Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina made the most of her debut on the main stage GOP debate last night, singeing frontrunner Donald Trump in clashes over his comments about her looks and business acumen. In the three hour event, Trump gave nearly as good as he got, handing out insults and suggesting that Kentucky Senator Rand Paul shouldn’t even be on the stage. Did we learn anything? Perhaps only that Trump is not invincible. Carla Marinucci, San Francisco Chronicle:
“The field of 11 included Trump, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Fiorina, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the last candidate to make the cut on criteria that included the candidates’ standings in major polls.
“But while Trump was at center stage — literally and figuratively — it was Fiorina who provided the night’s most decisive arguments and most effective sound bites.
“Muscling her way onto the main stage after her breakout performance during last month’s second-tier debate in Cleveland, she repeatedly underscored her campaign as offering ‘leadership — the kind of leadership that understands and gets results.’”
The Los Angeles Times has a handy guide to coverage of the debate here.
And speaking of presidential candidates, The Weekly Standard is reading some interesting tea leaves, and says Jerry Brown ‘gave signs’ during last night’s CNN interview that he is considering a run for prez. Hmm.
Michael Warren: “Brown, who has run for president three before, spoke with Wolf Blitzer about the current Democratic field. The Democrat said he has not yet endorsed a candidate, calling frontrunner Hillary Clinton ‘formidable’ and refused to give advice about Vice President Joe Biden, who is reportedly mulling a run.
"’I will say, though, about the Clintons, with some experience, they are very formidable,’ said Brown, who ran against Bill Clinton in 1992. ‘I would not underestimate Hillary Clinton.’
“Blitzer pressed Brown. ‘What are you waiting for?’ said the host.
"’I'm not as hasty as I was as a younger candidate or a younger elected official,’ Brown continued. ‘I'm enjoying the luxury of being on the sidelines, watching these shows tonight, watching the parade, and where I can be helpful, I'll jump in at the appropriate time.’"
A more pressing decision sits on Brown’s desk right now: whether to sign ABX2-15, the right-to-die bill passed by the legislature last week. Brown has said that he is unhappy that the bill was resurrected in the recent special session and that he would have preferred it to be a two year bill – but does that mean he won’t sign it? Christopher Cadelago fills in the backstory at the Sacramento Bee:
“Between the Catholic Conference and the Alliance of Catholic Health Care, the church has committed nearly $200,000 a quarter on lobbying in California since 2013, focusing on dozens of issues. The church successfully lobbied for measures banning districts from charging teachers for training, protecting tenants who flee dire domestic situations, expanding food donation tax credits and assisting formerly incarcerated people in need of mental health and substance treatment.
“With the assisted death bill now on Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk, the church’s ability to affect the outcome of legislation is again being put to the test.”
In a slap to eight-term Congressman Mike Honda, Senate leader Kevin de León, has endorsed his rival, Ro Khanna, in the race for the 17th Congressional District. Josh Richman, Political Blotter:
“Khanna, a former Obama administration official, is making his second run against Honda, D-San Jose; Honda beat him by 3.6 percentage points last November.
“In the last election cycle, most prominent elected Democrats lined up behind Honda, while a few – notably including Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed – endorsed Khanna. It remains to be seen whether the House Ethics Committee’s pending investigation of Honda will affect his endorsements this time around.”
Transparency advocates yesterday submitted a ballot initiative that would enact sweeping campaign finance reforms in California. Christopher Cadelago, the Bee:
“The group, including Bob Stern, an author of the state’s 41-year-old sweeping political ethics law, and Gary Winuk, the former chief of enforcement at the watchdog agency it created, said their measure would establish California as a national model for campaign finance disclosure.
“The Voters’ Right to Know Act would close “dark money” loopholes for nonprofit donors by requiring disclosure of anyone who contributes $10,000 or more when the money ends up in a political effort, Stern said in a presentation to The Sacramento Bee Capitol Bureau.”
As landmark birthdays approach, some celebrate by jumping out of airplanes, or buying a luxury car. Former lawmaker Dennis Mangers will celebrate his 75th annum by launching a new charity to support young performing artists in the Sacramento region. Alexei Koseff:
“Dennis Mangers has worn many hats during his long career: Teacher. Assemblyman. Lobbyist. Political adviser.
“Now, as he enters his 75th year, he’s establishing his own nonprofit to provide performing arts scholarships for low-income youth.
“The Dennis Mangers Fund for Young Performing Artists will launch at a joint benefit concert and birthday party on Oct. 5 at the Wells Fargo Pavilion in Sacramento, featuring performances from local singers including the Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus, which he helped found.
“The scholarships will help children who cannot otherwise afford it access training in the region through organizations like California Musical Theatre, the B Street Theatre and the Sacramento Ballet. The Sacramento Region Community Foundation, of which Mangers is current the chair, will manage the fund and match the first $10,000 in donations.”
R.S.V.P. to the free concert here, and donate now to the charity at https://dennis75.eventbrite.com/.
