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    • As for the effect on the Senate race, Campbell will still face the same type of financial struggle that he had in the gov’s race, although against only one rich candidate, Carly Fiorina, instead of two.

      The conventional wisdom is that Campbell’s entry will hurt Fiorina because it pulls moderate support from her, while right-wing Assemblyman Chuck DeVore will hang onto the hardcore conservative base. But we’ve reported previously on the counter-intuitive, and possibly anomalous, findings of the LA Times/USC poll that suggest there’s overlap between Campbell supporters and those of the right-wing Assemblyman Chuck Devore.

      Guess we’ll wait for the Field Poll to find out.
      ++++++
      The Field Poll may be in the field but there has been NO advertising by anyone yet. So, it is worthless. Try again around March 15.

    • But Campbell’s biggest problem in a Senate race could be that Senate race. If he made the switch, he’d be saying “Never mind” to all the people who supported him for governor and turning his back on the promises he made to use his years of experience to turn California around. He’d be switching gears to improve his chances of getting back into elective office.

      In short, he’d be just another politician
      ++++++
      Tom Campbell will not be able to raise any money and Fiorina will spend another 2.5 million to beat him and DeVore. Just another politician will be Fiorina's theme against DeVore as well.

      (tags: tom_campbell)
    • But I’d expect the Fiorina camp to try and box out both candidates by attacking the 2005 California budget. DeVore, a California assemblyman, voted for it. As Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R-Calif.) finance director, Campbell helped muscle it through. So the events of today make Fiorina the only female candidate in the race, the best-funded, and the only one not tainted by GOP decisions of the past–probably a better position than she had on Monday.
      ++++++++
      DeVore and Campbell are both unfunded and weak candidates on the California budget. Look for Fiorina to ratchet up the heat on fiscal responsibility.
    • In the immediate aftermath of the Supreme Court’s interim order yesterday barring Internet broadcasting of the trial, Walker, who evidently remains as fervent as ever in his desire to televise the trial, tried to put lipstick on his pig by purporting “to clarify” a point:

      What the Court [i.e., Walker] has contemplated and what the Ninth Circuit pilot project contemplates is a posting on the Northern District of California website. It is not a Google YouTube posting that may be commonly understood. Rather, that service is under consideration as a conduit for posting an audio and visual feed pursuant to a contract that the government has with that service.

      (Official Transcript for Jan. 11, 2010, at 10:1-9.)

      Set aside Walker’s disingenuous effort to recast his latest change of course as a clarification. The cosmetic change that Walker is now proposing is substantively meaningless. It has zero bearing on the concerns that warranted the Supreme Court’s order.

    • In addition to its illegality (see Part 2), Judge Walker’s televising order threatens unfair and irreparable—and wildly asymmetric—prejudice to the parties and witnesses supporting Proposition 8. For that reason, his order should be vacated before trial begins next Monday.
      ++++++
      And, the SCOTUS has stepped in and issued a stay.
    • Judge Walker’s televising order (see Part 1) in the Proposition 8 case is illegal for the simple reason that it violates the version of his court’s Local Rule 77-3 that is lawfully in effect. Consistent with the longstanding policy of the Judicial Conference of the United States, that rule flatly prohibits “the taking of photographs, public broadcasting or televising, or recording for these purposes in the courtroom or its environs, in connection with any judicial proceeding.” Walker has made several stabs at amending the rule, but each of his efforts has been unsuccessful. In particular, his current claim to have lawfully amended the rule under the “immediate need” provision of 28 U.S.C. § 2071(e) is ludicrous: there was manifestly no need to implement immediately the Ninth Circuit’s recently announced pilot program for experimental use of cameras in district courts.
    • In a series of three or so posts today, I’m going to explain why Judge Walker’s order requiring audio-video recording and transmission (I’ll sometimes use the admittedly inexact shorthand “televising”) of the trial proceedings in the Proposition 8 case should be overturned forthwith. In this post, I’ll review yesterday’s sham hearing and discuss just what Walker has ordered. In the next post, I’ll show that his order is unlawful. And then I’ll discuss why his order threatens unfair and irreparable (and wildly asymmetric) prejudice to Proposition 8 supporters.
    • Walker’s New Year’s Eve surprise is a critical step in his evident ongoing effort to turn the lawsuit into a high-profile, culture-transforming, history-making, Scopes-style show trial of Proposition 8’s sponsors. Specifically, Walker is rushing to override longstanding prohibitions on televised coverage of federal trials so that he can authorize televised coverage of the Proposition 8 trial. Televised coverage would generate much greater publicity for ringmaster Walker’s circus. And, whether Walker desires the effect or is somehow blind to it, televised coverage would surely also heighten the prospect that witnesses and attorneys supporting Proposition 8 would face harassment, intimidation, and abuse.

      In his eagerness to stack the deck against Proposition 8 and its defenders, Walker has resorted to procedural shenanigans and outright illegality.
      +++++++
      Show trial indeed but so far stopped by SCOTUS

  • Martha Coakley,  Scott Brown

    MA-Sen: Democrat U.S. Senate Candidate Martha Coakley Says There Are NO Terrorists in Afghanistan

    On Wednesday December 30 Jordanian doctor and Al-Qaeda blogger Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi killed 7 CIA officers in a suicide bomb attack at an outpost in southeastern Afghanistan. Before he murdered the Americans in Afghanistan he recorded a tape with the local Taliban leader. The Taliban released the tape after his death.

    Even Teddy Kennedy is turning over in his grave with this GAFFE and left-wing appeasement and dangerous BS. Looks like the GOP and Scott Brown might have a shot at this seat next Tuesday.

    Let’s hope so.


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  • Carly Fiorina,  Chuck DeVore,  Conejo Valley Republican Women,  Tom Campbell

    CA-Sen: Tom Campbell to Switch to U.S. Senate Race on Thursday?

    +++++Update+++++

    It has been confirmed that Tom Campbell will switch races on Thursday.
    Campbell has scheduled two news conferences to make the announcement: one at 9 a.m. in Los Angeles, the other at 2:30 p.m. at the San Jose Fairmont hotel, according to an e-mail from Campbell’s campaign that was sent Monday to his major supporters. The e-mail referred to a “soon to be announced new venture” — confirmed by campaign sources to be a Senate run.

    California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Rep. Tom Campbell

    Apparently so.

    Former Rep. Tom Campbell (R-Calif.) appears primed to switch from California’s governor’s race to its Senate race, and it looks like he will make an announcement Thursday morning.

    In an invitation from the Los Angeles County GOP to an event featuring governor candidate Steve Poizner, Chairwoman Jane Barnett says Campbell won’t be coming to the event “as a candidate for governor.”

    “Tom Campbell has notified me that he will not be visiting with us as a candidate for Governor this Thursday,” Barnett writes. “He will be making an announcement that morning — so stay tuned to the news.”

    Campbell apparently thinks he can make more of a dent in the Senate primary, where Carly Fiorina’s personal funds aren’t on the same level as Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner. They have each spent about $19 million of their own money; Fiorina has spent $2.5 million.

    Well, both Carly Fiorina and Tom Campbell are slated to speak at the Conejo Valley Republican Womens’ meeting on Friday in Thousand Oaks which Flap will attend.

    Should make for some interesting  GOP fireworks.

    Stay tuned…….


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  • Barbara Boxer,  Carly Fiorina,  Obamacare

    CA-Sen: Carly Fiorina Calls on Senator Barbara Boxer to Stand Up for California on Obamacare

    From CallMeBarbara.com

    From the press release:

    U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina today asked Californians to join her in calling on Barbara Boxer to stand up for California by voting against the health care overhaul plan currently working its way through Congress by launching an online petition.

    “Instead of giving away sweetheart deals to other states and casting votes as if she were Nebraska’s third senator, Barbara Boxer should stand up for the Californians whom she was elected to represent by voting against this health care plan,” said Fiorina. “Not only does the plan fail to improve the quality of patient care, but it also burdens our state budget with another $3 billion, raises taxes on the middle class and increases health care premiums at a time when Californians can least afford it.”

    The online petition, which is available by clicking here, allows voters to sign the petition and send Boxer the message that they not only oppose this plan, but want her as their representative to vote against it.

    This petition is the latest addition to CallMeBarbara.com, a Web site launched by Carly for California in November to provide voters with more information about Barbara Boxer’s failed and ineffective representation. The site asks voters to give Barbara Boxer a break and send her back to California, where she can be referred to as just “Barbara” instead of her insisting on being called “Senator.”

    “Our representatives in Washington were elected to fight for California – not to capitulate to the special interests,” Fiorina added. “I urge all Californians who care about the health and well-being of their families and loved ones to join me in calling on Barbara Boxer and our other congressional representatives to defend our state by voting against this terrible plan.”

    The Senate Obamacare bill is a disaster for California taxpayers. In fact, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has called it a rip-off and an illegal buying off of a vote.

    Come on Barbara – stand up for California and vote NO on Obamacare.

    By the way, go and sign the Carly Fiorina online petition here.


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  • Day By Day,  Harry Reid

    Day By Day January 12, 2009 – Impressions

    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    Is there any doubt that Sam, the mother of Zed’s two daughter’s is staking her claim? The bar idea might work but somehow the ex-girlfriend investing in the enterprise is risky and I am not talking finance or business here.

    Speaking about impressions, how about Harry Reid and Obama’s Negro dialect comment? The fallout continues and the Nevada GOP is licking their chops.

    The question: Will there be any fallut in the Massachusett’s special U.S. Senate election next week?

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