The Schwarzenegger campaign is pushing a story about how Angelides should refund some of the contributions he has received from doctors because they might have given the money after reading an email from some lawyers. That is as much of the story anyone needs to know.

But you can read John Howard’s story in the Capitol Weekly if you care to.

There are so many knocks on Angelides, it not very smart to attack him for something outside of his control. For instance I don’t think the Governor should return any contributions he might have received from Mel Gibson just because Gibson is a drunk driver and an anti-Semite.

I don’t care if someone wrote a check to the Angelides campaign at gun point. Unless they ask for the money back, I would recommend against it.

It is not the responsibility of the candidate to know the motivation of his donors. Some donors give because they like the guy, others give because they want something. It doesn’t matter as long as the candidate doesn’t make any promises for getting the money.… Read More

There is a lot to digest in terms of California political news today – you might find yourself spending more time than usual perusing the news. WILL JAN SCULLY PUT ROB REINER IN FRONT OF A GRAND JURY? I have featured on the main page today the lead editorial from today’s San Diego Union Tribune because it highlights an important criminal investigation taking place that has managed to slide off of the ‘public radar screen’ – the investigation of Rob Reiner and his role with the state’s First Five Commission. You’ll recall that a lot of controversy swirled around this issue – eventually leading to Reiner stepping off of the commission. There was a lot of monkey business going on (things like Reiner’s Commission spending taxpayer dollars to run pro-preschool advertising on TV at the same time that Reiner was gathering signatures for his preschool ballot measure). Ultimately the criminal investigation into Reiner’s activities ended up in the lap of tough prosecutor Jan Scully,… Read More

There is a lot to digest in terms of California political news today – you might find yourself spending more time than usual perusing the news. WILL JAN SCULLY PUT ROB REINER IN FRONT OF A GRAND JURY? I have featured on the main page today the lead editorial from today’s San Diego Union Tribune because it highlights an important criminal investigation taking place that has managed to slide off of the ‘public radar screen’ – the investigation of Rob Reiner and his role with the state’s First Five Commission. You’ll recall that a lot of controversy swirled around this issue – eventually leading to Reiner stepping off of the commission. There was a lot of monkey business going on (things like Reiner’s Commission spending taxpayer dollars to run pro-preschool advertising on TV at the same time that Reiner was gathering signatures for his preschool ballot measure). Ultimately the criminal investigation into Reiner’s activities ended up in the lap of tough prosecutor Jan Scully,… Read More

OK, this is more ‘gossipy’ than substantive, but I thought I would share:

Necklace Envy By Mary Ann Akers Roll Call Staff August 2, 2006 House and Senate aides are buzzing about a late-night lobbying incident last week involving Rebecca Cox, the wife of former Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Calif.), who now serves as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.… Read More

The Schwarzenegger for Governor campaign these days is like the Energizer Bunny on steroids. There isn’t a two hour block of time that goes by during the day where you don’t hear from the campaign, defining Scharzenegger, or defining Angelides (who keeps trying to redefine himself with little success). There is enough volume coming off of the Team Arnold transom that it is sometimes hard to appreciate all of it. But every once in a while, I get something from them that is worth passing along.

Today I got what may be their best "Typical Phil" release yet, themed around outrageous and Over The Top comments made by Phil Angelides or his lackeys (usually Bob Mulholland) about the Governor, or Republicans.

A couple of examples are below, but open the attachment to see all ten!

Way to go Team Arnold – this stuff is great.

OVER-THE-TOP #3: Angelides Compared Governor Schwarzenegger To Segregationists Angelides Compared Governor Schwarzenegger To George Wallace And "Many Other Segregationists." "By vetoing the Civil Marriage and Religious Freedom Protection… Read More

FIELD POLL SHOWS GOP CHALLENGE There is a new Field Poll out showing that early-on, the down ticket races for statewide office favor Democrats. Not surprising in a state where the party of Hillary enjoys a significant margin of plurality. It’s still early, and so we will have to wait and see how things develop. Clearly the biggest challenges lie in the quest for Attorney General where Senator Chuck Poochigian, a fine conservative who is in a battle with Jerry ‘Mayor of the Murder Capitol’ Brown, who enjoys a huge name I.D. advantage as a former Governor — and Claude Parrish faces almost insurmountable odds in a battle with State Attorney General Bill Lockyer for the office of Treasurer. Parish is an odd, political gadfly. So it is not clear how he would even begin to raise political dollars. Democrat Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante continues to be disliked by many Democrats, giving GOPer Steve Poizner a great opportunity to pick up the State Insurance Commissioner’s post. Clearly a key for down-ticket… Read More

In planning to increase student capacity by nearly one-third, San Diego State University has all the while contended that the public and private impacts of such an expansion must be borne by the City of San Diego, the adjacent neighborhoods and nearby Alvarado Hospital.

This “king of the hill” approach by SDSU has resulted in several lawsuits, not to mention a bunch of teed-off neighbors. SDSU’s attitude has seemingly been one of ignoring goodwill…and a “we are more important and powerful than anyone else” approach to community concerns.

Yesterday the State Supreme Court appeared to have dealt a serious blow to the SDSU plans by ruling in a similar Monterey Bay case that the CSU system must pay for public improvements when undertaking such an expansion.

Here is this morning’s SDUT story, on the local fallout from a ruling that has statewide implications.

Councilman Jim Madaffer (pictured), who represents the 7th city council district including SDSU and the nearby neighborhoods, has this to say:… Read More

Update 5:15 pm…..Senate Passes Soledad Bill:

Statement by Majority Leader Bill Frist WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, M.D., (R-Tenn.) made the following statement on legislation to protect the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial Cross, which passed today by unanimous consent:

“I am proud that the Senate chose to protect an important memorial honoring our nation’s fallen veterans. With the passage of this legislation, the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial in San Diego, California, will be controlled by the federal government who will ensure that the men and women it memorializes will continue to be honored.”

Since 1954, a 29-foot cross has stood atop Mt. Soledad in San Diego, California memorializing the American war dead of World War I, World War II and the Korean conflict. Over the years, the Memorial has grown and now includes six large, concentric walls covered with granite plaques commemorating individual servicemen and women, bollards, pavers and a flagpole proudly flying the American flag. The Mt. Soledad Memorial, in its entirety, is a world class war… Read More