As governor of the state of California,
Arnold Schwarzenegger must wear many hats (even if he isn't participating in the
political fashion show being put on by the California delegation back for the inaugural in D.C.)
Today's papers show the governor in a variety of different roles. Among them:
Gov Schwarzenegger, the Grover Norquist devotee: Continuing the 2005 editorial tour, the gov
tells the hometown paper of state employees that we must "starve the public sector . . . because we don't want to feed the monster." Meanwhile, the monster's retirement plan is
preparing to fight. The nurses were
in the Capitol yesterday. The
Purple Shirts surely are not far behind. (In other Starving the Monster News, Democrats are trying to figure out ways to
limit the governor's fundraising ability for the special election.)
Gov Schwarzenegger, the mentor: Country crooner
Kinky Friedman hopes "to fight the wussification of Texas" when he
takes on incumbent Repub Governor Rick Perry in 2006.
Gov Schwarzenegger, the talking doll The
LAT's Steve Lopez
admits that his daughter has a talking Arnold Schwarzenegger doll. We sure hope it's an officially licensed product of the corner office.
Gov. Schwarzenegger as Caesar Et tu, Peter Schrag? The Bee columnist discusses the governor's form of
"hybrid democracy."If you thought the governor had it tough, just think of the plight of a California GOP political wife in the cold confines of DC for the Presidential Hoo-Ha.
Linda Ackerman, wife of Senate Republican Leader
Dick Ackerman, tells the Bee she isn't going to be caught by surprise for this year's fete like she was four years ago. "Because I am a California girl, I didn't even think about boots. Instead, I wore fabric shoes, which were silly to wear on that day. I didn't even have a hat, and I have the kind of hair that can't get wet," she says. So Ackerman hired herself a personal shopper. The SacBee was there to
get the exclusive.In more disturbing DC news, the Hemet city council has decided that since they're all going to be back in DC anyway, why not
hold a city council meeting. Yes, that's Hemet, California. Not only does the meeting allow the council to expense their trip to DC, it allows them to meet with out all those pesky local citizens around. Congratulations, Hemet. You win The Roundup's First
Stupid Government Tricks Award! Way to go!
On the very day the Legislature was
whacked by the Sacbee for growing internal budgets, word spread around the Capitol about four high-level layoffs at the Speaker's Office of Member Services. The full story on the layoffs was sent out to
Political Pulse subscribers Tuesday. New SOMS director
Matt Reilly said late Tuesday that internal rumors of more layoffs to come, mentioned in the original piece, were untrue. One of those laid off,
Bob Alvarez, has already landed a new gig with Sen.
Dean Florez.Speaking of new jobs, the loose association of Republican political consultants that is Command Focus has taken on a new "senior counselor" -- GOP quote machine
Karen Hanretty has officially joined the Command Focus team, which includes partners
Dan Schnur and
Mark Bogetich. Schwarzenegger's communications director
Rob Stutzman was also a partner in the firm, and is expected to return if and when he leaves his other day job.
Hanretty will continue her flacking duties for the California Republican Party, taking the party on as a private client. Though not officially coming on as a partner in the firm, Hanretty describes the next few months as a way for all parties involved to see how the new arrangement works out, "sort of like dating before marriage."
The LA Democratic party
passed on making an endorsement in the March 8 mayoral race, as no candidate received the required 60 percent. Vote tally:
Villaraigosa: 97;
Hahn 81; No endorsement: 15. Hahn declared victory, saying that Villaraigosa had the endorsement "Locked up. And we stopped it — and he knows it." That's a strange celebration for an incumbent who's party passes on his reelection.
And then there was one: With
Grantland Johnson taking a pass at Bob Matsui's seat,
Doris Matsui's main "competition" is bad boy bail bondsman
Leonard Padilla. Beardslee executed With the gov passing on clemency and courts denying last minute appeals,
California executed Donald Beardslee shortly after midnight.
Cash, not care: The SF Board of Supes is considering
donating $1 million to tsunami relief. This from the city that laid off employees this year.
The Chron has an
exit interview with Ward Connerly who is leaving the UC Board of Regents this year.
Phil Angelides campaigned in San Diego yesterday against the gov's "You can't always get what you want" "rebased" Prop. 98 budget. The treasurer doesn't manage a single quote in the article. Will someone find this guy a communications director?
