(I disagree, but it’s worthy of discussion. – promoted by SFBrianCL)

In a recent diary, I alleged that the Legislature killed phil.  Apparently, this isn’t such a strech. An article in today’s LA Times details the friendship between Fabian Nunez and Arnold, and speculates that this is a pro-Villaraigosa 2008 move.

Not surprisingly, I got a lot of flack, because I dared say that Angelides wasn’t rocking the house. 

I know a lot of you are passionate about this election, and I respect that.  Personally, I have a lot more invested in the federal elections, hoping one chamber gets back, but I think this article above provides some non-blogger support for what I’ve written.

Now, to respond on the flip…

There was an extended comment on my last diary chiding me for needing to learn more about Phil.  I could argue that if I haven’t seen it, someone more politically aware than average, then it’s Phil’s problem, not mine.  But that’s a cop-out.

First, I never suggested that he should run on reforming Prop 13, or that he should advance this or that policy specifically (those were just examples), though those would be nice.  Checklist liberalism is not what I had in mind.  But neither are these same tired ads, with those same tired newspaper quotes, and that same announcer.

The style, the tenor, the impression needs to be new.  Why is Angelides running like a combo of the worst elements of Davis and Gore in 2000? Why?

And this has nothing to do with Westley. Assuming I’m some leftover Westley supporter is not correct.  He seemed to have a little more charisma, but I wrote extensively about my ambivalence on this issue.

And when I mentioned the “direct democracy sideshow” I wasn’t referring to signature collection–I was refering to either eliminating it or requiring a quorum. (15% turnout? no problem, amend the state constitution!)

Phil’s campaign is uninspiring, and telling me that he supports this bill or that does nothing for me. Telling me Arnold vetoed it does nothing.  I’m not voting for Arnold. I thought I made that clear.

Go ahead and rip me another new one. All I want are Democratic candidates who win.  If you want to follow them into perpetual loserdom, then you don’t need blogs, you can hang out in the old line Democratic world and vote for Gephardt and Daschle in presidential elections.

If you want to unseat an incumbent of any party, in any election, for any seat, you have to convince people change is needed.  To the extent Phil was making that case, the legislature undermined him, and it’s showing.

Also, I look forward to reading your comments on DailyKos when he says virtually the same thing I do. I won’t see them, will I?

The LA Times published a great list of some of the bills passed in the legislative session concluded last week. And, hey, look Gil Cedillo got his driver’s license bill passed again! (SB 1162) Some interesting bills that you might have missed in the extended.

Eminent domain: Bill would provide property owners with notice and an opportunity to respond before a court can grant a local government possession of private property (SB 1210 by Sen. Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch). Another bill would require redevelopment agencies to specify when, how and where they can use eminent domain authority and would allow such agencies to ban the condemnation of residential property. (SB 53 by Sen. Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego)
[snip]
Initiatives: Bill would require an initiative, referendum or recall petition to indicate whether it is being circulated by a paid or volunteer signature-gatherer and to also list the five largest contributors in support of the measure being circulated. Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill last year (SB 1598 by Sen. Debra Bowen, D-Marina del Rey). Another bill would make it a misdemeanor to pay initiative signature-gatherers based on the number of signatures they collect and make it illegal for signature-gatherers to misrepresent the contents of an initiative (AB 2946 by Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco)
[snip]
Pay equity: Bill would increase penalties against employers who pay an employee less based on gender to up to four times the balance of the wages due the aggrieved employee. (AB 2555 by Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach)
[snip]
Public records: Bill would allow the public to get public records via computer and allow citizens to appeal to the attorney general when state or local agencies deny their requests for records. (AB 2927 by Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco) (LA Times 9/3/06)

Check out the full article for more.