As expected, today's Field Poll release addresses the special election's ballot measures, and there is
only a bit of sunlight for the governor. "Tuesday's poll numbers did have some good news for the embattled Republican governor: His proposal to make it
harder for teachers to get tenure is supported by 61 percent of likely voters.
But his two centerpiece initiatives in the special election he's called for November - a
spending control measure and a new way to draw legislative districts - are each garnering just 35 percent support among likely voters."
You can find the
entire poll here. Poll numbers on the union dues measure are expected tomorrow.
The Chron reports on the
uphill battle for the governor. "'Propositions that start out behind typically don't have a good chance of passing,' said
Mark DiCamillo, director of the Field Poll. 'Out of the 22 measures since 1996 that have started out behind or in a statistical tie in our first poll, just four have passed.'"
The governor would point out that one of the come-from-behind measures was his own Proposition 57, but that was a bipartisan compromise measure that both sides fought to pass. Ditto that on last year's Three Strikes initiative.
The numbers started arriving in reporters' mailboxes shortly after the governor made a rare personal appearance at the administration's regularly scheduled weekly press conference. At the press conference, he called upon Democratic leaders to join him in a compromise over the budget and ballot measures.
He also took the time to
differentiate his spending plan from the Democrats' budget. "'Some people are trying to say there isn't any difference between my budget and the budget the majority in the Legislature is proposing,' Schwarzenegger said. 'Nothing could be further from the truth.'"
"The Democrats' budget plan is '
99.947 percent' the same as the governor's, said Assembly budget Chairman
John Laird, D-Santa Cruz."
"'Yes, number-wise we are very close. But how the money is being spent,
we are far, far apart,' Schwarzenegger said."
The Chron's Lynda Gledhill says the two sides painted "
vastly different pictures Tuesday of how far apart they were on an agreement for a new state budget."
"'The governor would have you think the differences are as wide as the Grand Canyon -- I don't think that's true,' said Senate President Pro Tem
Don Perata, D-Oakland."
Schwarzenegger, however, cited yesterday's polling numbers showing dissatisfaction with both the governor and the Legislature and urged the parties to come together. "'
It is a very clear message by the California people -- they are saying to all of us here at the Capitol, work together -- Democrats and Republicans, the governor's office,
let's all work together,' Schwarzenegger said."
As if on cue, squawk boxes carrying the governor's press conference outside of the Capitol switched to Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing" after the governor's plea for unity.
The Bee quotes Democratic consultant
Gale Kaufman, "You'd almost think he was trying to distract you off a story about how bad his initiatives are doing."
Yesterday was a full-on media glut, beginning with the governor's appearance on Good Morning America, and continuing through trifecta of press conferences, beginning with the governor, then on to Speaker and Laird, followed by Perata in the early afternoon. All three sounded notes of contrition, and sprinkled among them were bits of news that are likely to get overwhelmed in the furor of the moment.
Among the tidbits: The governor all but announced that he was
running for reelection, and promised an announcement before the time voters head to the polls this November. Meanwhile, at Perata's press conference, the Senate leader announced that he has
"seen the light" on redistricting, and is backing
Sen. Alan Lowenthal's redistricting plan. When asked about the plan, which takes the power of map making out of the Legislature's hands, but does not redraw the maps until after the 2010 census, Perata said
"the governor has already signed off" on the idea of postponing redistricting until after the next census. We're guessing that's news to
Ted Costa.
Perata also confirmed there has been a proposal floated formally that would modify legislative term limits, though he did not specify the details of that proposal.
As for whether or not the budget and the special election are linked: The governor told the press they were not, or that they should not be.
The LA Daily News' David Drucker, who describes the governor as
"somewhat subdued" at his morning media confab, writes the the governor was calling for compromise. "'I feel that there is an agreement to be had,' Schwarzenegger said during a Capitol news conference. 'We can resolve this, and then we can go together to the special election -- Democrats and Republicans alike -- and also that we can solve this budget.'"
But Perata said the entire idea of a mega-deal began in the governor's office.
And though yesterday's numbers were seen as more bad news for the governor, there was a small silver lining. "I'll Be Back" is
No. 37 on the AFI's new list of top 100 movie quotes. Hey, that's the same number as his approval rating among likely voters!
In "So Much For That Trial Balloon" News,
Mike Machado has decided against challenging incumbent Congressman Richard Pombo, saying that he owed it to his constituents to finish his term in the State Senate. "'People elect you to an office to serve them,' said Machado, D-Linden. 'Call me old-fashioned in that respect.'"
Former Assembly Speaker
Herb Wesson has moved to the district of L.A. Councilman Martin Ludlow, and
plans to run for the seat Ludlow is vacating to replace
Miguel Contreras as head of the L.A. County Federation of Labor. "Wesson told the crowd at the rally [where he announced his candidacy]: 'This is not about me, it's about we, it's about us, and for those people who have come up to me and said, 'Herb Wesson, is this a steppingstone for you to go somewhere else?' ...
I say the 10th District is my rock, the 10th District is my heart, the 10th District is my soul.'"
"However, Wesson would not rule out a run in 2008 for the county supervisor seat held by
Yvonne Brathwaite Burke."
Finally, from our
Girls Gone Wild Files, congratulations to
George Plescia staffer
Sean Flanigan for taking one for the team, and living to tell the tale. According to the Associated Press,
June Bashares of the women's group Code Pink
put a foot into Flanigan's shin as he and another RNC floor official took her out of Madison Square Garden's main hall during Bush's speech at the Republican National Convention.
(You can read the entire sordid tale via our friends at
Calraces.com.)
We now join our political courtroom drama already in progress: "Flanigan, Brashares' alleged victim, was the trial's second witness. '
My shins were black and blue' after the kicks, he testified. He showed the jury his left leg and the scar that resulted from the laceration, which required 10 stitches to close."
Way to go, Sean!