidelity in late 1930s Los Angeles, is my favorite film. On the surface, it’s a period detective picture, a big Hollywood movie with the trappings of film noir. Beneath, it’s much more. Armed with an alarmingly intelligent screenplay by Robert Towne, brilliantly cast from stars Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway down through the extras, the film creates its own mesmerizing world through evocative music, costuming, and production design.
“You may think you know what you’re dealing with, Mr. Gits. But believe me, you don’t.” (Words to always keep in in mind, which I sometimes have not.) … From my October 23rd essay.
** OBAMA IN THE THICKET OF “AFGHANIRANISTAN.” … From my October 21st column.
** MAD MEN REVIEW: “THE COLOR BLUE.” … From my October 19th review.
** MAD MEN REVIEW: “WEE SMALL HOURS.” … From my October 12th review.
** WHY OBAMA DOESN’T DESERVE THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE, OR THE OLYMPICS RAP. … From my October 9th column.
** ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, JERRY BROWN, BILL CLINTON AND THAT CRAZY CALIFORNIA GOVERNORSHIP. … From my October 8th essay.
** MAD MEN REVIEW: “SOUVENIR.” … From my October 5th review.
** IRANIAN CRISIS: PROGRESS, PROBLEMS. … From my October 2nd column.
** OBAMA: RIDING WITH HISTORY. (NOTE: As Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States, this column was the featured column on the top of the front page of the Huffington Post.) … From my January 19th Huffington Post column.
** 24/7 LIVE TV NEWS FEED FROM RUSSIA TODAY. Russia has re-emerged as one of the world’s great powers. Click here for a live TV news feed on your computer, bringing you English-language, jargon-free, fast-paced coverage of global and Russian news from the Russia Today channel. You probably already know about CNN International, BBC World, and Al Jazeera. Russia Today, which also features culture, entertainment, and sports, is based in Moscow and is owned and operated by the TV Novosti division of Russia’s state news agency, RIA Novosti. While it’s quite foolish to expect to see, say, criticism of Vladimir Putin on Russia Today, the channel is very interesting nonetheless. With U.S. cable news chattering away as it does, this sort of respite can be informative. The NWN live link to RT does not constitute an endorsement of the channel’s views. It’s presented as an otherwise unavailable new media window.
** 24/7 LIVE TV NEWS FEED FROM AL JAZEERA. With the US entangled in two wars in the region, it’s valuable to keep up with news and perspectives from the leading Middle Eastern-based TV news network. Based in the Gulf Arab state of Qatar, Al Jazeera is very influential and more than a bit controversial. Click here for a live TV news feed on your computer. The NWN live link to AJ does not constitute an endorsement of the channel’s views. It’s presented as an otherwise unavailable new media window.
** SCHWARZENEGGER’S CALIFORNIA. Here is my series of five columns on the governorship of Arnold Schwarzenegger for the Los Angeles Times in debate last fall, prior to the global economic meltdown, with Pulitzer Prize-winning former Times reporter/editor Bill Boyarsky, whose columns are also included. Among them is what I’m sure is the first piece examining Schwarzenegger’s legacy as governor of California. Since he will actually be governor of California until 2011. No technology known to be disruptive to the space/time continuum was used in its preparation. You can listen to my recent video webchat with Schwarzenegger here.
** TRACK GLOBAL AND NATIONAL ENERGY PRICES IN NEAR REAL TIME VIA BLOOMBERG ENERGY MARKET WATCH. Having crashed over $147 for yet another record on July 11th, 2008, crude oil is trading at $77 per barrel.
This is up about $43 from the low of $34 per barrel prior to enactment of the Obama economic recovery program, reflecting a low point in global economic activity.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum. You can send me a private tip by clicking on the “Contact” button in the upper right.
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| Comments (56) |
The economy is getting better. Remember the New Depression?
“Meg Whitman won’t speak.”
This just in, Francisco Franco is still dead.
Both of these jokes are getting old…
I don’t think the elections in Virginia and the beloved Garden State are referendums on Obama.
Barack has high ratings in both those states.
Yeah, we were all scared witless.
Jonas Blane says:
November 3, 2009 at 8:36 am
The economy is getting better. Remember the New Depression?
She’s afraid.
Brasky says:
November 3, 2009 at 8:37 am
“Meg Whitman won’t speak.”
This just in, Francisco Franco is still dead.
Both of these jokes are getting old…
There’s a pattern, all right.
He does.
Not as high as in California, however.
> Capitol Boy says:
November 3, 2009 at 9:09 am (Edit)
Barack has high ratings in both those states.
They aren’t.
> Jonas Blane says:
November 3, 2009 at 8:38 am (Edit)
I don’t think the elections in Virginia and the beloved Garden State are referendums on Obama.
Well, as long as she’s a candidate, doing what she does (or doesn’t), it’s going to be hard to avoid …
> Brasky says:
November 3, 2009 at 8:37 am (Edit)
“Meg Whitman won’t speak.”
This just in, Francisco Franco is still dead.
Both of these jokes are getting old…
Maybe Meg is one of those crazy-old shut-ins, who lives in a big mansion with like 200 stray cats and newspapers from the Eisenhower era.
Would explain the low election participation…
Where’s Schwarzeneger? No webcast?
Another BS election today over-”analyzed” by what’s left of the press.
Bill, THANKS for the latest great review. It is so meaningful what you said.
Carla Marinucci must be fired by the San Francisco Comical.
She is incompetent, dishonest and a Newsom shill. Her “reports” were fed to her by the hack Garry South. She’s no reporter. She’s a corrupt publicist for a ridiculous pol and his lying consultant.
The fact that Gruesome Newsom quit in shame doesn’t change anything.
Marinucci is a gross liar and must go. I am sick of the horrible “Chron” coverage of my city.
Villaraigosa has selected new chief of LAPD:
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2009/11/villaraigosa_tweets_its_b.php
Looking forward to this one!
** NEW COLUMN COMING UP … THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF OBAMA’S ELECTION.
Why do I have to click on site that tells nothing?
Dana says:
November 3, 2009 at 11:02 am
Villaraigosa has selected new chief of LAPD:
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2009/11/villaraigosa_tweets_its_b.php
Obama was elected almost a year ago?!
Why do American’s still have guns?
Additional video today?
There it is …
This is change you can’t believe in …
> Brasky says:
November 3, 2009 at 11:22 am (Edit)
Obama was elected almost a year ago?!
Why do American’s still have guns?
So am I …
> Lorena says:
November 3, 2009 at 11:09 am (Edit)
Looking forward to this one!
** NEW COLUMN COMING UP … THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF OBAMA’S ELECTION.
You are very welcome.
> Lorena says:
November 3, 2009 at 10:52 am (Edit)
Bill, THANKS for the latest great review. It is so meaningful what you said.
I don’t know about that.
However, it’s clear that the Chronicle’s standards, never all that high, have diminished.
> Truth Teller says:
November 3, 2009 at 10:56 am (Edit)
Carla Marinucci must be fired by the San Francisco Comical.
She is incompetent, dishonest and a Newsom shill. Her “reports” were fed to her by the hack Garry South. She’s no reporter. She’s a corrupt publicist for a ridiculous pol and his lying consultant.
What else is new?
> Len says:
November 3, 2009 at 10:27 am (Edit)
Another BS election today over-”analyzed” by what’s left of the press.
The press release arrived far too late …
> Ann says:
November 3, 2009 at 10:16 am (Edit)
Where’s Schwarzeneger? No webcast?
Oh, I don’t think that.
> Brasky says:
November 3, 2009 at 10:13 am (Edit)
Maybe Meg is one of those crazy-old shut-ins, who lives in a big mansion with like 200 stray cats and newspapers from the Eisenhower era.
Would explain the low election participation…
The site gives the name, Charlie Beck, and a link to the official bio of Beck. It is a start. You can then Google if you want info on reactions, etc.
Some folks want brief info, so that is what I posted a link to.
Sorry if it didn’t float your boat.
>19.Lorena says:
November 3, 2009 at 11:10 am
Why do I have to click on site that tells nothing?
I don’t see Blair happening.
The Chronicle is terrible.
She is worse. Fire her. If Brown’s idiot goes, their idiot goes. Fair is fair.
Truth Teller says:
November 3, 2009 at 10:56 am
Carla Marinucci must be fired by the San Francisco Comical.
She is incompetent, dishonest and a Newsom shill. Her “reports” were fed to her by the hack Garry South. She’s no reporter. She’s a corrupt publicist for a ridiculous pol and his lying consultant.
Ain’t that a shame?
rasky says:
November 3, 2009 at 8:37 am
“Meg Whitman won’t speak.”
This just in, Francisco Franco is still dead.
Both of these jokes are getting old…
I love it!
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
Well, thank you very much for this nice welcome and thank you very much, Willie, for inviting me to speak here today. Of course, you can never turn down Willie. Whenever he asks you for anything you just say yes, Willie, I’ll do it. I have been doing this for every year since I have become Governor, you know and he has been an extraordinary friend and has been very helpful at my administration, so I really appreciate that. Let’s give a great hand to the man that organizes this event, Willie Brown. (Applause)
We have all kinds of interesting people and they maybe have been introduced, I don’t know but I just got here. So I just wanted to say it’s great to see you, Treasurer Bill Lockyer, here. Thank you very much for being here. Then Attorney General Jerry Brown — I don’t know if he stayed. Oh yeah, he’s right here. Hi, Jerry. (Laughter) He’s so tanned. (Laughter) You must be working hard. (Laughter) But anyway, it’s also great to see Steve Poizner. Where is Steve? He’s right here. I never can find you. There you are. Tom Campbell, is he still here? Yes, right here, Tom Campbell.
looney-toon
Arnold is one-of-a-kind.
The Chancellor did well in Washington.
Which Chancellor?
lol
Clutch J says:
November 3, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Arnold is one-of-a-kind.
Horst says:
November 3, 2009 at 3:44 pm
The Chancellor did well in Washington.
Very nice …
Oh, yes, Arnold is a character.
> Clutch J says:
November 3, 2009 at 3:43 pm (Edit)
Arnold is one-of-a-kind.
It’s gotten a bit silly …
> Jack Aubrey says:
November 3, 2009 at 1:51 pm (Edit)
Ain’t that a shame?
rasky says:
November 3, 2009 at 8:37 am
“Meg Whitman won’t speak.”
This just in, Francisco Franco is still dead.
Both of these jokes are getting old…
The panel is still deliberating.
Notwithstanding appearances to the contrary.
> Jack Aubrey says:
November 3, 2009 at 1:46 pm (Edit)
I don’t see Blair happening.
What’s the scoop per you?
Is he good?
> Dana says:
November 3, 2009 at 12:31 pm (Edit)
The site gives the name, Charlie Beck, and a link to the official bio of Beck. It is a start. You can then Google if you want info on reactions, etc.
Some folks want brief info, so that is what I posted a link to.
Sorry if it didn’t float your boat.
>19.Lorena says:
November 3, 2009 at 11:10 am
Why do I have to click on site that tells nothing?
The review of the Kennedy assassination episode is so good. And so long!
Obama will be fine however these little elections today goes.
This is more good news for the Brown man.
Capitol Boy says:
November 3, 2009 at 2:46 pm
I love it!
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
Well, thank you very much for this nice welcome and thank you very much, Willie, for inviting me to speak here today. Of course, you can never turn down Willie. Whenever he asks you for anything you just say yes, Willie, I’ll do it. I have been doing this for every year since I have become Governor, you know and he has been an extraordinary friend and has been very helpful at my administration, so I really appreciate that. Let’s give a great hand to the man that organizes this event, Willie Brown. (Applause)
We have all kinds of interesting people and they maybe have been introduced, I don’t know but I just got here. So I just wanted to say it’s great to see you, Treasurer Bill Lockyer, here. Thank you very much for being here. Then Attorney General Jerry Brown — I don’t know if he stayed. Oh yeah, he’s right here. Hi, Jerry. (Laughter) He’s so tanned. (Laughter) You must be working hard. (Laughter) But anyway, it’s also great to see Steve Poizner. Where is Steve? He’s right here. I never can find you. There you are. Tom Campbell, is he still here? Yes, right here, Tom Campbell.
At least it’s not the Eagles, is it?
Has the right pedigree. Longtime LAPD veteran, has traveled all over the organization so he knows it in and out. Was a key part of the Bratton reform team so will keep bringing it into the modern era.
Is starting with a listening tour to meet the key stakeholders and public. Seems to have buy in and at least the first vibe is good.
4.Bill Bradley says:
November 3, 2009 at 4:11 pm
What’s the scoop per you?
Is he good?
Fabulous speech by the Gov–loved his comments on high speed rail. The condescending critics are horrified it is no longer a pipedream.