Actor Warren Beatty speaks to reporters after being told he couldn’t enter a rally where California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was holding a rally to promote propositions 74, 75, 76, and 77 at Montgomery Field in San Diego Saturday, Nov. 5, 2005. Beatty opposes the propostions.

The ASSociated Press has Beatty Tries to Crash Schwarzenegger Rally

The state’s special election verged on a celebrity showdown Saturday when Warren Beatty and his wife Annette Bening attempted to crash a campaign appearance by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Hollywood couple strode side by side to the entrance of a cavernous airport hangar where the governor was about to address several hundred supporters. But they were blocked by a Schwarzenegger campaign aide, Darrel Ng, who told the “Bulworth” star he was not on the guest list and didn’t have the appropriate wristband to get inside.

“You have to have a wristband to listen to the governor?” Bening asked. “He represents all of us, right?”

These folks are just RUDE.

And Benning you are a smart-ass BITCH who showed NO CLASS last week when you refused to acknowledge Maria Shriver, the Governor’s wife, at a luncheon with whom you have socialized on numerous occasions.

You and Bulworth need CLASS lessons.

Beatty’s appearance caused momentary confusion at the rally. Just before the governor took the stage, the hangar door was closed – literally in the face of Beatty and Bening. It was later reopened as Schwarzenegger began to speak

Inside, Schwarzenegger told cheering supporters that his slate of four ballot proposals would “reform the broken system” in Sacramento.

In a later interview, he alluded to Beatty only indirectly.

“There’s the main event, then there is the sideshow,” the governor said. “I don’t care about the sideshow.”

Beatty drew the ire of some of the governor’s supporters who called him a Hollywood liberal and a has-been actor.

“It’s time for some people to retire,” said former San Diego Mayor Roger Hedgecock, who hosts a popular radio talk show. “I’m trying to be gentle about it but it’s clear that Warren is over the hill and desperately looking for sIomething else to do.”

So, like Steve Frank dressed in the “chicken suit” doggedly harassing Democrat Governor Gray Davis in the recall election are Warren Beatty and his classless wife the “two UNION stooges” following Schwarzenegger?

Beatty, 68, planned to shadow Schwarzenegger throughout the day as the governor worked his way north to Los Angeles. Beatty urged people to vote against the Nov. 8 ballot measures supported by Schwarzenegger.

In Anaheim, Beatty told about 100 supporters outside a building where Schwarzenegger was speaking that he believed the issues on the ballot could have been resolved by the Legislature, but the governor forced them into a special election because he knew there would be low voter turnout and a higher chance of success.

“To my knowledge, I have not heard him debate a human, living person,” Beatty said.

He did not attempt to enter where Schwarzenegger was speaking.

Flap supposes Beatty has not been watching the last few “live” townhall meetings where the Governator has engaged concerned California voters and political activists.

Or is he so feeble minded……. he has simply forgotten?

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger talk with the media on his campaign bus tour of southern California Saturday, Nov. 5, 2005. The two were on their way to a campaign stop in Riverside, Calif. promoting the special election.

Beatty also told supporters, “My experience in politics goes way, way back, much further back than Arnold’s. I don’t drop the issues simply because I know someone socially.

And how do you spell NO CLASS?

Warren Beatty and Annette Bening = NO CLASS

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ralleys supporters in front of his campaign bus in San Diego.

Captain Ed talks about Beatty the STALKER here.

Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Recovery Team, California Special Election, Bear Flag League, Proposition 74, Proposition 75, Proposition 76, Proposition 77

Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page

Steve Poizner, Chair of the Yes on Proposition 77 campaign at a Wednesday news conference in Van Nuys, California.

Previously on Flap, California Special Election Watch: Mobilize.Org YES on Proposition 77 at USC.

The Mobilize.org What Are YOUR Boundaries? RV Tour will conclude with a rally in support of Proposition 77 – the Voter Empowerment Act – at UC Berkeley’s Upper Sproul free speech zone on Monday, Nov. 7.

A barrage of guests will speak on the importance of Prop 77 including Bill Mundell (chairman of Californians for Fair Redistricting) and Chellie Pingree (president of Common Cause). Berkeley alumnus Michael Marston, the president of the Center of Individual and Institutional Renewal, will alsospeak.

The rally will be held at noon on the Mario Savio steps, the historic birthplace of the Free Speech Movement.

At USC:

USC Students wearing YES on 77 Rally Buttons

Maya answering a question on Proposition 77

A video from the USC rally .

The What Are Your Boundaries blog

The What Are Your Boundaries Website, Draw the Line on November 8th, Vote Yes! on Prop 77

The RV tour, the only grassroots campaign exclusively devoted to the youth vote, has made stops in the Bay area, the central coast, Los Angeles and Orange County to raise awareness for Prop 77.

The tour kicked off at the capitol building on Oct. 24 with Asm. Joseph Canciamilla (D-11) endorsing Prop 77.

The tour made stops at Sacramento State, San Francisco State, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, San Jose State, Stanford University, Cal. Poly. San Luis Obispo, USC, UCLA, Long Beach State, Claremont McKenna, and Fresno State.

Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Recovery Team, California Special Election, Bear Flag League, Proposition 77

Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page

The Governor’s “Road to Reform” Bus Tour will be THIS SATURDAY, November 5th and SUNDAY, November 6th.

The Governor’s Bus is coming to a city near you.

Check it out.

Flap knows you will be glad you did.

The Schedule:

Saturday:

San Diego County

Montgomery Field Hangar
3750 John J. Montgomery Drive
San Diego, CA 92123
(Kearny Mesa Area)
Doors Open at 10:30 AM !!!

Orange County

Pacific Transformer, Inc.
5399 E. Hunter Avenue
Anaheim, CA 92807
Doors Open at 12:45 PM !!!

Inland Empire

Fleetwood RV
3125 Myers Street
Riverside, CA 92503
Doors Open at 2:00 PM !!!

Los Angeles County

16016 Montoya Street
Irwindale CA, 91702
Doors Open at 4:00 PM !!!

Sunday:

Oakdale

Rocha’s Valley Enterprises, LLC
1198 Warnerville Road
Oakdale, CA 95361
Doors open at 10:45 a.m.

Bakersfield

Bakersfield High School
1241 G Street
Bakersfield, CA 93301
Doors open at 1:00 p.m.

Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Recovery Team, California Special Election, Bear Flag League, Proposition 74, Proposition 75, Proposition 76, Proposition 77

Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger(R) gestures as he answers questions from an audience of voters regarding Propositions 74 through 77 of next week’s Special Election from during an election forum at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, California.

The Ventura County Star has County activists grill the governor

Two Camarillo Democratic activists peppered Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday with the toughest questions he’s faced during a special-election campaign in which the governor has mostly appeared before only hand-selected audiences.

During a televised town hall forum at the Skirball Cultural Center, however, Schwarzenegger faced hostile questions from a panel selected by a market research firm hired by KNBC. Among those chosen to ask questions were Larry Miller, a member of the Ventura County Democratic Central Committee; Chris Robson, a member of the state Democratic Party Central Committee representing the 37th Assembly District; and Mary Pallant of Oak Park, an announced candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 24th Congressional District.

Interesting how this market research firm hired a “representive” audience of left wing idealogues, union representatives and Democrat Party activists.

By all press accounts the Governor handled himself well and probably should have mixed it up with these folks weeks ago.

Alejandro Puesan of the station’s research department said the selections were made randomly by the research firm charged with selecting questioners who represented the demographics of Southern California, by gender, age, race, ethnicity, county of residence and political affiliation.

Yeah right!

It was a set up by the LEFT, but what else do you expect?

Schwarzenegger was fine on the issues and will be fine on November 8th.

Miller, an elected trustee of the Ventura County Community College District, engaged in such a fierce exchange with Schwarzenegger that at one point, when the governor sought to complete his response, Miller blurted out, “No, I’m not going to let you finish because you’re wrong.”

Miller had challenged Schwarzenegger about Proposition 74, the initiative he’s backing that would extend the probationary period for new teachers from two years to five. Schwarzenegger calls it a reform of “teacher tenure” designed to make it more difficult for teachers to obtain “a job for life.”

“You’re absolutely wrong about tenure,” Miller said.

In an interview afterward, Miller noted that the word “tenure” does not exist in the state Education Code governing K-12 teachers. The law does say that after a two-year probationary period teachers become “permanent” employees who have full due-process rights, including that of a hearing to challenge a decision to fire them.

“The principals are the ones who aren’t doing their jobs,” Miller said during his exchange with the governor. “They’ve got the tools.”

Flap also was an elected member of the Board of Trustees of the Ventura County Community College District and knows Larry Miller very well.

Larry is a retired Moorpark College Biology professor and a long time American Federation of Teachers negotiator and union leader. He often represented the union before the VCCCD Board of Trustees. He even walked precincts for Flap when Flap first ran for office.

Miller is a fierce advocate for his left-wing views and very outspoken.

But, he is wrong on Proposition 74 and the remainder of the Governor’s reform agenda.

How he was chosen for this confrontation with the Governor is probably a story worth pursuing.

Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Recovery Team, California Special Election, Bear Flag League, Proposition 74, Proposition 75, Proposition 76, Proposition 77, Ventura County Community College District

Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger takes part in ‘Decision 2005: The Voter Forum,’ an event sponsored by KNBC and KVEA, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2005, in Los Angeles.

The San Francisco Chronicle and the ASSociated Press has Schwarzenegger spars with voters in televised forum.

Facing testy voters in a freewheeling televised forum, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Thursday disputed that he was targeting teachers and other unionized workers with his ballot proposals and warned that their defeat could shortchange schools and leave the state financially hobbled.

“This is not a witch hunt after teachers,” the governor said while discussing Proposition 74, which would require teachers to work five years, rather than two, to earn tenure.

If voters turn back his slate of four initiatives on Tuesday, “We will be back where we were two years ago, almost in bankruptcy and with a failed education system,” the governor said.

Will California voters remember why they recalled Gray Davis two years ago and elected Arnold?

Will they give Schwarzenegger the tools to REFORM California or will California government revert back to the status quo with the large public employee unions calling the shots?

As he has throughout the campaign, Schwarzenegger described his proposals as critical steps to reform Sacramento, where “spending addicts” in the Legislature have pushed the state toward financial ruin.

The governor remained composed in the face of sharp, sometimes hostile questioning from several audience members.

One man, identified as Democrat from Camarillo, accused the Republican governor of using sugarcoated “spin” to convince the public to support Proposition 75, which would require public employee unions to obtain written permission from members before using their dues for political purposes.

“The way you describe it, it wouldn’t make any sense,” Schwarzenegger told him. “We want to reform the system that is good for everybody. … We are not trying to silence anyone.”

When Schwarzenegger was discussing schools, another audience member challenged the governor’s characterization of teacher tenure.

“Let me say this to you … it’s almost impossible to fire a teacher,” the governor said.

Indeed, it is.

Stay tuned as the voters begin to focus on the election and GOTV efforts swing into action.

Educator Margaret Fortune, chairperson of the proposition 74 campaign, speaks in support of the measure as California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger looks on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2005 in San Diego.

Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Recovery Team, California Special Election, Bear Flag League, Proposition 74, Proposition 75, Proposition 76, Proposition 77

Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, at left, gives a thumbs-up to supporters outside Republican Party headquarters in Bakersfield as firefighters demonstrate nearby. Schwarzenegger is actively campaigning for Propositions 74-77.

The Los Angeles Times has Voters Dislike 3 of Governor’s Ballot Measures.

Californians likely to vote in the special election Tuesday oppose three of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ballot measures, but Proposition 74, his plan to roll back teacher tenure, remains a tossup, according to a Los Angeles Times poll.

By and large, the survey found the public siding with organized labor and its Democratic allies in their clash with the Republican governor. Only about a third of likely voters favor Proposition 76, his flagship proposal to curb state spending, and Proposition 77, his plan to give retired judges the job of drawing district maps for lawmakers.

Also in trouble is Proposition 75, Schwarzenegger’s plan to require public-worker unions to get written consent from members each year before spending dues on political campaigns: 40% are for it, and 51% against it.

Beyond the ballot contests, the poll confirmed a steep dive in Schwarzenegger’s popularity. His 69% job approval rating a year ago has plummeted to 40%. He remains popular with Republicans, but his support among Democrats has all but collapsed.

Again, not good news for Governor Schwarzenegger and the California Recovery Team. However, Propositions 74 and 75 are within striking range. Flap has always maintained that 76 and 77 were a reach.

Will the governor be able to claim victory if Proposition 73, 74 and perhaps 75 win at the polls next Tuesday?

You betcha.

How the voters rate the Governor and Propositions 74-77 is here.

The Los Angeles Times Poll Alert is here.

Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Recovery Team, California Special Election, Bear Flag League, Proposition 74, Proposition 75, Proposition 76, Proposition 77, Los Angeles Times Poll

Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger campaigns for Prop. 76 and his reform agenda at a gathering held at an auto salvaging facility Pick-A-Part in Ontario.

Robert Sallady of the Los Angeles Times has Gov. Aims to Get Out Vote Selectively.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered next week’s special election to take his agenda to “the people,” but his campaign strategy relies on relatively few people showing up next Tuesday and large segments of voters staying home.

The governor’s plan — “micro-targeting” voters, advertising in selected markets to reach them and conducting daily polls to augur the political mood — is guided by a single premise: If every Democrat and every Republican in California votes next week, Schwarzenegger’s measures are likely to lose.

Another “hit piece” of the day from the Los Angeles Times. Robert Sallady is a master of the anti-Schwarzenegger “NEWS?” pieces. Or should we call him the negative Arnold spinmeister?

The Times really needs to leave their opinions on their op-ed pages and out of the news columns.

By the way, has Sallady ever heard of political science and turning out your base?

Probably not…….

And the newspapers wonder why their circulation is decreasing and ad revenue is down.

Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Recovery Team, California Special Election, Bear Flag League, Proposition 74, Proposition 75, Proposition 76, Proposition 77, Los Angeles Times

Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page

Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger holds 21-month-old Brenna Neault during a campaign stop on Halloween day Monday, Oct. 31, 2005, in Ontario, Calif. Schwarzenegger made the stop to urge voters to support four ballot initiatives aimed at curbing the power of the Democratic-controlled Legislature and the state’s public employee unions.

Reuters has Schwarzenegger may be hurting his own cause — poll.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s campaigning ahead of election day next week has hurt rather than helped efforts to win support for his four favored ballot initiatives, a poll released on Tuesday found.

The Field Poll released on Tuesday measured voter reaction both before the new approach, from October 18-24, and after, from October 25-30, and found opposition on the rise.

Most recently, 51 percent of likely voters opposed his plan to let a panel of retired judges draw electoral districts, compared to 41 percent the week before. Support for the idea fell over the period to 35 percent from 38 percent.

Flap will post the link to the full Field Poll when it is fully released later in the morning.

The Field Poll of 506 likely voters from October 18-24 and 581 adults the following week found unchanged support at 44 percent for Schwarzenegger’s proposal to give teachers tenure after five years rather than two. Yet opposition rose to 50 percent from 47 percent in the survey, which had a plus or minus four percent margin of error.

The star of the “Terminator” films boosted support for a measure giving him more powers to cut the state budget to 32 percent, up from 28 percent. Yet opposition remained at 60 percent, creating a significant obstacle for perhaps the most ambitious of his special election ideas.

Not the greatest results for the Governor and the California Recovery Team.

But, the impact of Proposition 73 and 75 will be heaviest on voter turn-out.

It is apparent theat Proposition 76 continues to fail badly and Proposition 77 has a long way to go for passage (and then a court challenge after the election).

Stay tuned…..more later and of course the SPIN …….

RIP Prop. 76 according to latest California Field Poll.

Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Recovery Team, California Special Election, Bear Flag League, Proposition 74, Proposition 75, Proposition 76, Proposition 77, Field Poll

Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page

On Tuesday, November 1, MAY and Mobilize.org are continuing their “What Are YOUR Boundaries?” RV Tour in support of Proposition 77, the California Redistricting Initiative at the University of Southern California. The news conference and rally will happen at noon.

Previously on Flap, Proposition 77 Watch: What Are Your Boundaries? Mobilizing America’s Youth.

The Mobilize.org RV Tour has one major purpose and one major goal. The purpose is to educate, empower, and energize young people throughout the state for the upcoming special election, and our goal is to pass the Voter Empowerment Act – Proposition 77. The RV tour is historic and the first of its kind as no other independent organization has hosted such an event exclusively devoted to a single proposition.

Mobilize.org believes that redistricting is the best way to end the political deadlock in California. We have built a strong coalition of support to help us get that message to America’s youth.

The What Are Your Boundaries Blog is here.

So, tomorrow head over to Tommy Trojan and check out the Mobilize.org RV and rally in support of Proposition 77.

Flap knows you will be glad you did.

Update #1:

The RV tour has already made stops at Sacramento State, UC Davis, UC Berkeley, San Francisco State, San Jose State, UC Santa Cruz, Stanford University, UC Santa Cruz and UCLA.

WHO: Mobilize.org (David B. Smith, Executive Director of Mobilize.org, speaking)

WHAT: Pro 77 rally at USC

WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 12:00 noon

WHERE: Hahn Plaza, in front of the Tommy Trojan Statue (Student Union)

Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Recovery Team, California Special Election, Bear Flag League, Proposition 77

Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page