After a nearly 5-hour caucus, Assembly Republicans
chose Fresno Rep. Mike Villines as their new leader," reports Capitol Weekly.
"At the end of October, Villines--who was actively seeking the GOP leadership post--circulated a letter among colleagues suggesting a change. Villines has been courting the Assembly's 11 incoming Republican freshmen. They participated in Thursday's vote, which did not include any termed-out lawmakers."
"Villines once served as chief of staff to Fresno state Sen.
Charles Poochigian, a Republican, who unsuccessfully ran for attorney general this year against former Gov. and Oakland Mayor
Jerry Brown."
Meanwhile,
Dick Ackerman's big bet looked to be getting closer to paying off.
"Republican
Lynn Daucher increased her lead over Democrat
Lou Correa for the second consecutive day of absentee-ballot counting Thursday, and is now leading by 553 votes in central Orange County's 34th state Senate District race," writes Martin Wisckol in the Register.
"With workers drawing closer to counting absentee ballots delivered on Election Day, Correa backers remained confident momentum will swing back in their favor – a notion dismissed by Daucher's team."
"Estimates range from 7,500 to 21,000 absentee ballots yet to be counted in the race. The job is expected to be finished next week. Then [elections chief
Neal] Kelley's team, which is now working double shifts, will begin counting provisional ballots."
But, does it all really matter?
Dan Walters writes: "Regardless of who winds up with the seat, it's a fairly meaningless contest. Partisan competition for the Legislature was all but eliminated five years ago, when leaders of both major parties cooked up a gerrymander of districts to protect the status quo. And it's been
remarkably successful over three election cycles."
"Bottom line: The stalemate on high-dollar tax, benefit and regulatory issues will continue."
Okay, now that the elections are over, can we count on the governor to start speaking his mind again?
"As he kicked off a two-day trade mission Thursday in Mexico, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
praised this week's congressional overhaul despite the fact that his own Republican Party lost control of both houses for the first time in 12 years," writes the Bee's Kevin Yamamura.
Just what the doctor ordered...
"Schwarzenegger easily won a second term Tuesday by riding a theme of bipartisanship in a Democratic state. He extended that message Thursday to national politics by criticizing the recent congressional session as unproductive."
"'
I think this is good that we have new blood coming to Washington, that we have new people and new ideas coming to Washington,' Schwarzenegger said while addressing a press contingent in the official residence of outgoing Mexican President
Vicente Fox."
"'Now I'm not looking at it in a political way by saying, 'Is it more Democrats or Republicans?' I think it's good that it's new ideas and new blood because Washington was stuck. They could not move forward. Not much was accomplished. I think it was terrible.'"
"
Mike Spence, president of the California Republican Assembly, a conservative grass-roots organization, criticized the governor for praising the congressional changes."
"'The governor is wrong -- again -- on this kind of stuff,' said Spence. '
The governor didn't really lift many fingers to keep a Republican Congress, and maybe this is what he wanted.'"
Carla Marinucci further
reports on the gov's Mexico visit. "Later, sitting with reporters, Schwarzenegger -- smoking a stogie in the courtyard of the elegant Four Seasons hotel -- addressed a range of topics. He challenged criticism from Mexicans here that he has not shown sensitivity to Mexico -- or Latino issues -- because of his opposition to driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants and comments that Mexicans were not assimilating rapidly enough in American culture. '
I like them. I like their country a lot,' he said."
"Asked what would be his message to the Mexican people, Schwarzenegger noted his visits to Mexico date from his movie and bodybuilding days and said, '
Understand, I can love everything about the people and the country and the culture ... but I still have to represent California and Californians."
"'And my job is to ... make our state secure.'"
"
You know, I like my children, but I'm not going to do everything they want,' he said. "I have the utmost respect for the Latino community; they make a great contribution to California, the economy, the culture."
"'This is why I will continue stressing, secure the border, and why ...
it would be irresponsible for me to start giving out driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.'"
And, then, there's that "what's next" question...
"The governor, in his sit-down with reporters, later addressed his own political future -- laughing loudly and drawing on his cigar when asked if he would challenge Sen.
Barbara Boxer."
"'How should I answer that?' he asked spokesman
Adam Mendelsohn."
"'
First of all, there's a seat available in 2012,' when Sen.
Dianne Feinstein's next term is up, he said. But, without specifically ruling out the suggestion, the governor added, 'the reality of it is, anybody who knows me knows I never think that far ahead.'"
"'
I enjoy not knowing where does life take me, personally ... I want to have a good time, and I want to just experience,' he said. 'That's why I don't have headaches.'"
We thought
this was the reason.
