March 14, 2004
Appearing recently on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger boldly predicted that President George W. Bush will carry California in November. If he truly believes that, he must be smoking more than just his trademark stogies. First, there is the little matter of Bush’s sorry showing in 2000. He and his GOP apparatus spent…
February 8, 2004
This just in: Despite Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s election, the California Republican Party remains a Good Ol’ Boys’ Club. And Arnold himself has joined the fraternity. Recently, the new governor endorsed his first statewide candidate — former Secretary of State Bill Jones for the GOP nomination to face Democratic U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer. In doing so,…
January 6, 2004
At first, you may think it presumptuous of me to offer advice on your upcoming State of the State address. But I have helped governors in two states with their annual reports to the people, and had a ringside seat during the term of your Democratic predecessor, who learned a few hard lessons along the…
December 7, 2003
In a particularly inauspicious moment early in his first year in office, Gov. Gray Davis let loose at an editorial board meeting with the notion that the Democratically controlled Legislature’s “job” was to “implement my vision.” This unfortunate remark set off a predictable orgy of opprobrium — some of it involving obvious questions about Davis’s…
October 17, 2003
In looking high and low for credible candidates for public office, California Republicans lately have been conducting their own version of “Star Search.” Not that one can blame them. Last year, the GOP lost all statewide offices for the first time since 1882. Until the recall, they hadn’t won a top- of-the-ticket race since Gov.…
October 10, 2003
Shortly before the 1990 gubernatorial election in Minnesota, the biggest newspaper in the state disclosed allegations of sexual misconduct by the Republican candidate, who was running against an unpopular Democratic governor. The explosive revelations rattled the race and became the defining moment of the campaign. The beleaguered subject of the accusations denied the charges and…
February 23, 2003
As they attend their biannual convention this weekend in Sacramento, California Republicans have little to celebrate and much to ponder. They haven’t won a top of the ticket race in the Golden State since Pete Wilson’s 1994 reelection. They’ve failed to carry the state for their presidential nominee since 1988 — with George W. Bush…
January 30, 2003
So, governor-wannabe Arnold Schwarzenegger is suing an auto dealer in faraway Akron, Ohio, for $20 million. The offense? Using a thumbnail-sized picture of the Terminator in an otherwise full-page newspaper ad hawking cars. To those familiar with his “swat a fly with a sledgehammer” history, Schwarzenegger’s overkill will come as little surprise. During most of…
September 19, 1999
Never mind that Gov. Gray Davis is the first Democrat to occupy the statehouse in 16 years and that he is enjoying high approval ratings from the voters. Because he is governing as a moderate New Democrat, he is under fire from his party’s left wing. Some legislative leaders are unhappy the governor refused to…
December 23, 1991
So filmmakers and movie purists are up in arms about the use of clips and characters from old films in a Diet Coke commercial (“Not Quite the Real Thing,” Calendar, Dec. 16). I admit the idea is jarring at first maybe even a bit deceitful. But I beg to differ with the critics. I…