Cathleen Decker looks at the unrealistic expectations of the California voter.
"A survey
by the Public Policy Institute of California found
that,
overwhelmingly, Californians want themselves -- not the governor or the
Legislature -- to be in charge of big budget matters.
It also
found that, even more overwhelmingly, Californians
haven't a clue where
the state gets its money or how it spends it -- basic essentials for
people who want to run the show. This is, of course,
after years of
headlines and hand-wringing about California's fiscal crisis, budget
cutbacks, IOUs and the potential for one of the world's
biggest
economies to go belly up.
Those who favored the comics pages in
decades past may recall the words of the possum philosopher
Pogo: "
We
have met the enemy, and he is us."
Perhaps making the same point a different way, George
Skelton analyzes the independent streak of California voters.
"In a hypothetical November race for governor between
Democratic Atty.
Gen. Jerry Brown and Republican Meg Whitman, Brown
leads by only five
points among all voters, 41% to 36%. Independents give him an
eight-point margin, 36% to 28%. Democrats and Republicans are at the
predictable extremes.
Similarly in a U.S. Senate matchup between Democratic
U.S. Sen. Barbara
Boxer and Republican Tom Campbell: Boxer leads 45% to 41% among all
voters; 42% to 37% with independents.
Neither major party can elect a candidate without
the support of these swing voters, certainly not Republicans."
Those of you who left work early Friday missed the
news that Dustin Corcoran has been named CEO of the California
Medical Association.
Breaking news alert! The economy may be a major issue
in this election! The Bee's Jack Chang is following this breaking story...
"There's nothing a governor can immediately do to turn
around
this economy and create jobs," said Michael Bernick,
a former director
of the state Employment Development Department. "We
have 2.5 million
Californians unemployed and a large number of others
working less than
full time."
"Steve Poizner said in an interview that he believed the
state government could make an impact by reducing the
tax and
regulatory burden for California businesses, which
he said would
jump-start the housing market."
Since it's a new month, perhaps, Steve Lopez opts for
a fresh start with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
"Villaraigosa said -- several times -- that he considers himself a
dreamer and visionary, but he thinks it's fair for
people to ask
whether he's delivered as much as he could have.
To be honest, I'd rather have a mayor who's as much
of a doer as a
visionary. But if that's too much to ask, it's nice
to know he
recognizes he can use some help, especially given the
huge financial
challenges facing every level of government."
Hmm, maybe not that fresh of a start...
"There were certainly no big revelations during our
little chat. But the
mayor seemed like much more of a grown-up than in earlier encounters. I
don't know if that has to do with new stability in
his personal life or
better advice from his deputies, but it's an improvement.
Michael Hitlzik says lax regulation has hampered the progress of the state's
stem cell institute.
"Our oversight responsibilities are increasing at the
same time we're
trying to support new research," he says. "We're going
to bump up
against this 50-person cap." He says it's imperative to augment the
program's current complement of 21 science officers, who are MDs and
PhDs qualified to ride herd on the program's grant
and loan recipients.
But raising the cap to accommodate the extra staffers
requires
approval by the state Legislature, which the stem cell
program has
always treated as an enemy. This is what Shakespeare
described in
Hamlet as being “hoist on [one’s] own petard." (A petard was an explosive mine of the era.)"
Hmm, we always thought a petard was something else...
Today
is the day political candidates have to file their
campaign fundraising
and spending reports with the California Secretary
of State. Be sure to
stay tuned to the Capitol Weekly/LA Times PolitiCal blog for the latest on who's getting, and who's
giving, the campaign cash.
Around the Capitol today, both the Assembly and Senate
are scheduled to hold floor sessions today. You can
stream them live on the California Channel Web site.
In Emeryville, the State Lands Commission will meet
to consider
transferring some beachfront property in Malibu into
state hands.
And finally, when all else fails, you can always blame the inflatable gorilla.
"Fire department officials said an out-of-control inflatable gorilla
was blamed for a rooftop blaze at a Houston shopping
center. No
injuries were reported in the fire early Thursday.
The remnants of the
inflatable gorilla were seen at the site.
"District
Chief Fred Hooker said some type of a "blowup doll" was on the roof,
the item deflated and landed on some lights, leading
to the fire."
Maybe we should start blaming the inflatable gorilla
for our budget mess as well...
