As everyone has said, with the Governor sitting on a double-digit lead with the California electorate, two things needed to happen in order for Phil Angelides to walk away a ‘winner’ in the hour-long showdown. 1) Phil Angelides needed to rise to the occasion, showing some sort of intensity and command of the race that has back lacking thus far, and 2) Arnold Schwarzenegger needed to at least stumble if not outright blow some portion of the debate. Neither of those things happenned and it is my opinion that Arnold Schwarzenegger clearly won the debate, not only because neither of the two items mentioned above took place, but because I thought that Schwarzenegger clearly did a better job. He was more comfortable, and it showed. He was articulate and on point, he understood how to be serious and at the same time inject levity into the debate, and he also did a good job in delivering his campaign points across to debate watchers.

Angelides was not able to shake off the persona of "Mr. Accountant" that makes me want to yawn every time he opens his mouth. Phil Angelides did win two awards from me tonight, which he can take… Read More

Towards the end of the debate, the Governor asks Phil Angelides why he won’t appear in a joint television commercial to push the big bond package on the November ballot. Good question. That borrowing package is the best thing that could ever happen to Democrats in the Golden State. If it passes, it will allow the legislature to ‘pass the buck’ on using the state’s ample general fund dollars for real infrastructure (other than bond interest payments) and instead let the liberals continue to spend what is now well over $100 billion annually on their social engineering programs. Californian’s should reject the big bonds borrowing, and force fiscal responsibility in Sacramento. As to why Angelides doesn’t want to appear on TV with Arnold — after this debate, Angelides knows for sure that the LAST PLACE he wants to be is on camera next to the Governor.… Read More

Governor Schwarzenegger clearly enjoyed the debate.

In fact he took the opportunity to toy with his opponent. The Governor’s communications shop just put out the following In Case You Missed It.

It is much funnier if you read it while impersonating the governor’s accent.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

OnAngelides’ Tax Increases

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger: "Well, I think that it is very clear and I can tell that the joy you see in your eyes… 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.

Historically, even typically, these… 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

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