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And now, the news. The Times continues with the story of the governor's new affinity for
televised town hall meetings to get his message to voters. "Like KTVU-TV, the Oakland station that aired [Monday's Walnut Creek] forum, Los Angeles and Fresno stations have also agreed to sponsor events largely on Schwarzenegger's terms in the days ahead: Opponents get equal time, but do not appear on stage with the governor, and he takes questions only from voters, not a panel of reporters."
"'For the most part, the audience for televised election forums — even ones that feature a Hollywood star like Schwarzenegger — are 'political junkies,'' said
Tony Quinn, co-editor of California Target Book, a nonpartisan election guide."
"'Attending a bunch of town halls will not get him through the clutter' of ads, Quinn said."
But, it's the best the governor's got. That guest appearance on Desperate Housewives wasn't available.
The article also provides the latest water cooler speculation on turnout: "On the governor's side, Republicans are trying to spur a
strong showing of evangelical conservatives by trumpeting Schwarzenegger's support for Proposition 73, which would bar most abortions for minors without parental notification. The governor has not aired ads on the measure but
his support has been highlighted in party mailers."
Of course, when all else fails,
blame it on the weather, the war, or the White House. "Some veteran California election analysts suspect that turmoil in the national Republican Party — from the Iraq war and hurricane controversies to possible indictments of top White House aides — could depress GOP turnout. As Quinn put it: '
Atmospherics are terrible for the Republicans.'"
Meanwhile, the governor
taped his appearance on Univision, which will air Saturday morning. "The governor's critics quickly denounced the hourlong appearance, which will air Saturday morning on Univision stations statewide, as a 'gift' from the network's chairman, who is Schwarzenegger's largest single campaign donor."
The
LA Times reports: "No more than six of the 17 questions the governor fielded dealt with propositions on the Nov. 8 ballot."
"Audience members asked about a range of topics, including the cost of public university tuition, why he has not signed legislation authorizing illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses and why he has not visited Mexican President
Vicente Fox. He promised to try to arrange a meeting soon."
"Univision Chairman
A. Jerrold Perenchio has given Schwarzenegger's initiative campaigns $3 million this year, and $4.78 million total since 2002, when Schwarzenegger pushed his first ballot initiative."
The grant of free airtime is allowable under FCC rules, as the governor is appearing to support ballot measures and not himself as a candidate. Thus, there is no obligation to provide the same opportunity to opponents.
The Bee
gets a response from gubernatorial spokesman Rob Stutzman over the criticism that the governor isn't debating opponents. "'Who would we debate?' Stutzman said. '
There's no one that has as much at stake. No one has as much to lose politically as the governor. Why should someone else get to share that stage with him? He should have to stand onstage with someone that's going to take cheap shots at him that doesn't have nearly as much to lose?'"
From our
With Friends Like These Files, the Mercury News reports that the governor's Latino
outreach message was clouded yesterday by conservative activists. "'The day's event in Sacramento also was complicated for Schwarzenegger when a Republican group that opposes giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants announced it was selling bumper stickers and lawn signs that co-opted the governor's campaign slogan 'Join Arnold.' The new slogan reads: '
Join Arnold. Close the Border.'"
"Schwarzenegger had made the remark in April in response to a question on immigration. He apologized the next day saying he meant to say 'secure' the border, not close it. A Schwarzenegger spokesman Tuesday called the new campaign 'stupid.'"
"'That's not the governor's position,' said [gubernatorial spokesman]
Todd Harris. 'The governor's been very clear about that.'"
Opponents of Proposition 73, the parental notification initiative, are
highlighting the fine print."One little-discussed provision of the Nov. 8 ballot measure would create a
public scorecard for judges who rule on minors' abortions. Another would
define abortion in the state Constitution as the killing of 'a child conceived but not yet born.'"
Treasurer
Phil Angelides yesterday
unveiled a new web-based advertisement blasting the governor and his fellow Republicans. The ad, which follows the wildly popular "JibJab" ads circulated in the 2004 presidential campaign, can be found at
www.arnoldsneighborhood.com.
OK, we've now seen a
good political cartoon from the Schwarzenegger camp, and a solid effort from Angelides. Why can't political TV spots be this creative?
The Bee
takes a look at the new anti-Proposition 77 ad featuring the former superior court judge who starred in "The People's Court." "'I'm
Joseph Wapner. You may remember me from 'The People's Court.' But today I'm here to express my outrage at the obscene amount of money backing Proposition 77. Insurance and oil companies, developers, even Arkansas-based Wal-Mart are funding 77. They want to roll back protections for the environment and the working man, and deregulate the insurance industry. They're selling this as reform? Don't give up your power. No on 77. No on 77. No on 77.'"
Will
Doug Llewelyn be conducting exit polls on November 8?
Back to the analysis: "Wapner focuses on the big-money campaign of Proposition 77 proponents, who have solicited more than $8.2 million thus far. But Wapner doesn't mention that opponents of the measure have raised even more money, $14.7 million, much of it from the Democratic Party and its key allies, including labor unions."
"Wapner's TV spot was bankrolled partly by Shangri-La Entertainment, headed by
Stephen Bing, which has contributed $4.25 million to efforts to defeat the initiative."
Steve Poizner is currently working on getting
Judge Judy to film a rebuttal.
Reminding us that we return to the regularly scheduled program of the 2006 election immediately after the November 8 special election, Dan Weintraub reports that
Bill Simon has
dropped his candidacy for state treasurer.
The
Alex Padilla for State Senate endorsement list added a shade of blue yesterday,
picking up the nod of police chief William Bratton.
Pioneering Latino congressman
Edward R. Roybal died Monday at the age of 89. "He began his political career in 1949 as the first Latino to sit on the Los Angeles City Council since 1881. After Roybal departed for Congress in 1962, it would be 23 years before another Latino held a seat on the City Council.
"Congressman Roybal was someone who reminded us every single day that change rests in our own hands," Los Angeles County Supervisor
Gloria Molina said Tuesday. 'This was a leader in our community who understood the responsibility and duty to empower.'"
"'A champion for civil rights and social justice like him does not come around every day,' Los Angeles Mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa said in a statement. "He wanted nothing less than what all Americans strive for — a good job, safe neighborhoods, quality schools and a place to call home.'"
"'He was there when others in Washington turned their backs on seniors, the disadvantaged and the poor,' House Minority Leader
Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday."
From our
Media Heroes desk: The New York Times
reports that the White House recently sent a letter to the satirical newspaper The Onion.
"Citing the United States Code, Mr. [associate counsel
Grant M.] Dixton wrote that the seal 'is not to be used in connection with commercial ventures or products in any way that suggests presidential support or endorsement.' Exceptions may be made, he noted, but The Onion had never applied for such an exception."
"The Onion was amused. 'I'm surprised the president deems it wise to spend taxpayer money for his lawyer to write letters to The Onion,'
Scott Dikkers, editor in chief, wrote to Mr. Dixton. He suggested the money be used instead for tax breaks for satirists."
Now,
that's something we might be able to support.
