The Bee's Kevin Yamamura writes that critics of
Rob Reiner say the First 5 Commission is
using public service announcements to push for a June ballot initiative. "To opponents of actor-director Rob Reiner's pending $2.3 billion universal preschool initiative, the spots feel more like taxpayer-financed political advocacy that primes voters for the June election. They criticize the fact that Reiner chairs the state commission paying for the ads and also leads the initiative campaign that may benefit by its message."
"'It's a matter of sheer common sense - this is an expenditure of taxpayer dollars promoting preschool,' said
Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. 'It's clearly connected to the pending initiative, and as a matter of ethics it crosses the line. Whether it crosses the legal line remains to be seen.'"
"'If the question is whether any First 5 money is being used to promote the initiative, the answer is no, absolutely not,' [First 5 executive director
Kris] Perry said."
"
Robert Stern, president of the nonpartisan Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles, said that while he believes the First 5 ads are not illegal, they could have the subtle effect of priming voters."
"'The question is, are they softening people up for next year's election?' Stern said. 'They're not mentioning the initiative directly, but it's very equivalent to what the labor unions were doing against Schwarzenegger earlier in the year by getting people in the mood to vote against him.'"
As his What Went Wrong series continues, Dan Walters says Schwarzenegger
tried to frame the election as the governor vs the Legislature. But the Legislature's allies were able to define the governor and "
drive a wedge between the governor and swing voters ... The more the definition took hold, the more Schwarzenegger's popularity declined, and the more he denounced the unions as special interests, the more the notion of running against an ineffective Legislature faded.
The result, predictably, was a massive rejection by the very voters he had hoped to enlist in his cause."
"The more the definition took hold, the more Schwarzenegger's popularity declined, and the more he denounced the unions as special interests, the more the notion of running against an ineffective Legislature faded. The result, predictably, was a massive rejection by the very voters he had hoped to enlist in his cause."
George Skelton, however, argues that the governor
can recover from his "sophomore jinx," which is similar to troubling periods faced by Governors Brown (Pat and Jerry), Reagan, Deukmejian, Wilson and Davis.
"Yet, all these governors recovered enough to win reelection. They had two years to bounce back, however."
"Schwarzenegger was elected for an abbreviated term and must run next year. He squandered 2005, which should have been election-free and focused on scoring legislative victories."
"At least he's finishing the year on the right track."
Could
a Democrat actually win the Congressional seat left vacant by
Duke Cunningham? The LA Times takes a look at the field, and the bad atmospherics for the Republican Party nationally. "In a poor political climate for the GOP, analysts say, a suburban coastal district of California — even one that leans as Republican as Cunningham's — is just the kind that could prove the leading edge of a potential national tide against the party."
Indeed, the special election to fill Cunningham's seat may be the perfect preview to 2006 -- and the news isn't good for Democrats.
"Democratic candidate
Francine Busby faces a steep uphill battle, thanks to a California
congressional map drawn to protect incumbents of both major parties. The district was
shaped to strongly favor a Republican, so it would take a major political shift for voters there to put a Democrat in Congress. And therein lies the trouble for Democrats trying to expand their hold on California's congressional delegation — and win back control of the House."
The Stockton Record
talks to local leaders about next year's infrastructure bond. "A $10 billion statewide bond would repair bridges, expand public transit and reduce congestion along San Joaquin County commuter routes, local transportation officials said. But it's not enough, they add. The $10 billion falls way short of the state's infrastructure needs."
Local officials say they need more money from the state? Shocking.
The state may be looking to
firm up its balance sheet by taxing Botox. As a medicine, Botox is exempt, while products like collagen are considered "medical devices" and therefore taxable.
"Doctors argued that prescription medicines were exempt from sales tax, but auditors pointed to state regulations specifying that the exemption applies only if medicines are used to treat "disease," not to erase wrinkles for cosmetic purposes."
By the way, the nation's largest maker of Botox has
long been a booster of Gov. Schwarzenegger, ponying up big bucks for his campaigns. And in case you're wondering, the AP reported last week "Schwarzenegger spokeswoman
Julie Soderlund, responding to a question from The Associated Press, said the governor has never used the product himself."
In
The Buzz, the Bee's Kevin Yamamura reports that congressman
John Doolittle "took up the Santa cause last week by charging that Christmas traditions are under attack by naysayers.
"'The endangered species list has grown this year to include Santa Claus, Christmas trees, candy canes, and Christmas carols,' Doolittle said in a statement."
"Doolittle has co-sponsored a resolution that says Christmas traditions should be protected."
"He insisted that 'politically correct activists ... have hijacked America's favorite celebration and replaced it with a generic holiday that stands for nothing and celebrates anything.'"
Apparently, Doolittle hasn't stepped foot in a shopping mall since Halloween.
