Title: Today's Fresh Meat

Author: Sean Barry

Date: October 31, 2007 7:20:13 AM or Wed, 31 October 2007 07:20:13

Summary: 

New polls numbers showing that Governor Schwarzenegger would give Senator Barbara Boxer a tough race if he threw his hat in the ring have gotten California's political elite a little too excited, as evidenced by Mike Zapler's story in today's San Jose Mercury News. For starters, it's hard to imagine Arnold enjoying the more talk and less action oriented U.S. Senate and Boxer has a leg up in terms of stature and seniority. We imagine many Democrats Arnold picked up last year would stand by their incumbent senator, but it would certainly be interesting.

In a reminder that, despite our differences, Schwarzenegger is not that bad, a number of the very right-wing California Republicans who held up the budget for months this past summer are lining up behind Fred Thompson's presidential campaign, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Among them is conservative firebrand and thrice failed candidate for statewide office Tom McClintock, who declared "there can and will be morning again in America." Indeed.

California voters are initially inclined to approve several tribal gaming compacts negotiated by the Governor and approved by the Legislature this summer, albeit by a narrow margin, the Sacramento Bee reports. The deals were brought to referenda by a mix of hospitality industry unions, horse-racing interests and two tribes who have not reaped large dividends.

There's more...

Photo courtesy of Beyond Chron.

Body: 

New polls numbers showing that Governor Schwarzenegger would give Senator Barbara Boxer a tough race if he threw his hat in the ring have gotten California's political elite a little too excited, as evidenced by Mike Zapler's story in today's San Jose Mercury News. For starters, it's hard to imagine Arnold enjoying the more talk and less action oriented U.S. Senate and Boxer has a leg up in terms of stature and seniority. We imagine many Democrats Arnold picked up last year would stand by their incumbent senator, but it would certainly be interesting.

In a reminder that, despite our differences, Schwarzenegger is not that bad, a number of the very right-wing California Republicans who held up the budget for months this past summer are lining up behind Fred Thompson's presidential campaign, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Among them is conservative firebrand and thrice failed candidate for statewide office Tom McClintock, who declared "there can and will be morning again in America." Indeed.

California voters are initially inclined to approve several tribal gaming compacts negotiated by the Governor and approved by the Legislature this summer, albeit by a narrow margin, the Sacramento Bee reports. The deals were brought to referenda by a mix of hospitality industry unions, horse-racing interests and two tribes who have not reaped large dividends.

After a number of false starts and fierce rhetoric, Arnold's health care plan will finally get a formal hearing before an Assembly committee, though Democrats and labor unions remain opposed to his push for mandatory coverage, the Chronicle reports. Speaker Fabian Nunez and Schwarzenegger are continuing talks, in hopes of striking a deal, but some unions are may be angling to spoil negotiations.

Stuck in a race against Democrat Charlie Brown that even folks in the GOP call unwinnable, troubled Northern California incumbent Rep. John Doolittle is busy raising money—for his legal defense, that is, the Sacramento Bee reports. Doolittle reported contributions from a number of Republican friends in the House as he fends off charges of an illegal relationship with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Proposition 93, the term limits reform measure that would allow legislators to serve less time overall but more in one house, makes sense but could turn voters off with its provision allowing sitting members to double their time in office, writes Timm Herdt of the Ventura County Star. This shouldn't be a deal breaker, but California voters are fickle by nature.

Some would argue that Senate Leader Harry Reid and Speaker Nancy Pelosi have bigger offices in Washington because of the war in Iraq, but Yolo County Supervisor Matt Rexroad says it was Republican corruption that depressed conservative turn-out and cost the GOP control of Congress. From yacht-from-lobbyist buying Duke Cunningham to Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona, there's something contagious about the GOP scandal.

Peter Schrag, writing in today's Bee, is not optimistic about the chances of meaningful education reform next year, but he isn't ruling it out either. The sticking points, as he sees them, center around a recognition on the right that major investments are needed, and a recognition on the left that higher standards and accountability are a must if that money is to make any difference.

That's all for today!

Photo courtesy of Beyond Chron. 

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