Dan Morain writes in the Times that the
governor's fundraising has picked up significantly since he announced he was running for reelection.
"Schwarzenegger raised $10 million in the month following his Sept. 17 declaration, according to campaign reports being filed daily with the secretary of state's office. He had collected $3.7 million in the preceding month and $25 million in the first 8 1/2 months of the year."
"'We predicted it would have a positive impact on our fundraising, and I believe that it has,' said
Marty Wilson, a top political aide to Schwarzenegger."
Meanwhile, as Election Day approaches, the bickering between the two sides is becoming more intense, more esoteric and more shrill.
The Alliance for a Better California
alleges that the Governor's California Recovery Team unlawfully used its nonprofit status to send political mail at 40% reduced rates. "'It's a clear abuse,' [Alliance attorney
Lance] Olson said. 'This [non-profit mailing] permit was either unlawfully issued or is being unlawfully used. To me it's a continuing example of this governor who doesn't believe the laws apply to him.'"
"
Thomas Hiltachk, attorney for Schwarzenegger's California Recovery Team, called Olson's allegations preposterous."
"'They're wrong about everything,' he said. 'All their accusations are false.'"
"The governor's team late Thursday released details showing that the ballot committee -- known as the California Recovery Team -- is indeed registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a non-profit, tax-exempt social welfare organization."
The
Media Stunt of the Day Award goes to Democrats
Dario Frommer and Jackie Speier, who kept the governor off message, and fed into the spat between the White House and the statehouse. The two Dems criticized Schwarzenegger for not meeting with the president during his quick, ATM stop in California, saying the guv missed an opportunity to lobby for more federal dollars.
"This is about the governor doing his job, and part of his job is to get California its fair share of federal dollars," said Assemblyman Dario Frommer, D-Los Feliz (Los Angeles County). "He's just snubbing the president because of anger."
Translation: This is about tweaking the governor and piling on. But a job well done, nonetheless.
Speaking of pests, the OC Register's John Gittelsohn reports on the
targeting of absentee voters by the campaigns. "The Nov. 8 election is still weeks off, but
Cheri Curd has already received enough political fliers and phone calls to feel harassed."
"'If there's a phone message, I just delete it or hang up,' said Curd, 37, an accounting clerk from Anaheim. 'If there's stuff in the mail, I usually toss it.'"
What Curd didn't know is that her shower of mail and phone calls should dry up soon, because Curd is an absentee voter, and she sent in her ballot this week.
"'
You mean I won't be bothered anymore?' Curd asked. '
Great.'"
Ah, democracy in action.
Attorney General
Bill Lockyer is
raising red flags about Vance Raye, one of two judges under consideration for the state's high court, writes Maura Dolan in the L.A. Times. "Among the legal decisions that trouble Lockyer was a ruling this year in which Raye joined two other appellate justices in deciding that Home Depot was not liable for creating a hostile work environment at two stores in the Sacramento area."
"A lawyer who heard Lockyer speak at the Sept. 16 meeting of the Alameda County Democratic Lawyers Club said the attorney general told the group that he would strongly oppose Raye's nomination and he sought suggestions for other potential candidates for the state high court."
"'He was adamantly against Raye,' said the lawyer, who asked not to be identified, in an interview Thursday."
"But Justice
Arthur Scotland, who serves on the Court of Appeal in Sacramento with Raye, described him as a 'moderate.'"
"'Vance is a very thoughtful and compassionate person,' Scotland said. 'Every honest and ethical judge, like Vance, has been involved in cases in which they might not like the result but reach the result because the law compels them to.'"
From our
Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em Files, our Mug Shot of the Day Award goes to
Tom "the Hammer" DeLay, who was printed and booked in a Harris County booking office. The Congressional pin is a nice touch.
California Congresswoman
Linda Sanchez had her moment at the Washington's Funniest Celebrity contest recently, and added her list of
Top Ten Reasons I Don't Date Republicans. We'll just cut to the ending:
No 2: Republicans are only interested in screwing the poor.
And
No. 1: Because they make love like they make war: they lie to get in and don't have a plan for what to do once they get there.
You can
read the entire list here.
