Tag: California

Craigslist Founder Considering Online News Project

Jon Ponder

Says MSM not doing its job: Craigslist founder Craig Newmark gave voice to millions of us when he spoke at an Oxford University event earlier this week:

Saying U.S. newspapers “are afraid to talk truth to power,” Craigslist founder Craig Newmark hinted that he’s about to launch a major online journalism project within the next few months that will copy the successful “wisdom of the masses” approach to classified advertising and apply it to journalism.

In a follow-up interview with the British newspaper the Guardian, Newmark expressed the frustration so many Americans feel about the overpaid lapdogs who report the news, especially those in the Capitol:

When talk turned to the problems plaguing the U.S. news industry, Newmark let fly: “The big issue in the U.S. is that newspapers are afraid to talk truth to power,” the Guardian quoted him as saying. “The White House press corps don’t speak the truth to power — they are frightened to lose access they don’t have anyway. … The American public has lost a lot of trust in conventional newspaper mechanisms. Mechanisms are now being developed online to correct that.”

Newmark also said coverage of the Iraq war and the press’ involvement in the Valerie Plame case had damaged American journalism.

About his new venture, Newmark said this on his blog:

I’m working with some folks on technologies that promise to help people find the most trusted versions of the more important stories… and this is personal, helping out another group not associated with craigslist. This kind of technology is intended to preserve the best of existing journalistic practices, and should help retain newsroom jobs.

GOP to California: ‘Drop Dead’

Jon Ponder

Arnold is screwed: Gov. Schwarzenegger evaporated immediately after he was trounced in his own special election earlier this month. He embarked within a day or two after his drubbing to China on a trade mission and hasn’t been heard from since. We had early reports that the Chinese were treating him like a movie star, which must have been a relief after so many months of being treated by his constituents like the lying, conniving tool of corporate special interests that he is.

At the urging of California’s congressional Democrats, Schwarzenegger sent a letter to the state’s delegation in the House expressing concern about the proposal’s impact on the state. Every California Republican in Congress voted for it nonetheless.

He may want to stay evaporated because the leaders of his party in Washington have drafted legislation that will cost California taxpayers billions of dollars. If it passes, the bill could end the governor’s floundering political career in November of next year – and convert the GOP from a meager opposition party to permanent minority party status for years to come:

Republican-backed budget cuts moving through Congress threaten to hit California with billions of dollars in lost aid, putting some state social services in jeopardy and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at risk of yet another political setback.

State and federal budget analysts say California, because of its reliance on some of the specific programs targeted, would suffer more in coming years than most states from the package of reductions approved by the House last week.

The bill includes provisions that, in California, would make it tougher to get child support from tens of thousands of deadbeat parents, would strip food stamps from legal immigrants, and would make less money available to doctors who treat low-income patients.

Amid pressure from Democrats in the Legislature, Schwarzenegger had sent an extensive letter to California’s congressional delegation earlier this month, expressing concern about the proposal’s impact on the state. Every California Republican in Congress voted for it nonetheless.

The spending bill was ultimately approved by the House, 217 to 215. While the [Republicans in the] Senate passed a smaller cuts package, that version would still cost California billions in the future. The bills now head to a conference committee, where members of both houses will attempt to reach a final agreement.

Republicans in Congress are pushing ahead with the budget reductions as they struggle to pare down the federal deficit while paying for the Iraq war, hurricane relief and an extension of the tax cuts championed by President Bush.

The governor, battered by the defeat of his special-election initiatives just weeks ago, is under pressure to draw concessions from Washington … He has long promised to get more federal money for California, vowing that he would come to be known as the “Collectinator.” Democrats say his inability to garner votes from California Republicans in Congress suggests that he is failing.

Hint to Arnie: Maybe one reason no one takes you seriously – and why in fact voters find you to be so irritating – is your propensity for coming up with annoying words like “Collectinator.”

What the Terminator Would Tell Arnold

Jon Ponder

“It’s always easy to look back. As a matter of fact, you know, if I would do another Terminator movie, I would have Terminator travel back in time to tell Arnold not to have a special election. … I should have also listened to my wife, who said to me ‘Don’t do this.’ But anyway, the bottom line is we did it, the bottom line is that we didn’t win. See how I’m making this glass half-full? We didn’t win. We lost. The bottom line is that we’ve just got to go and now, look at the reality of this (and) shift gears, because in the end, remember I came up here for one reason, and this is to serve the people of California.”

— Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, on the defeat of all of his initiatives in the special election

Jeb Consoles Arnold and Fellow GoOPs

Trish

Leave it to Jeb to look on the bright side. Florida News’ Mike Vasilinda, in a blurb called “The Jebinator” quotes the sunny* Florida governor’s words of hope for Arnold and the nation.

Florida’s Governor doesn’t seem to have much political clout on the left coast. Jeb Bush helped California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger raise money to try and pass four constitutional amendments. But voters in the golden state said no to all four, plus 4 others that were on the same ballot. Bush says the terminator didn’t do so well.

“Arnold took it on the chin, but he’s a strong guy and he’ll get up again,” Bush said. “Here’s an example of someone who was doing right in his mind and took on some very powerful interests. And while he didn’t win, I hope that doesn’t discourage him or others to do the same thing. It was…in terms of the Republican Party it’s not a great day, but two Democratic governors were replaced by Democrats. There was no net gain.”

No one said there was, Jebby. But everyone without exception is saying the recent elections showed Republican domination has peaked and is on the way downhill from here. And that sounds like the definition of a “great day” to me.

*Note to non-Floridians: Yes, this is sarcasm.

More on Why Arnold Has Bombed as Governor

Jon Ponder

A hollow man’s undoing: For political junkies in California, the trouncing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger took in the polls on Tuesday made perfect sense. It was one of those rare moments when – as much as is ever possible – the electorate spoke in one voice, loud and clear. The message from the voters to Arnold was very simple: You suck!

Many voters chose Arnold in that election not because he stood for anything, but because they thought it would be funny to have The Terminator as governor.

Schwarzenegger’s seemingly abrupt change in fortunes may be confusing to the rest of the world. Here’s a good explanation of it from David Wallechinsky at the Huffington Post:

In 2003, a majority of voters did not vote for Schwarzenegger, but he won anyway because the rules of the election did not allow a runoff. Many voters chose Arnold in that election not because he stood for anything, but because they thought it would be funny to have The Terminator as governor. Even I, who did not vote for him, purchased a Govenator coffee mug. Schwarzenegger sold himself as a Republican who was friendly to Democrats and independents. However, once in power, he ruled as a strict Republican Party partisan. He is not a conservative. Like George Bush, he is more of a “corporative,” someone who puts the needs of corporations and the rich above all else.

Bypassing the Democratic-controlled legislature, he put forth four propositions to be voted on by the citizens of California, the details of which are no longer relevant. Knowing that they were unlikely to pass in a general election, he called a special election—at a cost to California taxpayers of about $55 million. He also hoped that by winning this election he would be well-positioned to gain reelection next year. But, again like George Bush, he completely misread the extent of his “mandate.” According to Survey USA, Schwarzenegger’s net job approval rating, minus 32%, is worse than 48 of the other 49 governors. (Only Ohio’s Bob Taft is more unpopular.)

Besides Schwarzenegger’s four propositions, there were four other proposals on the ballot. None of them passed. In other words, Arnold Schwarzenegger, in a failed attempt to boost his political career, wasted $55 million of taxpayer money that could have been used to help the state. When he campaigned for governor two years ago, Schwarzenegger boasted that he was too rich to be bought by special interests. That being the case, I propose that he make it up to the citizens of California by using his own fortune to reimburse the state for the millions that he caused us to lose

We second Wallechinsky’s proposal and add this: He should resign – immediately. We’re serious about this because, again like Bush, his credibility among the electorate is gone. Leaders with no crediblity cannot govern.

CA Special Election Cost $350 Million

Jon Ponder

A big waste: It’s okay. We’ll just borrow the money:

The total cost of Arnold’s California special election may top $300 million, according to this article. Gov. Schwarzenegger and his California Recovery Team have spent nearly $32.5 million, per the latest filings online, while the state teachers union has kicked in $55 million.

According to another article, total spending by “yes” and “no” campaigns is estimated at $220 million. Unions in California spent $100 million to defeat these initiatives.

I’m not sure if these numbers include the costs to each of the California counties for holding the special election.

Imagine something positive that could have been accomplished in California with $300 million . . .

The operational costs of the election are at least $50 million, upping the tally to $350 million.

Why Arnold Failed – And Why Team Bush Must Be in a Panic

Jon Ponder

Bad news for fakers: The leaders of the Republican Party must be quaking in their boots in light of the elections of Democrats as governors in New Jersey and, especially, Virginia. This can’t bode well for the federal elections next year.

The drubbing Arnold took yesterday must have Rove & Co. wondering how they can stop a similar backlash against the empty suit in the Oval Office from destroying the GOP nationwide.

But President Bush’s minders may have an even more serious case of agita over the collapse of the Schwarzenegger governorship here in California. Their concern isn’t that Bush and Arnold are close allies or share similar philosophies – or that there was ever any hope that Arnold could flip the state back to the GOP.

Rather, what must concern the White House messagemeisters is that Bush and Arnold share similar political and personal weaknesses that their handlers have, until now, hidden from voters in similar ways. California voters have wised up to Schwarzenegger’s act – and there is real danger (and polling to prove it) that voters nationwide are begining to see through Mr. Bush’s tired routine as well.

Both the president and the governor go to great lengths to conceal their “real” personas from public view – probably because in real life they are both self-aggrandizing jerks. Since both pols must rely on manufactured personalites when they are on the public stage, this limits them to tightly stage-managed and scripted appearances in front of handpicked crowds of sycophants.

Neither man is truly comfortable in his own skin – and neither can think on their feet – so their handlers have to go out of their way to avoid putting them into one-on-one interviews with reporters or live debates with other politicians.

The harsh lesson Arnold’s handlers learned in the defeat of his “reform agenda” yesterday – and that must have Karl Rove in a panic – is that politicians in the spotlight cannot hide their true selves from voters forever. The tide of events has a way of unmasking even the most practiced fakers.

The drubbing Arnold took yesterday must have Rove & Co. wondering how they can stop a similar backlash against the empty suit in the Oval Office from destroying the GOP nationwide.

Here’s how the Los Angeles Times analyzed the defeat of the Das Guber’s propositions this morning:

[…]

All 8 California Propositions Voted Down

Jon Ponder

THE BIG NO! Arnold Schwarzenegger should just resign and get back to his movie career – or he could just go back to doing what he was doing before he decided to play at politics: counting his millions, smoking his cigars and fondling his employees. It doesn’t matter what he does because his political “career” is toast:

In a sharp repudiation of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Californians rejected all four of his ballot proposals Tuesday in an election that shattered his image as an agent of the popular will.

Voters turned down his plans to curb state spending, redraw California’s political map, restrain union politics and lengthen the time it takes teachers to get tenure.

The Republican governor had cast the four initiatives as central to his larger vision for restoring fiscal discipline to California and reforming its notoriously dysfunctional politics.

The failure of Proposition 76, his spending restraints, and Proposition 77, his election district overhaul, represented a particularly sharp snub of the governor by California voters. It also threw into question his strategy of threatening lawmakers with statewide votes to get around them when they block his favored proposals.

Also, Schwarzenegger’s defeat on Proposition 75 was a major victory for his rivals in organized labor. It would have required unions for public workers to get written consent from members before spending their dues money on politics.

On a Beverly Hills stage Tuesday night next to his wife, Maria Shriver, Schwarzenegger pledged “to find common ground” with his Democratic adversaries in Sacramento.

“The people of California are sick and tired of all the fighting, and they are sick and tired of all the negative TV ads,” he told supporters at the Beverly Hilton. He did not concede, saying instead that “in a couple of days the victories or the losses will be behind us.”

Numbers:

[…]

Poll: Redistricting, Power Grab Props Failing, Others Marginal

Jon Ponder

Results of SurveyUSA (SUSA) Election Poll:

Prop 73 — Parental Notification

Proposition 73 requires that physicians notify the parent of a pregnant minor at least 48 hours before performing an abortion. If the special election were today, and you were standing in the voting booth right now, would you vote Yes on Proposition 73? Or would you vote No?

Yes 51 (55)
No 47 (44)

Prop 74 — Micromanaging Teachers

Proposition 74 extends the probationary period for new teachers from 2 years to 5 years, and makes it easier to dismiss teachers with unsatisfactory performance evaluations. If the special election were today, would you vote Yes on Proposition 74? Or would you vote No?

Yes 48 (49)
No 51 (50)

Prop 75 — Union Dues

Proposition 75 prohibits public employee unions from using union dues for political purposes without the written consent of union members. If the special election were today, would you vote Yes on Proposition 75? Or would you vote no?

Yes 45 (50)
No 54 (49)

Prop 76 — Arnold’s Power Grab

Proposition 76 limits growth in state spending so that it does not exceed recent growth in state revenues. The Governor would be granted new authority to reduce state spending, [including school funding,] during certain fiscal situations. If the special election were today, would you vote Yes on Proposition 76? Or would you vote no?

Yes 39 (49)
No 59 (49)

Prop 77 — Redistricting

Proposition 77 changes the way California draws boundaries for Congressional and legislative districts. District boundaries would be drawn by a panel of retired judges and approved by voters in a s, Potatewide election. If the special election were today, would you vote Yes on 77? Or would you vote no?

Yes 41 (42)
No 56 (56)

The Mood in California One Day before the Special Election

Jon Ponder

Make him go away: When Arnold Schwarzenegger entered politics he cast himself as a latter day Ronald Reagan, the actor turned politician who went from governor of California to president of the United States. The flaw in this scenario is that while Arnold may be Reagan’s intellectual equal, he lacks even one-tenth of Ronnie’s political instincts.

California has a high concentration of media-savvy voters, and one gripe pollsters often hear is that Arnold’s stage managed “fake news” events have worn well past thin.

A closer model for the Schwarzenegger governorship would be the Jesse Ventura administration in Minnesota. The former wrestler won the governorship in an upset, only to watch his popularity among voters decline until it all but ceased to exist.

A poll published last week showed that Schwarzenegger’s approval rating is 33 percent (which is three percentage points lower than President Bush). The remnants of Arnold’s credibility hang on the election tomorrow. But even if all four of his initiatives were to win, all it would buy him is another chance to win back a few Independents – the rest of us are lost to him forever.

It is also very unlikely to happen:

Schwarzenegger is backing four out of eight initiatives on the ballot Tuesday in a state that since 1911 has used initiatives as an end-run around its legislature. If approved, the measures would give Schwarzenegger an enormous boost, granting him the power to cut the state’s budget unilaterally and hobbling his biggest foe, organized labor.

But three recent polls, by the Public Policy Institute of California, the Field Research Corporation and the Los Angeles Times, seem to suggest that the governor is headed for a political Judgment Day. Of the four ballot measures Schwarzenegger is backing, only one — [Proposition 74, which seeks to micromanage teacher tenure,] is the weakest in terms of policy consequences — seems primed to pass, according to the polls.

Among those trailing is a measure that would strip the authority from the Democratic-controlled legislature to draw lines for legislative and congressional districts, and shift it to a panel of retired judges…

In California, Democratic Party and union activists — who have outspent Schwarzenegger by tens of millions of dollars in the campaign to defeat his measures — are almost giddy when discussing Tuesday’s vote. “I’m cautiously optimistic,” quipped Gale Kaufman, one of the lead strategists. And then she cackled loudly.

It may be too soon for giddiness – and if just one of the propositions passes we should be prepared for Arnold to take a victory lap around the state.

Not that it will help him much. California has a high concentration of media-savvy voters, and one gripe pollsters hear from them is that Schwarzenegger’s stage managed “fake news” events have worn well past thin.

Reagan, as dim as he was, had a true trouper’s sense of when to reign in the schmaltz. Schwarzenegger cut his teeth as a body builder, which is entertainment mostly played out in front of a mirror. His connection with the public is all show and no heart. He can’t stop preening and flexing his muscles even after the crowd has moved on.