With the Gubernatorial debate now a part of history (in case you missed it, my take is here). Phil Angelides, down by double-digits in every public opinion poll that has been published, desperately needed to have something, anything happen in this one and only debate that would change the horrible position in which Angelides finds himself.

For the last few months, Phil Angelides has been flailing as a candidate, failing to gain any momentum or traction. Angelides has been unable to convince many core Democrat voters that he is capable of running the complex government apparatus of this large state. At the same time, Governor Schwarzenegger has been on top of his game, coming across as capable and effective.

The Governor has been appealing to his core Republican base with his emphasis on his pledge to oppose any new taxes or fees, and he has been appealing to many Democrats and centrist voters by making a big deal out of… Read More

With the Gubernatorial debate now a part of history (in case you missed it, my take is here). Phil Angelides, down by double-digits in every public opinion poll that has been published, desperately needed to have something, anything happen in this one and only debate that would change the horrible position in which Angelides finds himself.

For the last few months, Phil Angelides has been flailing as a candidate, failing to gain any momentum or traction. Angelides has been unable to convince many core Democrat voters that he is capable of running the complex government apparatus of this large state. At the same time, Governor Schwarzenegger has been on top of his game, coming across as capable and effective.

The Governor has been appealing to his core Republican base with his emphasis on his pledge to oppose any new taxes or fees, and he has been appealing to many Democrats and centrist voters by making a big deal out of… Read More

The McClintock for Liuetenant Governor campaign has taken off the gloves with the release of a new television advertisement, appropriately entitled, "Credibility." Just watching the spot (attached below along with a McClintock fact sheet on the ad) makes you understand why — credibility is something that McClintock’s opponent, John Garamendi, is lacking.

This ad has started airing today in Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles.

Again, click on the ad file below to watch it on your computer!… Read More

There’s a lot of great stories to read on the main page today, but one is the ‘don’t miss’ story of the day — as it goes to the heart of a significant issue: Distraught Republicans Lambasting One Another.

Because of out-of-control spending in Washington, D.C., by a Republican President and a Republican Congress, the GOP can’t really credibly hold the mandle of being a party of limited government, can it? The fire and drive of the Class of ’94 is gone. Republicans inside the Beltway have to rely on the War on Terror to bump ratings because they cannot run on a record of having reined in the size and scope of the federal government. On the contrary, as the Chairman of the libertarian CATO institute says in the Chronicle piece, "The growth of federal spending has been the highest since Lyndon Johnson."

Republicans may be divided over the war in Iraq, civil liberties, immigration, and the… Read More

Here’s a little advice forRepublican candidates seeking their Party’s endorsement and assistance in San Bernardino County elections: You can’t have it both ways. If you think political parties shouldn’t be involved in local or so-called ‘non-partisan’ elections, then don’t ask for their support only to later criticize their involvement if they endorse someone else. By doing so you run the risk of seeming disingenuous.

Consider Sunday’sSan Bernardino County Sun article by staff writer George Watson that profiles judicial candidate Larry Roberts, who placed second to GOP-backed Steve Malone in the June Primary (30.6% vs. Malone’s 44.8%). In it, Roberts explains how the GOP’s involvement in the election gives him “chills” because of its potential to frighten jurists from making the right decisions for fear of Party retribution. Read it here.

But when Malone points out that Roberts had also sought the party’s support, Watson’s report paraphrases Roberts as saying he… Read More

Ayn Rand a Housewife?… Thanks to Leslie Carbone for sending this along, as it seems TV producer Marc Cherry is coming out of the closet, perhaps "objectively."

In the season premier of Desperate Housewives, the Orson character makes a little, oddly timed, "I’m a libertarian; I believe in limiting the power of the state and expanding the power of the individual" (paraphrase) speech. Then, at the end of the episode, as the camera pans across a golf club that’s under development, a sign is shown announcing the name of the club’s architectural firm: Howard Roark, Inc.

Funny.Call it subliminal TV messaging if you will, but Cherry’s claim to be a "somewhat conservative, gay Republican" seems to pit any of… Read More

I heard something about a debate tonight so I thought I would check it out. As it turns out, right at 5:00 pm, the Cal – Oregon game starts, featuring two top 25 college football teams. Fresno State and Utah State are also on at 5:00 pm and I think there is a whopper of a program on the all new "Watching Paint Dry" channel, plus highlights of the 1983 World Series of Poker. Throw in the Dodger – Met game at 4:30 and you have a perfect storm – about 483 people in California will be watching tonights debate between Arnold and Phil.

I hope Arnold can handle the pressure of dealing with questions about the Iraq war – a central issue in all campaigns for Governor across the nation this year.

I’ve been asked to provide analysis tonight for one of the local TV stations. Can’t do it. Have to wash my hair.… Read More

I certainly agree with Mike Der Manouel’s post below — which is that virtually no member of the public will be watching this one and only Gubernatorial debate between Phil Angelides and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

As a matter of fact, if the debate were not being sponsored by the California Broadcasters Association, I would suggest that it simply be videotaped, stuck up on the web, and the thousand or so people that would want to watch the whole debate can just surf on over to the CBA website and check it out — A few hundred reporters, a couple hundred campaign hacks, and other random assorted folks who are tuning in to see "The Terminator" make mincemeat out of "The Accountant."

As for me, I am sure I will not watch it live. After all, it IS on a Saturday night, which means that one would have to ruin a perfectly good weekend night out to see it. And with Schwarzenegger’s monumental double-digit lead in the polls, the only entertainment will be watching Angelides try multiple "Hail Mary" passes in an attempt to gain some traction.

If you are intent on watching the show, then I suggest you get out a… Read More