"Fresh off a smashing reelection victory, the governor and his political team are hoping Schwarzenegger's outsized persona and bipartisan achievements in Sacramento can
translate into a substantial role in the next White House contest, especially on the Republican side," reports Mark Barabak in the Times.
"'When you have a Republican who won a large victory in a Democrat state in a very Democrat year, clearly he's identifying issues that represent what many voters are concerned about,' said
Adam Mendelsohn, the governor's communications chief."
"Or, as Schwarzenegger said in a recent interview, referring to himself and his Democratic chums in the Legislature: 'We could be a model for the rest of the nation.'"
"'There's no question that Arnold Schwarzenegger's style of governance, the ability to work in the middle, seeking cooperation instead of confrontation, is something I think you will see the 2008 candidates try to emulate,' said campaign strategist
Steve Schmidt, who dropped the machete he wielded for
President Bush and Vice President
Dick Cheney to manage Schwarzenegger's more congenial reelection campaign."
"People close to the governor say he still hopes that someday the rules will change, allowing him to seek the White House himself."
"After trailing in the 34th state Senate District race for the first nine days of ballot counting, Democrat
Lou Correa took the lead Thursday. He's
now 783 votes ahead," reports Martin Wisckol in the Register.
"If he holds on to defeat Republican
Lynn Daucher, Correa's victory could be credited in part to last-minute write-in candidate
Otto Bade. Otto the Spoiler, who has 899 votes so far, is a Republican whose campaign mailers and phone calls were funded by a committee that also supported Correa."
"In other words, a decoy candidate intended to suck votes from Daucher."
"'(Correa's campaign) needed Otto Bade to pull this off – if they pull this off,' said
Bryan Lanza, Daucher's campaign manager. '
If it's a fair, up-and-down contest just between Lynn and Lou, Lynn would have won by now.'"
While accused of being a Democrat-recruited decoy, Bade's candidacy may have been more prompted by a feeling of rejection he has from the GOP.
"Indeed, Bade didn't get a lot of support in his 2004 bid against Democrat
Tom Umberg. As the less flattering parts of Bade's background became known, he lost his luster in the eyes of some Republicans."
The Bee's E.J. Shultz
takes a look at the new Assembly Republican Leader.
Michael "Villines, 39, is an unabashed fiscal and social conservative who represents a heavily Republican district in the central San Joaquin Valley. But his ascension to leader has more to do with his style than his politics, supporters say."
"'I don't think it's so much a move to the right as a move to be heard,' said Assemblyman
John Benoit, R-Bermuda Dunes."
"A former public relations executive, Villines is seen by colleagues as someone willing to stand up to the governor and Democrats on GOP demands such as keeping spending in check and taxes and borrowing low."
"'He's a strong guy in terms of expressing his opinion, and he's articulate,' said Assemblyman
Roger Niello, R-Fair Oaks."
"'He'll make sure that the caucus' voice is heard,' [
Dan Schnur] said. '
George Plescia is a very good guy and a very smart guy, but Mike's worked in the Governor's Office, (and) he's worked in the Legislature, and he knows the way politics works in the Capitol very, very well.'"
The U-T's Jim Sweeney
takes a look at the future of tribal-labor relations. "When the Legislature reconvenes in January, some of the state's most powerful Indian tribes will resume their push for approval of gambling agreements that could launch the next big wave of casino expansion in California.
But
ratification of those compacts appears to have become only more difficult in the months since they were blocked at the end of this year's session by Assembly Speaker
Fabian Núñez and influential unions unhappy with the labor provisions in the agreements.
An apparent misstep by a group of tribes called Team 2006 in the fall campaigns has emboldened opponents, including the state's struggling horse-racing tracks, which want to be cut into the new deals."
The Bee's Steve Wiegand reports in The Buzz: "At its meeting last week, the [Fair Political Practices Commission]
raised the annual [gift] limit from the current $360 to $390 per official, an 8.3 percent boost. With the increase alone, you could get your favorite senator a copy of the 'Reservoir Dogs' computer game, two boxes of Winchester 30-06 rifle ammunition, or 10 pounds of bacon. No rush -- the changes don't go into effect until Jan. 1."
"The FPPC also raised per-person campaign contribution limits. For legislative hopefuls, the limit goes from $3,300 to $3,600 per election. Max totals to would-be governors go from $22,300 per election to $24,100, and for other statewide office wannabes, from $5,600 to $6,000."
"Facing a double whammy of a population cap and a court decision that threatens to wipe out the state's sentencing law, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is
considering a sentencing commission that would help decide who goes to prison and for how long," writes the Bee's Andy Furillo.
"'We are willing to engage in sentencing reform,' Corrections Secretary
James Tilton said in an interview with The Bee, adding that as part of the discussion, the Schwarzenegger administration is looking at establishing a sentencing commission."
"State Sen.
Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, slated to become the Senate's public safety chairwoman when the Legislature reconvenes, discussed prisons with the Republican governor in Mexico during his trade mission earlier this month. She said a sentencing commission is 'near the top of my list' as a prison problem-solver."
"'The concept is sound,' Romero said. 'It's something I'm working to craft legislation around.'"
The U-T's Michael Gardner looks at the
growing market for emission credits. "Like gold and pork bellies, California's carbon dioxide emissions credits may someday emerge as the big thing on commodity markets.
"Brokers who specialize in the art of the deal are closely following developments here as California steers toward a controversial, yet common, market-based course to reduce pollution many scientists link to global warming."
"Companies are already forming a line, said Josh Margolis, a manager with Cantor Fitzgerald Brokerage."
"'We have folks who would like to buy and folks who are willing to sell,' Margolis said."
"The potential payouts and payoffs are being measured in the billions – for good reason."
If anyone wants a
down and dirty on what's going on at the LA Times,
here's the take from legendary cartoonist Paul Conrad.
From our
How Are You Celebrating the Solstice Files, "Two peace activists have planned a massive anti-war demonstration for the first day of winter."
"But they don't want you marching in the streets. They'd much rather you just stay home."
"The Global Orgasm for Peace was conceived by
Donna Sheehan, 76, and
Paul Reffell, 55, whose immodest goal is for everyone in the world to have an orgasm Dec. 22 while focusing on world peace."
"'The orgasm gives out an incredible feeling of peace during it and after it,' Reffell said Sunday. 'Your mind is like a blank. It's like a meditative state. And mass meditations have been shown to make a change.'"
Get your room now at the Welshly Arms...
