August 16, 2003
Recall Roundup
A story in the Washington Post reports Bustamante in the lead by about three points in a recent poll. So far, this poll is the only one showing Arnold in second place, but interesting nonetheless. As the article's closing points out, this fledgling campaign is already suffering from mixed messages:
...Schwarzenegger's campaign today stepped away from comments made by his economic adviser, billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who sparked a mini-cyclone in the Wall Street Journal when he suggested that California's property taxes might need to be higher -- a challenge to the state's Proposition 13 that has limited property taxes to about 1 percent of a home's value since 1978.
Schwarzenegger's spokesmen said the movie star had been a supporter of Prop. 13 for a quarter of a century and was an admirer of its author, Howard Jarvis, whom he called "the original tax terminator." But he offered no promises that Schwarzenegger would not meddle with Prop. 13 in the future.
Finally, Schwarzenegger's growing campaign staff may be about to add actor Rob Lowe, formerly of "The West Wing," according to the Los Angeles Times.
So, let's get this straight... You hire Warren Buffett, and then have to go on record disagreeing with him in like, a day. Over one of the most bitterly contested California tax issues.
Republicans in the state (as in many other states) are allergic to the idea of tax increases, but especially this one. They thought they'd won for good with their success in passing Proposition 13. In 2000, property taxes were raised again (by referendum, because no elected official would be crazy enough to propose them) by voters who realized that public schools and other services were being shortchanged.
And, if California's Republicans weren't being sent enough confusing messages, now they'll hear that Rob Lowe has joined the campaign. The rest of the country may have forgotten about Lowe's indiscretions, but Californians get an outrageous amount of news concerning the behavior of movie stars, even by typical US standards. Many will remember. Plus, he had the gall to take part in The West Wing, with arch-liberal Martin Sheen.
WILL those wacky California wingnuts be able to stomache it? WILL Schwarzenegger figure out if he's trying to get elected as a Republican or a Democrat? Tune in over the weekend for your local coverage of Attack of the Candidates: The End of the Beginning Game. ...
But at any rate, Jeanne over at Body and Soul sounds pretty right on in her suggestion that our Very Famous Candidate has nowhere to go but down, though no one's making hard and fast predictions yet. Also, at the end of the post, there are some interesting observations about Arianna Huffington. Yet in this linked article on Huffington's contribution to the debate, I saw something that really irritated me:
...At Thursday's news conference, Huffington, who lives in a house worth more than $1 million, was asked how an affluent person like herself could speak for all Californians. ...
I'm sorry, who's asking this question of Arnold Schwarzenegger? A guy who lives in a more expensive house by far, and claims to be the uber-pro-child candidate is far more deserving of having this sprung on him. But this question only seems to get asked of liberal candidates.
Maybe it's flattery, though. I mean, who really thinks that conservative candidates really intend to even try speaking for all the people, anyway?
Moving on, Brad DeLong points out a Novak piece on why Schwarzenegger dissed Riordan. Though he gives a disclaimer along with the link, because Robert "Prince of Darkness" Novak isn't to be trusted for a minute.
Kos points out that a California judge is looking into postponing the recall, in which case the Democrats will have ample time to mount a defense if they choose to fight effectively. Also on dKos, RonK points out that the East Coast blackout might actually be a plus for Davis, if only because it demonstrates that blackouts can happen without the California governor's remotest possible involvement. And finally, more analysis on the property tax issue, as well as the long spectre of Kenny Boy Lay.
The Casino City Times points up an ally for the Democrats, and the Lt. Governor, that will come in pretty handy: the California Nations Indian Gaming Association:
...Since 2001 legislation that allowed Nevada-style casinos in California, tribes across the state have emerged with resorts on par with medium-sized Las Vegas properties and revenue that is already estimated at more than half of Nevada's roughly $9.6 billion in annual gaming win.
..."Tribes have certainly made more progress toward economic self-sufficiency under Davis than all the previous administrations put together," said Howard Dickstein, a California attorney representing five gaming tribes as well as other tribes seeking compacts with the state.
...Tribes aren't likely to support the actor's bid because he has surrounded himself with advisers of former Gov. Wilson, who opposed casino expansion and efforts to offer lucrative slot machines, Rocha said.
"Arnold could have had the tribes in his hand if he had not ... picked the wrong advisers,"...
Which just goes to show why the Republican leadership is scared to death of allowing the Wrong People to prosper.
Speaking of Republican leaders, you've probably alread heard that former Reagan advisor George Schultz has joined the Schwarzenegger team. But he hasn't been hiding in a closet since his junket in the White House. Schultz currently serves on Bechtel's board of directors, one of the companies currently circling prized Iraqi contracts like a flock of buzzards waiting for the lions to have done. And as his own homepage advises, he's diversely engaged with several corporations, including the Charles Schwab and J. P. Morgan financial conglomerates.
I'm sure he'll be piping up for the little guy all the way to Sacramento.
Posted by natasha at August 16, 2003 02:26 AM | TrackBack