What's In/What's Out in 2008

Now that the ball has dropped in Times Square, it's time for our "What's In, What's Out" list, where we take a look at what's hot -- and what's not in California politics.

In: Shane Goldmacher, Out: Dan Walters

Capitol Alert, shedding its high price subscription requirement, is the snazzy new way to get breaking news in the Capitol. Now if it would drop the whining W's -- Walters and Weigand -- for columnists that are capable of offering insight rather than daily lampooning of elected officials, they'd have a news product that would live up to the much-missed "Political Muscle" from the LA Times.

In: SEIU, AFSCME, Out: UNITE-HERE

Pragmatic labor unions SEIU and AFSCME, which helped muscle the new health care accord through the Assembly, are getting new respect in the Capitol. Meanwhile, UNITE-HERE -- whose leadership's scorched earth strategy failed to block Senate and Assembly approval of  tribal compacts -- appears to be throwing $2 million in members dues down the drain in fighting the compacts on the February ballot.

In: Adam Mendelsohn, Out: Adam Mendelsohn

Arnold's take-no-prisoners communications director is leaving Team Schwarzenegger when it needs him most, replaced by a spokesperson who has defended the Iraq war for Bush (how's that going?).  But he's simply moving over to the campaign side to help efforts on health care. So don't worry, reporters: he still has your number on speed dial if you write something shitty about the Governor.

In: Sen. Dave Cogdill, Out: Sen. Dick Ackerman

State Senate Republicans "What I Did on My Summer Vacation" escapade was the most embarrassing political drama of 2007. After holding up the budget for months, they ended up snookered on a CEQA deal and won no political points. Their PR strategy was to outmaneuver each other on the Flash Report instead of winning points in the mainstream media. Even if Prop 93 passes, watch for the Senate GOP to put gentlemanly Dave Cogdill in their leadership slot. You need only watch the Flash Report's "Holiday Video" to see why.

In: Partisan Wrangling, Out: Post-Partisanship

Thought last summer's budget impasse as bad? You ain't seen nothing yet. Having made mortal enemies with Senate Republicans last year, Schwarzenegger will have Democrats screaming this year as well, as he proposes deep cuts in education and health care spending when he unveils his emergency spending plan next week.

In: Art Torres, Out: The Progressive Caucus

The long-time California Democratic Party Chairman held court in the 2007 Executive Board meetings, thwarting efforts attacking Senator Feinstein and the state's elected Democratic leadership from the how-many-bumper-stickers-can-I-fit-on-my-car Caucus. As the CDP heads into the Denver convention united, Torres is looking stronger than ever.

In: Carbon Credits, Out: French Wine

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez gave his 79 colleagues in the Assembly carbon credits for a holiday gift this year instead of his usual gift of wine. The nonprofit selling the credits says a number of other politicos have inquired about doing the same next year. Viva la carbon credit!

In: Good Government Groups That Haven't Sold Out Common Cause, Out: Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights

To promote a flawed redistricting plan, Common Cause slips in bed with special interests that have donated unlimited funds to the Governor's campaigns (remember when Common Cause actually fought FOR campaign finance reform?). Meanwhile, the rent-a-quotes from press release factory at the FTCR are getting staler by the day as Jamie Court and his fellow publicity hounds blindly oppose any issue by Democratic leaders to pay back the California Nurses Association for their $75,000 contribution.

In: Fixing Potholes, Out: Sex Scandals

After spending much of 2007 digging out of their much-publicized scandals, the mayors of California's two largest cities will focus on municipal achievements instead in 2008. Watch for Gavin Newsom's clean sweep of San Francisco government. In LA, Villariagosa will push hard for tax increases to keep LA services humming.

In: Jerry Brown, Out: Steve Poizner

The Attorney General moves up in the 2010 gubernatorial lineup among pundits because he's focusing on his job and avoiding politics. His potential GOP rival does just the opposite; Poizner trades his moderate credentials to get  bilked by right-wing Republicans as the Sugar Daddy for the lame anti-93 effort and gets linked to convicted felons to boot.

In: Disclosure, Out: Disguise
 
The FPPC is tightening the requirements in campaign reporting. Here's hoping public pressure will usher in an era where shadowy campaigns and non-profit attack dogs won't be used as sources by reporters unless the attackers also disclose their donors. (Okay, a boy can dream.)

In: A Democratic President, Out: George Bush

Whether it's Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, or John Edwards, a Democrat will be measuring the curtains this time next year. Now that's something to be thankful for this holiday season.

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