The governor seems to have a new campaign strategy -- mea culpa. As he continues his media tour, this time
talking to George Skelton, the governor says he erred when talking about kicking nurses butts earlier this year.
"That was a mistake," he conceded in an interview. "You know, if I could redo it, I would not have said that."
Schwarzenegger is a natural showman, but not a born diplomat.
"Like my wife [
Maria Shriver] says many times, 'Arnold, your mouth will make you always a winner, but your mouth also gets you into trouble.'
Speaking of troubling mouths, the Merc News's Laura Kurtzman reports that Howard Dean
was campaigning against the governor's measures in Hayward over the weekend. "Dean ignored the details of the initiatives and instead tried to portray them as part of a Republican power grab. He said the special election was part of 'the culture of corruption which
George Bush brought to Washington.''
Dean said: 'Gov. Schwarzenegger put these things on the ballot because he in fact is the captive of special interests.'"
Meanwhile, the LA Times is already
looking past the special election to next year's legislative agenda.
"Schwarzenegger wants to focus on health insurance for children, homelessness and big building projects that have been the hallmark of some Democratic governors, administration officials and others said — an effort to craft a less confrontational agenda than this year's."
"The 2006 agenda could make him appear conciliatory and force Democrats to debate important policy changes with him as he runs for reelection. Little was achieved in the Legislature to resolve the state's biggest problems this year as the administration and lawmakers bickered over the Nov. 8 special election. Both sides said a less bruising year would be welcome."
Until they start giving legislators troops and ammunition, it's hard to imagine a more bruising year.
Dan Weintraub says that as unions are trying to pain the governor as a right-wing Republican, he just
keeps on hiring Democrats.
"With Chief of Staff
Patricia Clarey and Communications Director
Rob Stutzman on the hustings, only Legislative Secretary
Richard Costigan and Press Secretary
Margita Thompson represent what might be called a traditional Republican point of view within the top levels of the senior staff in the Capitol office."
"Some see the hand of former Gov.
Pete Wilson, a Schwarzenegger mentor, in those measures. But Schwarzenegger, while he does consult Wilson regularly, has a long list of numbers in his cell phone that include a number of prominent Democrats outside of government. Among others, he has sought advice from former
President Clinton, former Assembly Speaker
Robert Hertzberg and former San Jose Mayor
Tom McEnery."
McErney will be among those at a press conference today to endorse Prop. 77, along with former San Francisco mayor
Frank Jordan, who has promised to
keep his clothes on for the occasion.
Meanwhile, the Chron puts
Prop. 77 under the microscope today, putting a face on the "retired judges" who would be drawing, or at least approving, political maps if Prop. 77 passes. "The state's 1,000 or so retired judges are
mostly elderly, relatively wealthy, white men who, opponents of the redistricting initiative argue, cannot fairly make decisions that will affect everyone in California."
Dan Walters says low turnout on Election Day could lead to
"semi-victory" for the guv.
The L.A. Times's Jennifer Waren
profiles the largest donor to Proposition 73's parental consent measure."
James E. Holman makes his living in the world of alternative newspapers. For 33 years, his irreverent and wildly successful weekly, the San Diego Reader, has needled the city's captains of commerce, government and society."
"Records show that Holman, 59, is by far the leading contributor to the cause, providing more than $1.1 million of the nearly $1.8 million reported by backers so far. His contributions have included loans, cash and nonmonetary donations, with much of the money used to pay for the gathering of signatures needed to qualify the measure for a vote."
L.A. Observed reports that
Antonio Villaraigosa has settled the dispute between the Bonaventure and proposed Los Angeles Convention Center hotels. We're sure every Democratic state party convention-goer who has had to suffer through one of those gatherings in the
alcohol-free convention center will join us in expressing our gratitude to the mayor.
And, finally, Los Angeles Mayor of Anaheim
Curt Pringle can go back to protesting the ownership of the Los Angeles Angels from Anaheim unconflicted, as the team was swept at home, ending their bid for the American League Championship Series 4-1.
