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August 31, 2005
Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Unions Continue to Stalk the Governor
FAN INVOLVEMENT: Michael Lighty of Oakland, right, participates in a wave Tuesday protesting Gov. Schwarzenegger as he held a fundraiser at Angel Stadium. Fire, nurse and teacher union members offered anti-governor trading cards.
Posted by Flap at the FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog
The Orange County Register has Unions boo the governor, Schwarzenegger's Anaheim fundraiser attracts protesters of what they call anti-labor propositions.
It was a game within a game at Angel Stadium on Tuesday night, with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger holding a political fundraiser at the park while labor union members pulled out the stops to attack the governor - including satirical trading cards given to fans.Needing to improve sliding approval ratings and to reverse voter disinterest for his three November ballot measures, Schwarzenegger showed up for campaign money - with Angel owner Arte Moreno and Emulex Chairman Paul Folino hosting the luxury-box fundraiser.
But as with other recent appearances in Orange County and throughout the state, the governor's trip again provided a stage for labor unions upset with Schwarzenegger's efforts to undermine them with his ballot measures.
Flap wonders who is running the Governor's political organization.
Here are some recommendations.
And..... the Governor is not attending the Labor Day dedication of the new University of California, Merced.
Arnold, some reorganization of your political staff is in order and change your schedule.
QUICK!
Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Special Election, Arte Moreno
Posted by League Member at 10:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 28, 2005
Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Governorship at the Crossroads
Posted by Flap at the FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog
Dan Walters, political columnist of the Sacramento Bee has Schwarzenegger at critical stage - will he rebound or be a footnote?
Arnold Schwarzenegger's governorship has entered a critical stage, and within weeks, he and we will know whether it marks a turning point in California's political history or is fated to become an eccentric footnote - our version of Minnesota's Jesse Ventura fiasco.There can be little doubt that the bodybuilder-turned-movie-star-turned-politician has squandered much of the public goodwill that swept him into office 22 months ago as voters fired inept predecessor Gray Davis. He failed to convert that momentum into a broader government reform movement, settled for some cheap early "victories" that he overhyped to the public and then, belatedly, launched what turned out to be a bumbling "year of reform" crusade.
Now it is time for the Governor to campaign for California reform. Hed has squandered his momentum and let the public employee unions and left-wing union organizers run an effective negative campaign against him.
The unions control the Democrat legislature as the Southern Pacific Railroad and the railroad barons did in the early 20th century. With Gray Davis, their union boy in the Governship, they bankrupted the state and placed the future of California in a precarious situation. There was no check on their money consuming power of redistribution to their union cronies from the state treasury. Arnold has checked them and now they want him out.
But, Schwarzenegger has to take his case to the voters of California.
The November special election will be the vehicle.
Well, you have to understand, I had a choice a year ago," he told a radio talk show last week. "Do I want to continue enjoying my 70 percent popularity rating and keep quiet and not create the reforms that we need, not to fix the broken system, not to rattle the cage and upset the status quo? Or do I want to go and keep my promise, what I told to the people during my campaign, that I will go to Sacramento and fix a broken system and create true reform?"There's a lot of truth in that. Schwarzenegger is absolutely correct in concluding - however belatedly - that state government is badly broken and needs fundamental change. Whether his ballot measures represent that reform is a debatable point, but at least their passage would indicate that California voters are open to the concept and could be a starting point. Given his diminished public standing, however, voters will no longer pass them just because he wants them to do so, as he had originally hoped when his popularity was high. He will have to make the case that their passage would improve the quality of governance.
Governator, you cannot begin quickly enough to campaign.
Flap's recommendations:
1. Immediately declare that you will be a candidate for Governor in 2006.
This will help you with donors who are nervous that you may pull a Jesse Ventura and leave.
2. Declare a border emergency with Mexico and refuse to support any Bush, McCain, Kennedy Guest Worker program.
The Hispanic caucus in the legislature is all left-wing and will be no help to you. Pandering to Hispanics may have worked for Bush, but it won't help you in 2006. Hispanics do not solely vote on these issues in any case.
3. Endorse the Paycheck Protection, Proposition 75 and campaign for it.
This proposition scares the unions that you need to pare back just like Hiram Johnson and the Southern Pacific Railroad. Cut off easy access to the millions needed for a media campaign and you diminish their "Mother's Milk" for future campaigns against you and your reform agenda.
Schwarzenegger edged closer to that declaration last week, saying: "I'm not in there for the short run here. You know, I'm a follow-through guy." And, he said, he'll campaign hard to "let the people know that we had the recall election to fix a broken system, and they sent me to Sacramento to do that job, to be an outsider that can go in, that doesn't owe anyone any favors, and to start moving things around and really fix the system."Schwarzenegger may be down, but he's not out, and what occurs between now and Nov. 8 will determine whether he's hit bottom and can rebound, or whether he and his governorship are doomed.
A new Public Policy Institute of California poll showing his popularity has declined sharply also indicates that among likely voters, it's markedly higher. A poll released by a pro-Schwarzenegger campaign group said his approval ratings are slightly higher than his disapproval numbers, and both it and the PPIC poll indicated that the Legislature's standing is much lower than the governor's. That division worries his opponents and could become his ace in the hole.
Governor, you already made the hard decision to stay with the special election.
GET BUSY.
Technorati Tags: Dan Walters , Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Special Election, Paycheck Protection, Proposition 75
Posted by League Member at 11:42 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 27, 2005
California Special Election Watch: McClintock's Positions on the Propositions
Posted by Flap at the FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog
California State Senator, Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks, Flap's Senator and friend has published his position on the November California Special Election Ballot Propositions. They are at his blog or here at the Pro-Family Townhall of the Capitol Research Institute.
Proposition 73: Parental Notification for Abortion. If parental consent is required for a child to use a tanning booth or get her ears pierced, shouldn’t parents at least be notified if she’s getting an abortion? YES. Whether you’re pro-life or pro-choice, this should be the all-time no-brainer.
Proposition 74: Teacher Tenure. Do parents have a right to expect a higher level of competence before a teacher is granted life-time tenure? YES. This modest measure simply increases the teacher probation period from two years to five years.
Proposition 75: Public Employee Union Dues. Should public employees decide for themselves which candidates they will support with their own money? YES. This measure requires that before a public employee union can take money from that employee for political donations, it has to get the employee’s permission.
Proposition 76: State Spending. Should government live within its means? YES. This measure restores the authority that the governor of California had between 1939 and 1983 to make mid-year spending cuts whenever spending outpaces revenue without having to return to the legislature.Proposition
77: Re-districting. Should voters choose their representatives in legislative districts that are drawn without regard to partisan advantage? YES. The most obvious conflict of interest in government is when politicians choose which voters will get to vote for them by drawing their own legislative district lines. This measure puts a stop to it.
Propositions 78 and 79: Prescription drug discounts. Do you want the same people who run the DMV to run your pharmacy? NO. These are rival measures, one supported by drug companies and the other by liberal activists – both of which purport to lower drug prices. What they really do is assure that one group of patients gets to pay higher prices to provide subsidized prices for others. There’s no such thing as a free Levitra.
Proposition 80. Electricity Regulation. Do you want the same people who run the DMV to run your electricity company? NO. This measure locks in monopoly control of your electricity by the bureaucratized utilities and forbids you from ever being able to shop around for the lowest-priced electricity available.
Tom is RIGHT on all of the Propositions and will make a good running mate with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006.
Now..... if we can get Schwarzenegger to endorse Proposition 75, Paycheck Protection and Proposition 73, Parental Notification.
McClintock's Lt. Governor website is here.
Technorati Tags: Tom McClintock, Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Special Election, Proposition 74, Proposition 75, Proposition 76, Proposition 77, Proposition 78, Proposition 79, Capitol Research Institute, Proposition 73, Proposition 80
Posted by League Member at 10:23 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 25, 2005
California Special Election Watch: Latest Public Policy Institute of California Poll
Posted by Flap at the FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog
The Public Policy Institute of California has PPIC Statewide Survey: Special Survey on Californians and the Initiative Process, August 2005.
Some findings of the current survey* A majority of likely voters across age, income, education, racial and ethnic groups, and in every region of the state, oppose holding a special election this fall.
* When asked which ballot issue was most important to them, a higher percentage of likely voters (16%) volunteered the answer “none” than named any one measure.
* At this time, likely voters are not very enthusiastic about the three reform measures on the fall ballot that are supported by the Schwarzenegger administration:
Proposition 74 (teacher tenure), 49% support, 42% oppose;
Proposition 76 (spending and funding limits), 28% support, 61% oppose;
Proposition 77 (redistricting), 34% support, 49% oppose.
* Governor Schwarzenegger’s approval ratings are at a low point: Only 34% of state residents approve of the way he is handling his job.
* The state legislature fares even worse, with a 27% approval rating.This is the 58th PPIC Statewide Survey and the first in a series of three surveys focusing on Californians and the initiative process. This special survey series is funded by The James Irvine Foundation.
The PPIC statewide survey can be found here.
Well, this news is mixed for the Governor with a little bad news for him and the Democrat legislative leaders.
However, on the bright side: the Paycheck Protection Initiative, Proposition 75, is handily winning with 58 per cent support, 33 per cent opposed and 9 per cent undecided.
Will the Governor finally embrace Proposition 75?
Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Recovery Team, California Special Election, Bear Flag League, Proposition 75, Proposition 76, Proposition 77
Posted by League Member at 01:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 23, 2005
Wanted: An Anti-Boycott of Target (That Means Go There And Buy, Buy, Buy!)
This San Francisco Chronicle article suggests there's another reason to spend your money at Target: they're being boycotted for supporting the Governor on Proposition 76 --
A California consumer group is telling seniors not to shop at Target stores because of the more than $300,000 the retailer has given to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
California Consumers United has spent $50,000 for a Bay Area radio campaign aimed at hitting one of the governor's supporters in the wallet.
... The ad slams Schwarzenegger for taking money from drug companies and vetoing a bill that would have made it easier to bring lower-priced drugs into the state from Canada.
It also suggests that Schwarzenegger's Proposition 76, which would give the governor more control over the state budget, would allow him to slash health care spending.
Since 2004, Target has given $100,000 to Citizens to Save California, which worked to qualify the governor's initiatives for the special election ballot, and $210,000 to the governor's California Recovery Team, which supports Schwarzenegger's political aims.
The usual suspects, such as BuyBlue.com and the California Nurses Association Stop Arnold, are pitching in to help the boycott.
BuyBlue says "Target also contributed 83% of their $212,000 in contributions during the 2003-2004 election cycle to Republican candidates."
So make up your shopping list -- which shouldn't be hard, since Target has everything -- and counter this boycott by spending at Target.
You may also want to contact Target and let them know you support their corporate political activity.
---
The best part: the ad copy -- which may turn off the portion of the target audience that prefers to not be treated like an idiot. From the Chronicle piece:
The folksy ad features an announcer talking to an elderly woman.
"Target Corporation is one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's biggest special interest donors -- money he's using to promote his agenda against consumers and affordable health care,'' the announcer says.
"Well, snap my girdle,'' the elderly shopper answers. "They're using our money against us."
"Snap my girdle?"
---
cross posted from Independent Sources
Technorati Tags: Schwarzenegger, Target
Posted by League Member at 10:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 19, 2005
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez Makes No Sense
[Cross-Posted by Jordan Cunningham at Democracy Market.]
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez is unbelievable. He is quoted in this fantastic editorial in the Sac Bee in support of Prop 77. Here's an excerpt:
"Some Democrats, eager to retain the ability to pick their own voters, have suggested - amazingly - that the Supreme Court judges had a conflict of interest in deciding the matter.
'It shows why a small group of unaccountable, politically appointed judges should not be given the sole power to determine who represents Californians,' Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez said in a news release.
Let's consider that last sentence.
Currently, a small group of marginally accountable, self-interested legislators get to draw their own political districts."
Well said.
Nunez is shameless: "It shows why a small group of unaccountable, politically appointed judges should not be given the sole power to determine who represents Californians." Not only is that quote painfully self-serving, but it makes absolutely no sense. Why exactly does the Cal. Supreme Court deciding that Prop 77 should be voted on this November mean that judges cannot be trusted to draw district lines? (Hint: It doesn't.) That quote boils down to the following: "Judges on the California Supreme Court made a decision that I do not like. Other judges might make redistricting decisions I do not like. No on 77." Not very compelling.
Nunez impliedly suggests that legislators should be trusted over retired judges. Let's see. The standard argument for why the legislative branch should be trusted with policy decisions is that they are elected and therefore accountable to voters. Whereas judges are not. But redistricting turns that argument on its head. Under the current system, legislators are able to jury-rig the system, selecting their own voters and drawing safe districts where they will never be challenged. In other words, they are not accountable to voters. At least not in the same way they would be with competitive districts in a truly democratic system. You cannot run the standard argument for democratic accountability because it no longer works. When a legislator makes a bad decision, or one at odds with the majority will of his/her district, voters can vote him/her out of office. But gerrymandering stacks the election deck, making the legislator safe from challenge, and thus makes the legislator unaccountable to the voters.
In fact, I cannot think of a worse group to draw district lines than legislators. When setting and enforcing election rules, you want the party to be disinterested and apolitical. Legislators are the most self-interested and highly political group in existence. If you threw a dart at a board you would do better. Let's see, who should draw district lines? a.) Active Judges, b.) Retired judges, c.) Legislators, or d.) Wednesday Bingo Night participants. I would choose, in order, the retired judges, then active judges, then Bingo Night, and if I could not find anyone else, Legislators. At least Bingo Night would be disinterested.
I also find Nunez's argument against "unaccountable, politically appointed" judges to be particularly ironic, given that he hails from the party that tends to support judicial activism. To be fair, I do not know Nunez's views on judicial matters, so I will stop here. For now. But watch what Nunez says during the confirmation process once Arnold appoints a replacement for Janice Rogers Brown. I would be surprised if those words don't get turned back on him. (By bloggers and talk radio of course, not the MSM.)
Make no mistake, Nunez has one interest and one interest alone with regards to the Redistricting issue: Holding onto power by keeping a safe seat for himself and his cronies.
Note: I linked to this Sac Bee editorial via www.joinarnold.com. It has information on the Special Election straight from the Governator. Bookmark it, and go there is you want to contribute to the cause.
Posted by League Member at 10:18 AM | Comments (0)
California Special Election Watch: Compromise Talks Collapse
Posted by Flap at the FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog
The Sacramento Bee this morning has Bid to forge special vote deal collapses, Governor says he'll put state overhaul plan on the ballot.
Last-minute talks on a possible compromise over Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's special election initiatives collapsed Thursday night with the Republican governor vowing to take his government overhaul measures directly to voters."I'm actually very sad that we were just told by Secretary (of State) Bruce McPherson that we ran out of time and we passed the deadline," Schwarzenegger told reporters who waited outside his office for the two-hour negotiating session to end.
What a Surprise! And despite the efforts of the Hugmeister, Bob Hertzberg.
Bring on the Election.
BTW Governor Schwarzenegger has already won.
Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Recovery Team, California Special Election, Bear Flag League, Bob Hertzberg
Posted by League Member at 08:17 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 18, 2005
For all their talk, they don't seem to walk the walk
Cross-posted at California Mafia:
If anyone doubts that the coming Special Election isn't a big deal, all you need to know is this:
In a decision that could feed the political spending frenzy for the November election, the Federal Election Commission today ruled that members of Congress are free to spend without limit on California ballot measures.The decision involved a proposed ballot measure that would change how boundaries of legislative districts are drawn, but could open spending floodgates on other ballot proposals on topics as diverse as teenage abortions and political spending by unions.
For all their talk of getting the money out of politics, when it comes to keeping their jobs, career politicians couldn't care less.
Now don't get me wrong, the FEC made the right decision because this is entirely State matter. But if these guys are so good, and if the system isn't broke, why are they so worried?
"All we wanted to do is make … sure that the same rules that apply to him would apply to us," said Rep. Howard Berman (D-North Hollywood).Today's ruling clears the way for a bipartisan group of congressmen, led by Berman and John Doolittle (R-Rocklin), to spend millions opposing the redistricting measure Schwarzenegger supports, Proposition 77.
No, I am not surprised that this is "bipartisan." MP and I had AP Government together in high school , and there we learned a very valuable lesson, the primary concern of politicians is getting reelected. That is what this is about.
Prop 77 would make it more difficult for these hacks to hold onto their seats. They would actually be responsible to the people of their district (at least in theory).
There is also a rather interesting criticism of the FEC's decision at the end of the article. Larry Noble thinks there is "no basis in the law" for the FEC's decision. Well, Mr Noble, might I suggest that you read the US Constitution. See, under the federal constitution, the federal government can't tell the States how to run their own elections (unless the rules violate civil rights, which are covered in some of the Amendments).
Posted by League Member at 06:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Bob Hertzberg to Broker a Compromise on California Special Election?
Dan Weintraub interviewing former California Assembly Speaker and L.A. Mayoral candidate Bob Hertzberg, listening in is Patterico.
Posted by Flap at the FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog
The San Jose Mercury News has Democrat is drafted to broker ballot talks.
In a last-ditch effort to strike a deal with legislators and avoid a divisive fall campaign, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has turned to Democrat Bob Hertzberg to help broker a compromise.The former Assembly speaker who served on Schwarzenegger's transition team has injected new life into the negotiations over the Nov. 8 special election and several of the eight initiatives on it, according to sources familiar with them, and spurred talk of an agreement that aims to modify term limits.
Is Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger getting SQUISHY again?
Is he lacking the political will to proceed with an election which he has already won?
A legislative compromise could forestall a costly battle over issues including measures to limit state spending, undercut public-employee unions' campaign funds and redraw legislative and congressional districts.The talks involve the Republican governor, Hertzberg, administration Finance Director Tom Campbell and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles.
``The fact that Hertzberg's in the room means that these are serious talks,'' said Dan Schnur, a GOP strategist who worked for former Gov. Pete Wilson. ``Probably no one in the state of California is better equipped to get both Schwarzenegger and Núñez to find any common ground. He's one of the few people that both Schwarzenegger and Núñez trust.''
``Conversations ebb and flow,'' said Margita Thompson, the governor's press secretary. ``It's a dynamic situation.''
The Governator should concentrate on raising campaign cash and come out guns ablazing!
He really has little choice without alienating his conservative Republican base.
The deal could temper term limits to allow lawmakers to serve 12 years total in one of the Legislature's two houses, instead of being restricted to six years in the Assembly and eight in the Senate. In exchange for the governor's support for that change, which would have to be passed by the state's voters, Democrats would back a rewritten redistricting measure to protect it from court challenges -- one that would give redistricting power to a panel of retired judges instead of the Legislature.Talks also center on education spending, the provisions of the Schwarzenegger ``Live Within Our Means'' initiative that would limit spending and whether to give the governor authority to cut the budget midyear.
Still, some lawmakers and legislative observers said they remain skeptical any deal can win approval from both Republicans and Democrats.
And time is running out. Today is the deadline for the Legislature to put any more measures on the special-election ballot, but it could vote to place them on a supplemental ballot -- at an added cost to taxpayers -- as late as Sept. 2.
A deal to change the term limits law would not curry favor with the people of California who have not supported the change in any recent poll.
Also, the Governor should make the Democrats run on opposing Proposition 77 and explain the blatant Democrat gerrymander to the voters.
Any late back-room deals brokered by Democrat and Former California Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg or anyone would break the Governor's moral authority of reform for holding the special election, lead to a splintering of his coalition, hurt his fundraising efforts, alienate already mistrustful conservatives and make him look a GIRLIE- MAN.
Bring on the election, Governor.
Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Recovery Team, California Special Election, Bear Flag League, Bob Hertzberg
Posted by League Member at 09:05 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 16, 2005
Barone Crackback on Public Sector Unions
Posted by Jordan Cunningham at Democracy Market
Barone has barely been blogging a week, and already he's dishing out the best material around. This post deals with the rise of public sector unions in the past few decades, and the inherent problems they bring in terms of public policy - the main one being that the taxpayers get screwed.
The basic idea is that with private sector unions you have management to counterbalance union power, whereas with public sector unions there is no management to counterbalance. In place of management operating in an adversarial context, you have the Legislature, which is often not adversarial at all. (This is especially the case where the Legislature is controlled by the party that receives financial support from the same unions.) The Legislature does not have incentive to oppose the more strident (and expensive to the public!) union demands, where in the private sector management obviously has incentive to do so. The unions therefore become like any other special interest/lobby, and the result is that the taxpayer gets reemed, as the unions extract higher and higher wages, benefits, retirement, etc. and less and less accountability.
The taxpayers are a classic example of a diffuse interest, and, barring some organizing group like Howard Jarvis - have impediments to fully representing their self-interest as against a "mobilized and organized" constituency like public unions. And I would add that even where taxpayers are organized there still exists a knowledge gap -- because the public rarely hears about public union negotiations. This highlights another reason it is essential that Prop 75 pass this November. Prop 75 would restrict use of union dues for political advocacy unless the individual member "opts-in." This will reduce the unions' political ad budget, as 30-40% of members won't opt-in, either because they disagree with the advocacy or would rather have their money devoted to lobbying for higher wages and better benefits. (As an aside, I have posted a short argument for supporting Prop 75 based on individual rights of dissenting union members, and there is a lengthy debate between three of us (one a former union teacher) in the comments section.)
Barone notes three Republican governors that are currently fighting the public unions: Matt Blunt of Missouri, Bob Ehrlich of Maryland, and Mitch Daniels of Indiana. But he also could have included our very own Governator Arnold, who has used damn near 30% of his approval rating waging virtual war with the unions.
Posted by League Member at 07:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
California Special Election Watch: Time is Running Out for Legislative Compromise
Posted by Flap at the FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog
KCRA Sacramento has Special Election: 'Time Running Out' For Legislative Compromise.
All of his reform propositions have made the ballot. Now, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to the state Capitol from his summer break ready to do what he does best -- campaign.On Tuesday, with the state preparing to print voter materials, Schwarzenegger acknowledged that political war will be launched this fall with a special election on Nov. 8.
"Time is running out this week. So, it could easily be that we will not come up with a compromise. And the key thing is that we move forward then," Schwarzenegger said.
"We shouldn't talk further because the time has run out. We tried to. We have since January. We did a lot of talking. It's just not there," said Assembly Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy.
The Democrats have had months to compromise with the Governator.
What have Speaker Fabian Nunez and Senate Pro Tem Don Peralta done instead:
*Had their friends in the public employee unions run expensive and negative personal television ads against the Governor.
*Had the California Nurses Association Stalk Arnold
*Had the Attorney General (Democrat Bill Lockyer) file a lawsuit attempting to bar Proposition 77, the Redistricting Initiative from the November California Special Election Ballot.
* Filed an ethics lawsuit against Schwarzenegger.
Enough with the talk.
BTW Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has already won.
Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Fabian Nunez, Proposition 77, California, California Special Election, Don Perata, California Nurses Association
Posted by League Member at 05:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Lewis Uhler: ICON of the RIGHT
Posted by Flap at the FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog
The Sacramento Bee has He's an old hand from right field, His new cause: Helping governor pass Prop. 75.
He is an unapologetic McCarthyite and a former member of the John Birch Society whose hard-right ideology has taken him to the fringes of American conservatism.But Lewis K. Uhler also has remained very much planted in mainstream Republican orthodoxy over the past half-century, landing key positions in the gubernatorial administration of Ronald Reagan, co-writing the state's term limits initiative and staying at the national forefront of the movement to lower taxes and balance the federal budget.
Now, the 71-year-old Uhler is working as the front man - at the urging of a close contact to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger - for Proposition 75, the ballot initiative aimed at reducing the influence of the state's public employee unions.
Uhler is at the forefront of the November California Special Election.
Proposition 75, the Paycheck Protection Initiative will drive the Unions and the Left wild.
Bring it ON!
Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lewis Uhler, Proposition 75, California, California Special Election, Paycheck Protection Initiative, Californians for Paycheck Protection.
Posted by League Member at 12:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
National Public Radio: Hatchets Schwarzenegger
Posted by Flap at the FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog
In one of the most egregious political radio hit pieces not paid for by a rival campaign, the National Public Radio has outdone itself, Schwarzenegger Continues Push for 'Reform' Agenda.
Morning Edition, August 16, 2005 · California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger continues to pursue a controversial political agenda that has little support among voters, according to recent polls. This week there is a deadline for making changes that could affect the fall special election ballot.
Let's See.....
It mentions California Governor Schwarzenegger's:
Implies conflicts of interest with Muscle Magazines and Fitness Competitions
The California Nurses Association obsessive stalking and demonstrations
Mocks his Rolling Stones Concert appearance and attendance
You can listen to the audio here.
Flap is wondering what a controversial political agenda is?
Does NPR mean supporting various initiative measures such as Proposition 77, Redistricting, that was placed on the ballot by the signatures of over 900,000 registered California voters?
And what recent poll shows little support? The last Field poll was in mid-June. Hardly indicative of what the voters may decide in November.
And American taxpayers are paying for this blatant BIAS in reporting?
What a HATCHET JOB NPR.
Shameful.
Ina Jaffe of NPR, California
Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, NPR, Proposition 77, California, California Special Election, National Public Radio, California Nurses Association
Posted by League Member at 11:38 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 15, 2005
California Special Election: No Westworld for Arnold
Posted by Flap at the FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog
The California Special Election this November better be worth it.
The remake of sci-fi thriller "Westworld" is going ahead without the Governator. Arnold Schwarzenegger was to have co-produced and appeared in the movie, but those plans were put aside after his 2003 election.The trade paper Daily Variety reported Friday that a director has been chosen for the remake: Tarsem Singh, who directed the 2000 thriller "The Cell" starring Jennifer Lopez.
Schwarzenegger, who starred in the "Terminator" and "Conan" movies, has not held any discussions about involvement with the film, his representative said Friday.
"It's not even on the governor's radar right now," spokeswoman Sheryl Main said. "He's concentrating on the special election that's coming up in November. That is not even a blip on the screen."
There's no word on when "Westworld" might start production or be released.
The original "Westworld," released in 1973, starred Yul Brynner as "Robot Gunslinger," who stalks a pair of vacationers at a futuristic amusement park. The cult classic was written and directed by the novelist Michael Crichton.
Flap is positive that the California Nurses Association and California Teachers Association would love the Governor to retire from politics.
Flap loves the Governator's movies ......so it is a tough choice.
But, somebody has to reform California and the Terminator is the MAN.
The original movie, starring Yul Brenner and Dick Benjamin can be purchased here.
Will Bruce Willis star?
Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Westworld, Michael Crichton, Bruce Willis, California Special Election, Bear Flag League
Posted by League Member at 10:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 14, 2005
Proposition 75 Could Cut Financial Power of Unions
[Cross-posted at The Southern California Law Blog]
The LA Times reports:
California's public employee unions, which have formed the core resistance to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's agenda this year, could lose much of their political potency through a measure on the Nov. 8 special election ballot.
Proposition 75, backed by a coalition of business groups and anti-tax advocates aligned with the Republican Party, would require unions to obtain written permission from members each year before directing money from their dues into political campaigns.
Similar measures in other states have led to dramatic decreases in political contributions. Some union members are glad to save a portion of their dues, and others object to their union's Democratic leanings.
Though the initiative is not part of Schwarzenegger's "year of reform" effort to upend Sacramento's traditional powers, it is widely viewed as the measure that could have the greatest repercussions in the Capitol should it pass.
Posted by League Member at 09:55 PM | Comments (0)
August 12, 2005
CA Supreme Court Restores Prop. 77 to Ballot
[Cross-posted at The Southern California Law Blog]
The California Supreme Court has ordered the Secretary of State to restore Proposition 77 to the ballot for this November's special election:
Petition for review GRANTED. The judgment of the Superior Court of Sacramento County filed on July 22, 2005, in Lockyer v. McPherson et al. (05CS00998), directing the Secretary of State not to place any version of Proposition 77 on the November 8, 2005, special election ballot or in the voter election materials, is stayed pending this court's determination of this matter or further order of this court. In the absence of a showing that the discrepancies between (1) the version of the initiative measure that was submitted to the Attorney General and (2) the version of the initiative measure that was circulated for signature (and that was signed by the requisite number of qualified voters and has been certified for placement on the ballot) were likely to have misled the persons who signed the initiative petition, we conclude that it would not be appropriate to deny the electorate the opportunity to vote on Proposition 77 at the special election to be held on November 8, 2005, on the basis of such discrepancies. (Cf. Assembly v. Deukmejian (1982) 30 Cal.3d 638, 652-654.) Accordingly, the Secretary of State and other public officials are directed to proceed with all the required steps to place in the election pamphlet and on the ballot of the special election to be held on November 8, 2005, the version of Proposition 77 that was signed by the requisite number of qualified voters.
Any public official or other person who has not had an opportunity to revise statements or ballot arguments that have already been submitted to the Secretary of State in order to reflect the version of Proposition 77 that will appear in the election pamphlet and on the ballot shall be permitted to submit a revised statement or ballot argument to the Secretary of State no later than 3 p.m. on Monday, August 15, 2005. After the election, we shall determine whether to retain jurisdiction in this matter and resolve the issues raised in the petition. Kennard, J., and Moreno, J., voted to deny review. Werdegar, J., unavailable and did not participate.
Votes: George, C.J., Baxter, Chin, and Aldrich*
* Hon. Richard D. Aldrich, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Three, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.
Rick Hasen notes:
This is a surprise, and a very curious order. On the one hand, the Court seems to resolve the merits, by imposing a "likely to be misled" standard for substantial compliance. On the other hand, the Court seems to leave open the possibility it will revisit the legal question after the election should Prop. 77 pass. (Of course, if it passes, there are a number of substantive challenges to the initiative that I expect to be mounted.)
Posted by League Member at 08:28 PM | Comments (1)
August 11, 2005
Proposition 77 Watch: Appeal to the California Supreme Court
Posted by Flap at the FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog
Rick Hasen over at Election Law Blog has Prop. 77 Proponents Petition for Review in the California Supreme Court.
Expect a ruling by Monday.
Technorati Tags: Schwarzenegger, Bill Lockyer, Proposition 77, California, California Special Election, Ted Costa, People's Advocate
Posted by League Member at 07:33 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
August 10, 2005
Proposition 77 Petition Submitted to Supreme Court
[cross-posted at The Southern California Law Blog]
Rick Hasen reports here that the supporters of Proposition 77 have filed a petition with the Supreme Court to reinstate the redistricting reform initiative to November's ballot. You can read the petition here. You can track the status of the Supreme Court proceeding here.
Posted by League Member at 10:21 PM | Comments (0)
Proposition 77 Watch: Ordered Off Ballot REDUX
Posted by Flap at the FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog
The San Diego Union has Redistricting initiative petitions wrong, it rules.
A state appeals court dealt another blow to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's special election agenda yesterday by refusing to order his redistricting initiative back on the Nov. 8 ballot.In a 2-1 ruling, the 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento said that proponents of Proposition 77 were in "clear violation" of the law when they circulated initiative petitions that did not match the one that was submitted to the state Attorney General's office.
Daniel Kolkey, an attorney representing Ted Costa, the official sponsor of the initiative, said he will appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court.
The ruling of the court is here.
The Governor responded by denouncing the ruling as thwarting the will of the voters.
"The court today ignored the will of nearly 1 million Californians who signed petitions demanding redistricting reform," the Republican governor said in a written statement."Those voters knew they were signing petitions in support of reform and they deserve to get it. I believe that Proposition 77 earned a rightful place on the November ballot and the people of California should be given a right to vote on it."
Sacramento Superior Court Judge Gail D. Ohanesian threw out Proposition 77 on July 21 after ruling that such discrepancies made the initiative unconstitutional. But the 3rd District Court of Appeal suspended her decision in order to allow a required public review period for the measure to continue.
But in upholding Ohanesian's ruling, appellate Justices Blease and Butz argued that the differences in wording could result in "voter confusion" because the version circulated (to voters) undeniably changes the meaning of key provisions in the copy submitted to the attorney general.Blease and Butz were appointed to the 3rd District court, respectively, by former Democratic Govs. Jerry Brown and Gray Davis.
Ok, so some leftie appeals court judges upheld a weak-knee superor court judge. The California Supremes will ultimately decide the case.
But, as Flap has maintained over and over like a broken record: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has already won the Special Election with or without Proposition 77.
Flap has some recommenations for the Governor:
1. Let Ted Costa and Bill Mundell sort out Proposition 77. If the California Supremes strike the measure from the ballot then make some modifications in the measure, recirculate it and run on the measure in November 2006.
2. Immediately announce your re-election for Governor and hold a fund-raising event for your re-election campaign committee. Danny Devito would be good and a Hollywood theme would be appropriate.
3. Support the Paycheck Protection Initiative, Proposition 75 and raise money for it.
4. Develop a media campaign to immediately combat television ads from the Alliance for a Better California. Flap is tired of seeing poor school teachers and firemen saying the Governor is picking on ME. While their pensions and other speical interest funding are busting the budget and forcing massive state budget deficits year after year. And which may ultimately lead to tax increases.
5. Stick to Your Guns. The people of California support your reform agenda.
Now get going.
When are you bringing the campaign to Ventura County? How about an event at the Reagan Library?
Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Recovery Team, California Special Election, Bear Flag League, Proposition 75, Proposition 77
Posted by League Member at 08:53 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 09, 2005
Prop 77 Stays Off (For Now)
Posted by Ben Hoskins at Democracy Market
Here's the 2-1 decision. As (requisite Hasen link when blogging on Prop 77 court cases) Hasen notes, the case broke along "party" lines. So now I guess it may be off to the CA Supreme Court. At which time I would expect to get to reuse this post heading.
I was arguing for redistricting reform before the initiative (briefly) made the ballot and still strongly support it. That being said, I tend to think conservatives may have a hard time arguing this Prop shouldn't go. With relatively important issues like, umm, amending the constitution I think it is a conservative position to error with sticking with the letter of the law and elected officials decisions over wanting the courts to discern the will of the people (see. conservative support for Bush v. Gore).
All that being said, it would have been nice if after spending millions on signature gathering they had saved a little money for systems to make sure they like, you know, sent in the final draft. Then it wouldn't be an issue.
Cross-posted at the Bear Flag League Special Election Page
Posted by League Member at 05:12 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
August 06, 2005
Decision on Proposition 77 Appeal Expected on Tuesday
[Cross-Posted at The Southern California Law Blog]
The California Court of Appeal is expected to issue its ruling on Tuesday as to whether Proposition 77 - the initiative to reform the way political districts are drawn in California -- can remain on the ballot for the November 2005 special election. In the meantime:
- Dan Weintraub has a great account of Friday's oral argument here
- Rick Hasen adds his view of the oral argument here.
- You can track the status of the appellate proceedings by viewing the online docket here.
- Our prior coverage of Proposition 77 is here.
- The Technorati Pages for Proposition 77 are here.
Posted by League Member at 08:55 PM | Comments (0)
Prop 77 Hearing
Posted by Ben Hoskins at Democracy Market
California Insider was at the hearing for Prop 77 and has his thoughts here. Well worth the read. His impressions seems to be that it is up in the air with one justice leaning towards tossing, one towards keeping, and one (Justice Butz) not showing her hand. A decision is expected Tuesday - at which point individuals in the area should be on guard vs. numerous papercuts in the flurry of paperwork appealing to the supreme court whatever decision comes down.
Cross-posted at the Bear Flag League Special Election Page
Posted by League Member at 09:45 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 04, 2005
California Special Election: Full Speed Ahead
Posted by Flap at the FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog
An analysis by the nonpartisan California legislative counsel that states California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger can cancel the November special election does NOT mean he will do it.
The ruling Tuesday, which was drafted at the request of state Sen. Debra Bowen, D-Redondo Beach, came as another Democratic lawmaker announced he would introduce legislation calling on Schwarzenegger to scrap the election.According to Deputy Legislative Counsel Christopher Dawson, the governor has the sole authority to rescind a proclamation calling for a special election. That contradicted an opinion by Secretary of State Bruce McPherson, who had suggested lawmakers could approve legislation by a two-thirds vote to call off the election.
"In our view, where the California Constitution has granted discretionary power to the governor, the Legislature may not validly enact a statute that would negate the Governor's exercise of that discretion," Dawson wrote.
Additionally, Dawson wrote, "the governor may rescind the proclamation calling for a statewide special election until the date of the election." Until now, supporters and opponents of the governor's reform initiatives had viewed Aug. 18 as the deadline for making any changes to the ballot.
Earlier Tuesday, Assemblyman Johan Klehs, D-Hayward, held a news conference to announce that he would introduce legislation calling on Schwarzenegger to cancel the special election.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Klehs called the special election "a complete waste of money" and said he had consulted with the legislative counsel's office before drafting his legislation.
"The law is very clear," Klehs said. "The governor can call the election, and he can cancel it. And the public is clearly in favor of canceling it.
The Lefties are desperate. Flap to Moonbats.....Arnold is staying the course and he has already WON.
Flap suggests the Democrats and their union friends get BUSY raising money for the expensive media campaign ahead (which means surcharge their union employees again and again).
The Governator is and that really indicates intent......now doesn't it.
Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Recovery Team, California Special Election, Bear Flag League
Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page
Posted by League Member at 04:47 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 02, 2005
Lockyer's "New" Prop 77 Ballot Summary
The 3rd Circuit Court ordered AG Lockyer to redo Prop 77's ballot summary and title given the difference in the text originally submitted and the later revision. His changes? One word. Instead of "redistricting" the title now reads "reapportionment". Massive change, that. The summary is the same.
Old ballot title and summary
New ballot title and summary
The ballot labels are also the same. This cannot but help the case for Prop 77. (H/T: Rick Hasen)
Cross posted to Interocitor.
Posted by League Member at 02:34 PM | Comments (0)
August 01, 2005
John Fund: Schwarzenegger NO Choice But to Come Out Guns Blazing
Posted by Flap at the FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog
Good to see that John Fund of the Wall Street Journal agrees with Flap.
And the battle is worth having. Even if he lost one or more of the initiatives on the ballot this November it wouldn't be as damaging as losing the belief his core voters have that he is a strong leader who is fighting for what he says he believes in.
Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Recovery Team, California Special Election, Bear Flag League
Posted by League Member at 09:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack