Where are the damned polls?

Its now 22 days since the primary and there hasn't been a single poll about the Schwarzenegger/Angelides matchup that I've been able to find.

Come on LA Times, Field, etc, we're on pins and needles to see just how bad of a screw up the Angelides nomination was...

Angelides: Pro-Death Penalty, Pro-Three Strikes

In other words, pro-PR crime legislation that makes people feel safer while not doing much to actually make them safer...

Yes, There are Democrats in Orange County

OC Democrats held a flag day event in Huntington Beach over the weekend. Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez spoke to the crowd. (Sorry for the photo quality, but camera phones blow.) Attorney General Bill Lockyer was scheduled to speak as well, but I high tailed it out of there before that sleazebag showed.

AWOL Angelides

Anyone seen Phil Angelides since the primary? His website hasn't even been updated. Schwarzenegger is on the attack and our illustrious nominee is nowhere to be seen.

Schwarzenegger Blasts Anglides

As a tax raiser. Didn't see that coming 10 miles away...

I happen to agree with the tax hike on the uber-wealthy, but you just don't make it a cornerstone of your campaign unless you're clueless like the Angelides camp appears to be.

You have chosen...poorly

California Democrats have made their primary choices and the message is clear: we like unappealing candidates who will struggle in November.

The King of Sprawl, Phil Angelides, narrowly defeated our pick, Steve Westly, for the gubernatorial nomination. Angelides will now run a campaign based on a tax hike. Always a good move...ask President Mondale. I certainly hope we haven't seen the last of Steve Westly.

Lt. Governor won't be much better. John Garamendi, the Rasputin of California politics, rallyed to defeat State Senator Jackie Speier. He will face Republican Tom McClintock in November. McClintock is about as far out in right field as you can get in this state, but he is formidable because is also one of the smartest people you'll ever run into. This guy knows his stuff.

It wasn't all bad though. Former Governor Jerry Brown trounced Rocky Delgadillo for the Attorney General nomination & Debra Bowen crushed Senator Soda-tax (Deborah Ortiz) for Secretary of State. Both propositions went down to defeat as well.

More on this after we regroup...you can view the official results
here.

Election Day

Get off your ass and go vote.

Westly Visits the Orange Curtain

Steve Westly's statewide bus tour made a stop in Huntington Beach, the heart of Schwarzenegger Country, and Recall Arnold Schwarzenegger was there:

Jackie Speier: From a Constituent

Recall Arnold Schwarzenegger reader Kevin in San Mateo has sent in a ringing endorsement of Senator Speier:

Hey Gray,

I ran across your blog asking for information about Jackie Speier and I felt that I should get back to you on it since I'm such a huge fan of the Senator. I'm one of her constituents and have followed her for quite some time and will definitely be voting for her on June 6th.

First thing that I like about Jackie Speier is her personal character. I've met her personally as one of her constituents and she seemed to generally care about what you have to say. She serves with a sense of duty and honor that simply cannot be faked (although many have tried). Her background going back to Jonestown in Guiyana where she was shot five times as a young Congressional aide has definitely made her into a woman who will stand with courage and an aura about her that eludes confidence.

Her accomplishments as a state legislators also speak for themselves as she has fought hard to increase the public's financial privacy by keeping banks from selling people's personal information. She's made incredible advances in health care, as she has been named National Legislator of the Year by both the American Medical Association and Insure the Uninsured. Also she has a near impeccible voting record on environmental legislation and she's is the most active candidate in respect to women's issues.

I'm also excited to find that she has become the leading candidate, overtaking John Garamendi as the frontrunner and has the best shot of all three Democratic candidates to beat Tom McClintock in the general election. I base this information on several newspapers articles I've read from around the state that predict that McClintock supporters would have the most trouble with a Speier nomination.

Finally everyone I have ever talked to who knows about Jackie and her record absolutely loves her and are turning out to vote despite all these negative ads we see in this campaign. (Nice note: Jackie is the only Lt. Gov. candidate not running attack ads and has called for Garamendi to stop his negative tactics.) She is truly a rare candidate indeed in that she is likable, competent, and competitive. I just hope that she'll run for governor next time around.

Kevin from San Mateo, CA

Jackie Speier Buzz

So I've been noticing a lot of pro-Jackie Speier feedback recently. To be honest, I'm not that familiar with her. If anyone wants to do a quick blurb on why they like Senator Speier, email me at bradcymru@yahoo.com and I'll gladly post it.

Five Days Until the Primary

California's primary is only five days away and the campaigns have gotten incredibly dirty. Westly vs Angelides went negative about a month ago, but even down ballot races are now into the mudslinging. Attoney General candidate Rocky Delgadillo is acusing Jerry Brown of being soft on gangs & Lt. Governor candidate John Garamendi is blasting Jackie Speier for being on the bankroll of the insurance lobby. Even local races like Orange County Sheriff have turned into a contest of who can dig up the most trash on their opponent (Why Sheriff is still an elected office in the first place is another lament for another day).

The Governor's race is particularly disappointing. For awhile there was actually a decent exchange of ideas between the two candidates, but now its all dirt all the time. Neither one is going to beat Schwarzenegger with negative attacks, so I hope whomever comes out on top next Tuesday leaves the negative campaigning behind them.