A whirlybird day in gubernatorial politics, as Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger got big media coverage with Senator Dianne Feinstein even as disappointing news arrived for him on the polling front. Movie director/initiative promoter Rob Reiner became more of a political issue following some revelations about the state commission he currently chairs. Democratic challenger Steve Westly completed the third leg of his test marketing tour without incident, talking in Monterey of a new offshore oil drilling threat that may or may not emerge, and current Democratic frontrunner Phil Angelides prepared for his next bid to assert his environmental credentials.
First Rob Reiner. He chairs the First Five Commission, a state agency for early childhood development funded by the 50 cent a pack tax on cigarettes enacted by his 1998 initiative. Now he’s pushing a universal preschool initiative on the June ballot. For which signatures were being gathered while the state commission he chairs spent $23 million of public money on advertising for … universal preschool. Hmm, quite a coincidence that. Restive Republicans preparing for their state convention are starting to realize that perhaps they should be more focused on Reiner’s state job status than that of Schwarzenegger chief of staff Susan Kennedy.
Since Reiner’s post is now a political issue, I asked the Governor’s Office about his status as chairman of the state commission, as his term there expired more than a year ago.
Gubernatorial press secretary Margita Thompson’s careful statement: “His term expired in 2004. He has subsequently stayed in that position. There is no announcement to be made regarding his status.”
This is a tough spot for Schwarzenegger personally. It’s a Hollywood thing. You may have noticed that celebrities generally like other celebrities, at least publicly. And Reiner, an Oscar nominee and son of Carl Reiner, is second generation Hollywood aristocracy. In this case, notwithstanding their partisan differences, Reiner and Schwarzenegger have supported each other’s causes, though the governor is neutral on Reiner’s current initiative, which is garnering some support from local chambers of commerce. Reiner himself was a surprise private guest at the Arnold Inaugural in November 2003.
Arnold had a good day with DiFi, touring threatened Central Valley levee systems with local politicians in tow via a pair of dramatic looking Black Hawk helicopters. It was not a Black Hawk down day for the governor as he alighted from his helo after a thunderous landing, blades just finished turning, leather jacket with gubernatorial seal in place, in a park next to the Sacramento River with the popular senator by his side. He got Feinstein to agree with him that a bigger infrastructure bond package is better because the needs are great, even as Democratic legislative leaders along with the mayors of LA and San Francisco across town were overshadowed arguing for a smaller bond package, with more emphasis on education and public transit.
Meanwhile, Team Schwarzenegger pondered disappointing news here this morning of a thorough nonpartisan private poll indicating a continued decided lack of enthusiasm for the governor’s re-election. And a public poll, embargoed until midnight tonight, also arrived this morning …
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1. Ann:Bill, when do you think Rob Reiner will figure out that he should resign?
Carla Marinucci looks foolish for her story two days ago about the inevitability of Schwarzeneger.
Feb 22, 2006 - 7:49 pm 2. Barbara:Arnold may have had a good day with Di Fi but I bet the Elizabeth Hill’s (LAO) report on the budget gets more press tomorrow than Gov’s fly-over…
“the 2006-07 Governor’s Budget would still leave the state with large structural budget shortfalls and an enormous amount of outstanding financial obligations. In this regard, the budget proposal misses an important opportunity to take advantage of highly favorable revenues to get the state’s fiscal house in order. ” Hill 2/22
Feb 22, 2006 - 7:56 pm 3. Ann:Wonk press in Sacramento. It’s old news, can’t compete with all that TV.
Feb 22, 2006 - 7:58 pm 4. Bill Bradley:I have the Legislative Analyst’s Office report. I’m sure Sacramento reporters will write about it. I feel I’ve seen it before. In fact, isn’t this what she says pretty much every year, that it’s another missed opportunity for structural reform?
Yes, it is. It’s also an election year, so who is surprised? Scharzenegger winning backing from Feinstein is newer. He also had 9 TV cameras. I understand the LAO report had zero cameras. Fabian and Perata and Villaraigosa and Newsom had 3 cameras.
Feb 22, 2006 - 8:10 pm 5. Barbara:He did not win “backing” of Di Fi she told him to increase flood control for budget/bond because she could not deliver fed dollars…she just said what everyone says after seeing the devastation of Katrina we can”t afford to wait…
Feb 22, 2006 - 8:20 pm 6. Bill Bradley:Actually, she said: “I agree with everything you just said.”
Feb 22, 2006 - 8:22 pm 7. larry:Message for Barbara–
I winced last night when you said you threw your apple at the TV. I understand the reason, may bave done it myself. But that’s a waste of a good apple. I have a friend i Illinois who balls up her husband’s sweat socks, and throws those at the TV. Just as satisfying, and no apples are wounded. And if you are short of socks, try Goodwill.
Feb 22, 2006 - 8:24 pm 8. Barbara:I saw a press con and it was clear that she agrees with urgency of the issue….if you have a full transcript that says otherwise I defer but that is not how I heard it in Chops tonight…DiFi then went on with other congessional delegates Matsui, Lungen who were also on this trip-to discuss the fact that they could not deliver fed dollars and therefore she wants him to boost amount of funding for flood control. .meanwhile Hill gave the Dems cover for the need for a smaller bond with the info below…
“the LAO estimates that even though Schwarzenegger has proposed paying off some existing debt next year, the state will still have $20 billion in outstanding budgetary debt as of July 1, 2007. And the report estimates that the annual cost of paying off that debt will rise from $3.7 billion in 2006-07 to more than $5 billion in 2008-09.”
Note: that’s before any infrastructure bonds are even sold
Larry, please do not fret about my apple - it was one of Whole Foods finest,an organic pink lady and after it fell I washed it and ate it…it was delicious and I felt better for throwing it and eating it…
Feb 22, 2006 - 8:36 pm 9. Bill Bradley:Well, I have the disadvantage of having been an eye witness 20 feet away from the principals. Chops is, as I recall, a restaurant. Though not exactly by San Francisco standards …
Feb 22, 2006 - 8:50 pm 10. Barbara:You are so right about Chops! okay I think it is another night where we are saying the same thing Mr. Bradley….they ALL agree that we need to get going with re: flood control as did Lungren Matsui right…but Di Fi did not endorse Arnold’s total bond package correct?
Feb 22, 2006 - 9:01 pm 11. Bill Bradley:Nope, Arnold laid out his whole deal about why we need to spend more money on infrastructure across the board and Feinstein said: “I agree with everything you just said.”
I can repeat it for a fourth time if you like but frankly typing the same thing over and over with my thumbs on a blackberry gets a mite old …
Feb 22, 2006 - 9:08 pm 12. Barbara:Okay… bit that’s not what I asked. everyone agrees that we need to spend “more” …it is the size of the “more” that is in disagreement.. soi when you say Di Fi gave Arnold her “backing” ..are you saying that she endorsed his bond package over the “more” that Nunez been talking about spending? or Perata ….they all differ so again are you saying DIFI endorsed (i.e., backs) Arnold ’s bond package ….
Feb 22, 2006 - 9:15 pm 13. Bill Bradley:Barbara, really, read what I wrote.
Feb 22, 2006 - 9:15 pm 14. Barbara:and if she did not endorse HIS bond package and just agreed like everyone else has …i.e.,that we need to “spend more” that’s okay …I am sure he still had a good day with her….I am sure she is great fun . and flying around in a blackhawk must make you feel real important and relevant …and he had a chance to ask her why in the heck she nominated this nut Fogel….
Feb 22, 2006 - 9:26 pm 15. Barbara:“read what I wrote”
your “winning backing of Di Fi” in yr response to me was the discussion …but discussion is over…
Feb 22, 2006 - 9:34 pm 16. Bill Bradley:As I said, I have the decided disadvantage of having actually been there. Incidentally, most of the print press was stuck over at the Capitol with the leg Dems and the mayors saying what they’ve been saying for 2 weeks.
You know why? Because it’s a shorter and simpler drive from the yawn-inducing luncheon with the Leg Analyst from the Embassy Suites to the Capitol than it is from the Embassy Suites to the park on the river. Meanwhile, many more Californians experienced the Arnold event than the latest yawn inducing Capitol Rm. 1190 event …
Feb 22, 2006 - 9:57 pm 17. Bill Bradley:Incidentally, Feinstein is not behind “this nut Fogel.”
Feb 22, 2006 - 9:58 pm 18. Bill Bradley:Ann, when will Rob figure out he should resign? Dunno.
Feb 22, 2006 - 9:58 pm 19. Bob Mulholland:Senator Dianne Feinstein will be campaigning with State Treasurer Phil Angelides all the way thru November 7th to replace Schwarzenegger as Governor. And I hope to see Bush Jr campaigning with his boy Arnold up and down the state. Afterall Arnold went to Ohio to help Bush Jr get a second term and Californians need to be reminded of that.
Feb 22, 2006 - 9:59 pm 20. Bill Bradley:Barbara, here is the DiFi quote to Arnold: “I agree with everything you just said.”
Feb 22, 2006 - 9:59 pm 21. Bill Bradley:Yes, Bob, and no. I first encountered Dianne Feinstein before you were involve in politics. When I was …. um, 4.
Feb 22, 2006 - 10:00 pm 22. Barbara:Well it is a pity she nominated him (Fogel) for Clinton to appoint…
I need Bob Mulholland here to clarify because Di Fi may have been so dazzled by Arnold that she got confused …. or maybe she was just so dazzed by you Mr. Bradley and the Blackhawk all the attention from 7 cameras! …I don”t doubt she said “I agree with everything you just said.” and I don’t doubt that Arnold said we need to spend more! I just doubt that all that TRANSLATES into Arnold winning the backing of DiFi.
Feb 22, 2006 - 10:23 pm 23. Bill Bradley:9 cameras, not 7 for Arnold and Dianne. Mulholland was not at the river or at the mayors/legislative hacks press conference.
This is the 5th time I’ve laid it out. 3rd time was the charm. This is not a democracy.
Feb 22, 2006 - 10:28 pm 24. Barbara:“Meanwhile, many more Californians experienced the Arnold event ” …
…another day another taxpayer dollar spent on an “Arnold event” well I will agree this is more worthwhile than tearing up a perfectly good street when making your point about infrastructure..
Feb 22, 2006 - 10:37 pm 25. Bill Bradley:Barbara, really …
Feb 22, 2006 - 10:39 pm 26. Barbara:Its been kinda of a whirlybird night too hasn’t it?
Feb 22, 2006 - 10:51 pm 27. Bill Bradley:Goodnight Mr.Bradley ! Sleep Tight!
Whup, whup, whup.
Feb 22, 2006 - 11:14 pm 28. Barbara:What can I say, you are at the top of the Runyon list ..the top!
Feb 22, 2006 - 11:19 pm 29. Bill Bradley:Yeah, great, meanwhile, I have to reveal the PPIC Poll. Sometime after 12.
Sorry, Team Schwarz!!!!
THEN the latest on Susan Kennedy.
Feb 22, 2006 - 11:27 pm 30. Bill Bradley:This is the vault at the Bellagio …
Feb 22, 2006 - 11:29 pm 31. Barbara:I’ll stay up with you…the story needs a book …this is your book…Leamer did the bodybuilding but flaked out on the political…and got things wrong…
Feb 22, 2006 - 11:40 pm 32. Barbara:and the best thing about it is it could be a book not just about Arnold but about California too…no one has ever written that book….
Feb 22, 2006 - 11:54 pm 33. Barbara:here we go …well, I assume you remember..Leamer wrote he never wants to hear “bad news” ….do you think Susie the Saluter will hide tomorrow’s newspapers?
Feb 23, 2006 - 12:01 am 34. Jim Rockford:Mr Bradley — any scoop on matchups with Angelides and/or Reiner or Warren Beatty?
My guess (pulled out of thin air or anywhere else) is that while the general electorate is not keen on Arnold he still probably polls better than Angelides (most people think, Who?) or Reiner or Beatty.
Does anyone think Beatty is going to run? Independent perhaps?
Is DiFi’s comments indicative of the sense that Arnold will win against Angelides?
Feb 23, 2006 - 1:13 am 35. Bill Bradley:What is the main political story in today’s Sacramento Bee?
The Arnold/Dianne story?
Or the leg analyst report?
Feb 23, 2006 - 6:56 am 36. Bill Bradley:… It wasn’t hard to call.
Feb 23, 2006 - 6:57 am 37. Barbara:You are so right. The article says ALL see the URGENCY and they ALL want MORE funding for flood control…Mr. Bradley, I never said I have any real understanding of politics …just horses…
Feb 23, 2006 - 8:03 am 38. Bill Bradley:The article actually misses the best quotes. Looks like some nice pictures, too.
Feb 23, 2006 - 8:10 am 39. Barbara:actually it is not in the print edition …but there is a nice photo on the web site , Liz Hill only got a photo pg 3 above the fold ..poor Liz
Feb 23, 2006 - 8:27 am 40. Barbara:I am sure the BEE is doing a print article fullof photos tomorrow, or Saturday or Sunday…maybe they will even write an article about the new poll…
Feb 23, 2006 - 8:32 am 41. Bill Bradley:I don’t mean to downgrade the importance of Liz Hill by not mentioning her in the column, but you know this is what she always says. Many people, including me, have already duly noted that Arnold’s budget in this election year (surprise!!!!) is geared to spending and not addressing the structural deficit. At some point, when my editors at the Weekly manage to clear space, I will have a feature story on Arnold and taxes.
Feb 23, 2006 - 8:34 am 42. Barbara:I know you are not. And I agree she is a bit repetitive, which only points to the fact that unfortunately the leg and govs present and past are not tackling the real issues of deficit - higher taxes seriously. She is very fair, very bright and once of the hardest working public servants we have in this state. And she does a good job of making any gov’s buget understandable to the layperson…and that ain’t easy!
Feb 23, 2006 - 8:49 am 43. Bill Bradley:She is very very capable.
Feb 23, 2006 - 4:07 pm 44. Marc Cooper » Blog Archive » Meat-Head Politics:[...] My colleague Bill Bradley is all over the story. See here, here and here. [...]
Feb 23, 2006 - 11:20 pm 45. The Real Ugly American.com » Blog Archive » LA Times Finally Takes Reiner to Task:[...] The Times editorial also comes after Bill Bradley and several others picked up the ball and ran with it. [...]
Feb 24, 2006 - 12:39 pm