Today, October 7th, marks the three-year anniversary of the California Gubernatorial Recall that put Gray Davis into early political retirement, but none of California’s major papers have written about it. Instead, they’ve decided to focus on a probably meaningless and poorly watched debate between Governor Schwarzenegger and Tax Man Phil Angelides. I suspect they’re leaving Recall retrospectives to historians to sort through. So, that leaves the topic ripe for the stealing.

Three years ago, I was in undergraduate school starting my senior year, but the end of the preceding school year and summer had been packed full of political activities. I remember reading of Ted Costa and Howard Kaloogian’s filing of the petition on February 5th to start gathering signatures. I still have vivid images of the Sacramento CRP convention where talk was ratcheted up about a gubernatorial recall. I remember people strongly questioning its feasibility, an attractive criticism by the sceptics. I remember Darrell Issa’s May 6th announcement of an infusion of cash for signature gathering and his rendezvous at the Firestone ranch (I went to school at… Read More

Today, October 7th, marks the three-year anniversary of the California Gubernatorial Recall that put Gray Davis into early political retirement, but none of California’s major papers have written about it. Instead, they’ve decided to focus on a probably meaningless and poorly watched debate between Governor Schwarzenegger and Tax Man Phil Angelides. I suspect they’re leaving Recall retrospectives to historians to sort through. So, that leaves the topic ripe for the stealing.

Three years ago, I was in undergraduate school starting my senior year, but the end of the preceding school year and summer had been packed full of political activities. I remember reading of Ted Costa and Howard Kaloogian’s filing of the petition on February 5th to start gathering signatures. I still have vivid images of the Sacramento CRP convention where talk was ratcheted up about a gubernatorial recall. I remember people strongly questioning its feasibility, an attractive criticism by the sceptics. I remember Darrell Issa’s May 6th announcement of an infusion of cash for signature gathering and his rendezvous at the Firestone ranch (I went to school at… 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

When it was all said and done, there was no real surprise that the Escondido City Council voted 3-2 Wednesday night in support of an ordinance penalizing those who rent to illegals, thus becoming the first such city in California.Short of someone in the council majority of Marie Waldron, Ed Gallo, and Sam Abed buckling in the intense spotlight, this ordinance was going to pass. By all accounts, any such buckling was not going to happen.

There was also no surprise over the tenor of the debate, the huge turnout for the council meeting, the media attention, the ACLU sticking its nose in, the…should I go on?We’ve seen controversial social debates before.

What is somewhat of a surprise, although perhaps it shouldn’t be, is the vehemence with which so many people — not just in Escondido and National City, but everywhere — are willing to stand up and advocate for that which even they admit is illegal.… Read More

When it was all said and done, there was no real surprise that the Escondido City Council voted 3-2 Wednesday night in support of an ordinance penalizing those who rent to illegals, thus becoming the first such city in California.Short of someone in the council majority of Marie Waldron, Ed Gallo, and Sam Abed buckling in the intense spotlight, this ordinance was going to pass. By all accounts, any such buckling was not going to happen.

There was also no surprise over the tenor of the debate, the huge turnout for the council meeting, the media attention, the ACLU sticking its nose in, the…should I go on?We’ve seen controversial social debates before.

What is somewhat of a surprise, although perhaps it shouldn’t be, is the vehemence with which so many people — not just in Escondido and National City, but everywhere — are willing to stand up and advocate for that which even they admit is illegal.

Historically, even typically, these… Read More

Martin Wisckol, OC Register political reporter offered a quick schooling in press relations for candidates in a recent post to the Total Buzz blog on the paper’s site.

A candidate for Orange County Council is widely known to live in Newport Beach (several cities and miles from the city of Orange). Wisckol publishes an email from Rudat and then recounts a phone conversation with her where he explains what off the record is all about.

Those of us who deal with the press regularly have few problems with these rules and when we do have a problem with one reporter, we usually learn our lesson.

Wisckol explains:

The way it almost always works with us newspaper reporters is that everything someone tells us is considered "on the record" unless the reporter agrees to talk off the record. 99.9% of the time that’s the way it works. Sometimes, with everyday people who have no … Read More

Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown couldn’t refer to Gov. Schwarzenegger enough in his debate with Sen. Chuck Poochigian today in front of the San Francisco Chronicle editorial board. And he just can’t wait to begin helping the state’s bureaucrats put teeth in the new greenhouse gases bill the governor signed into law recently (against the recommendation of the California Chamber of Commerce and many others concerned about the law’s effect on the economy and lack of environmental returns).

Here’s what Brown had to say about AB 32 today:

"Governor Schwarzenegger is now returning California to a path that we embarked upon 30 years ago when I was governor."

Just what every Republican voter wanted to hear. We’re trying to forget the bills the governor just signed so we can bring ourselves to vote for him next… Read More

Sen. Chuck Poochigian and Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown met today in a debate hosted by the San Francisco Chronicle and CBS 5. You can watch the debate by clicking here.

It is worth it to watch the whole debate, but here are a few Brown quotes that were very telling:

“I’m running for AG because I want to bring some common sense and a practical approach to that office. I’ve had a record of integrity and innovation and I know how to get things done.”

I’m thinking that the only people in this… Read More