"As legislators were approving more than 1,000 bills in August, [
Arnold] Schwarzenegger was crossing the state, and the country, soliciting campaign cash. Now, as he decides whether to sign those bills into law or nix them with a veto, he
will be cashing checks from scores of contributors whose interests intersect with legislation," reports that LAT's Dan Morain.
"Schwarzenegger is vastly out-raising his Democratic challenger, state Treasurer
Phil Angelides. He has taken $26.4 million into his reelection account so far this year, compared with Angelides' $13.4 million, according to records filed with the Secretary of State's office."
"Former Gov. George Deukmejian, a Republican and a Schwarzenegger backer who chastised Davis for raising money during bill signings, similarly criticized the current governor in an interview last week."
"'Personally, I think that should be avoided because it a very sensitive time,' Deukmejian said. 'It is the appearance. I'm sure he wouldn't do anything in exchange for a contribution. But it does give that appearance. That should be avoided.'"
"Schwarzenegger campaign spokesman
Matt David said the governor is not influenced by the money he raises. 'The governor makes decisions based on what is in the best interest of Californians,' David said."
But
his dinner decisions are another matter, reports the Bee's Kevin Yamamura. "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger took an immediate liking to the Esquire Grill when he arrived in Sacramento, drawing stargazers to the downtown restaurant."
"But Schwarzenegger recently has favored Lucca Restaurant & Bar, another downtown spot where the Republican governor enjoys sitting on the patio."
"Esquire Grill owner
Randy Paragary didn't help his restaurant get back into Schwarzenegger's good graces when he
hosted an Aug. 9 fundraiser at his Sacramento home soliciting six-figure checks on behalf of Democratic gubernatorial challenger
Phil Angelides."
"Schwarzenegger aides said the governor hasn't imposed a boycott of the Esquire, but they confirmed
the governor has shifted his dining preferences to Lucca in recent months. Administration officials also made a point of saying they were surprised Paragary hosted the high-profile Angelides fundraiser at his private residence, which goes beyond catering an event at one of his restaurants."
"Paragary said in late August he was unaware of any hard feelings."
"'I didn't know that was going on,' Paragary said. 'I'm not sure if he's in town. I haven't seen him lately.'"
Back on the money-watch front, the Times unveiled a
Mother's Milk scoreboard, along with a
new blog by Robert Salladay.
Matier and Ross
look at the governor's campaign strategy. "As political campaigns go, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's re-election drive is looking more and more like Sherman's march to the sea."
"It's a scorched-earth drive between now and November that appears to be aimed at robbing rival Phil Angelides of any worthwhile issue, while embracing other Democrats and disarming the teachers, nurses and firefighters unions that brought the governor to his knees last year."
"'
He's trying to kick the legs out of Angelides' stool -- and to tell you the truth, he's doing a pretty good job of it,' said
Garry South, who managed Angelides' opponent, Steve Westly, in the bruising Democratic primary."
"As for Team Angelides, it's betting the act doesn't sell."
"'What (Schwarzenegger) is trying to do is obvious -- adopting a Democratic posture to make himself more acceptable -- and frankly, it's unprincipled as hell,' said top Angelides strategist Bill
Carrick. '
The question is, how fast will the voters catch on? And I think the answer is, pretty fast.'"
After all, political pandering is something that voters have always rejected.
"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
was greeted with open arms Sunday at Allen Temple Baptist Church, one of the city's largest black churches, just days after a furor erupted over his characterization of a Latina legislator as hotblooded because of her black and Latino roots," reports Martin Ricard in the Oakland Tribune.
"But Schwarzenegger didn't show up to apologize for his comments — as some observers expected. Instead, he met with community leaders and applauded the church for its work with youth in Oakland."
"And the Rev.
Dr. J. Alfred Smith Sr., pastor of the church, blasted those who criticized the Republican governor for his remarks. In comments published Friday, Schwarzenegger described Assemblywoman
Bonnie Garcia, R-Cathedral City, as hotblooded, saying her Puerto Rican ethnicity makes her passionate."
"'
So who's upset because our governor referred to a fellow Republican legislator as being dynamic because her blood was African American and Latin American?' Smith asked. '
If the governor wants to say African-American blood runs through her veins, that's fine because I'm not ashamed of being who I am. I'm not ashamed to say I'm black and I'm proud.'"
George Skelton says that
everyone overreacted in response to the governor's audiotape story last week. "You could argue that The Times overreacted to its exclusive by placing it on Page One. Running it on the California page might have attracted as many readers while not riling up Republicans still upset by our disclosure just before the 2003 recall election of Schwarzenegger's past groping of women. But a newspaper must lead with what it considers to be its best stories — most important and interesting — and not worry about the politics."
"One problem is we're in this era of instant blogs and 24-hour news cycles, and the political warriors aren't taking enough time to think — think about how silly and petty they sound."
"There are eight weeks to go before the election. The political pros need to pace themselves. Something important could still happen actually worth reacting to."
Hard to pace themselves with all that hot, Latin blood running through their veins.
Speaking of the taped conversation, the Chron begins the
hunt for the leakers, as does the CHP.
"California Highway Patrol officials have opened a criminal investigation into "multiple" breaches and illegal downloads by outside hackers into the computers of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office, after an embarrassing private taped conversation was leaked last week to the Los Angeles Times, administration officials told The Chronicle."
"'There is an investigation conducted by the California Highway Patrol on how the tape obtained by the L.A. Times was acquired," said a senior official who spoke on condition of anonymity. '
This is a criminal matter that has been turned over to the CHP."'
"In the last few elections,
voters in San Benito County have an unparalleled record of mirroring California's statewide results, often with remarkable precision," writes Mark Barabak in the Times.
Who does this guy think he is,
Dan Weintraub?
"In 2003, for instance, the state voted 55% to 45% to recall Democrat
Gray Davis, the same as San Benito County. Statewide, Schwarzenegger received 48.6% of the vote to replace Davis; he received 48.7% in San Benito County."
"It unclear why this out-of-the-way place, just a short drive from the Monterey Peninsula, lines up so neatly with California's sentiments. With 56,000 residents, about the population of Arcadia or Fountain Valley, the county is hardly a statistical match. It is more rural than California as a whole, and its residents are younger. Latinos make up a much larger percentage of the population and there are fewer college graduates."
"Still, the voting trend, which started in 1998, continued on June 6 when San Benito County rejected two state bond measures and cast ballots in the gubernatorial primary in numbers very close to statewide returns."
Harrison Shepard looks at the
impact of term limits on this year's Legislature. "'The Legislature that meets in December will have over one-third of its members having never served a day in state government," said
Tim Hodson, director of the Center for California Studies at Sacramento State University."
"Therefore, no matter how good they are, they do not have the knowledge - the experience - that's needed to be able to tell the good bill proposals from the lousy bill proposals."
"Twelve out of 40 members are being termed out this year in the Senate, and 29 out of 80 in the Assembly. That is the highest figure since voters enacted term limits in 1990."
"Legislation signed Aug. 28 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger makes California the first state in the nation to
prohibit public university and college officials from censoring student journalists."
"'It's a good thing that the bill will protect the status quo,' said [
Nate] Miller, a senior who worked on his community college and high school newspapers."
"Miller, 23, always assumed he enjoyed the same legal protection as professional journalists. But supporters of
Assembly Bill 2581 said a federal court ruling and subsequent memo sent by the top attorney for the CSU system to college presidents called out for pre-emptive legislation."
"The bill by Assemblyman
Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, grew out of a federal court ruling affecting the student press in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana."
We close today with
news from our London bureau. "A
blind man who was convicted of dangerous driving after he admitted being behind the wheel of a car that touched 35 mph in Oldbury, West Midlands, is due to be sentenced later on Monday."
"
Omed Aziz, who lost his eyes after an explosion in his homeland of
Iraq, was following instructions on where to steer and when to brake from a passenger who himself had been banned from driving."
