The Note
W A S H I N G T O N September 11—
, 2003 -- Today's Schedule (all times Eastern):
—7:30 am: President and Mrs. Bush attend a memorial service at St. John's Episcopal Church, D.C.—8:30 am: Senate convenes for morning business, Capitol Hill
—8:46 am: President and Mrs. Bush observe a moment of silence on the South Lawn, White House
—8:46 am: Senate leaders gather at the Ohio Clock to ring the bell, Capitol Hill
—8:46 am: Governor Gray Davis attends a memorial service to lower the Capitol flag to half-staff, Sacramento
—9:03 am: Senate Armed Service Committee members ring the Ohio Clock bell twice and the Senate pauses for a moment of silence, Capitol Hill
—9:30 am: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld participates in wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.
—9:38 am: Members of the armed services ring the Ohio Clock bell three times and the Senate pauses for a moment of silence, Capitol Hill
—10:00 am: Off-camera White House press gaggle with Scott McClellan
—10:00 am: House convenes to authorize the establishment of a memorial to the victims who died as a result of terrorist acts against the United States or its people at home and abroad, Capitol Hill
—10:06 am: Members of the armed services ring the Ohio Clock bell four times and the Senate pauses for a moment of silence, Capitol Hill—11:30 am: United States 9th Circuit Court of Appeals holds hearing on ACLU lawsuit concerning the use of punch card ballots in six California counties, Pasadena, Calif.
—12:00 pm: Secretary of State Colin Powell meets with the House International Relations Committee to discuss North Korea, Capitol Hill
—12:00 pm: House and Senate leadership make remarks on the anniversary of 9/11, Capitol Hill
—12:15 pm: Senator Bob Graham addresses the Council on Foreign Relations, New York City—3:00 pm: President and Mrs. Bush visit with wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital, D.C.
—3:30 pm: Governor Davis attend the Medal of Valor ceremony at the California Highway Patrol Academy, West Sacramento—5:30 pm: Governor Davis holds a bill signing ceremony for the "Hate Prevention Instruction" and "National Guard Education Benefits" bills, Sacramento
—9:15 pm: Arnold Schwarzenegger takes a private tour of the Simon Wiesenthal Center with the center's founder, Rabbi Marvin Hier, Los Angeles
NEWS SUMMARY
Bless and remember those who lost their lives or their loved ones two years ago.
And even as we mourn as a nation, celebrate the ability America has shown to remember and commemorate what makes this a great country.
Since so many of our readers are otherwise busy today, here are the basics:
The President and Mrs. Bush attend a memorial service this morning, observe a moment of silence on the South Lawn at the White House, and visit with wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital today.
The Democratic presidential candidates have pulled their TV advertising for the day, and mostly are down.
Senator Graham gives a speech called "9/11 Two Years Later: Are We Safer?" today to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City. He has a fundraiser breakfast and goes to a fundraiser at a Yankee game tomorrow. He's in Iowa on Saturday.
Governor Dean has no public events today. He campaigns in New Hampshire tomorrow and in Iowa on Saturday.
Senator Kerry will attend a memorial service in Boston today and help prepare meals at a veterans' homeless shelter. He visits Columbia, South Carolina, tomorrow. He'll be in Iowa on Saturday.
Senator Edwards has no public events today or tomorrow. He'll be in Iowa on Saturday.
Congressman Gephardt has no public events today. He is set to give what's billed as a major policy speech tomorrow in Iowa. He's in Iowa on Saturday.
Congressman Kucinich has no public events today. He's in Iowa on Saturday.
Senator Lieberman will attend a memorial service with firefighters in Miami today and attend a private fundraiser tonight. He has two fundraisers in Florida tomorrow. He's in New Hampshire and Maryland on Saturday.
Ambassador Moseley Braun is in Chicago today with no public events. She keynotes the Chicago Women in Government Relations meeting tomorrow in Chicago. She's in Iowa on Saturday.
Reverend Sharpton is in New York City with no public events today. He's in Delaware this weekend.
The newspaper stories you need to read are:
The Washington Post (followed by the AP LINK and the New York Times LINK) on the talks between Howard Dean and Wes Clark, which don't add up to quite as much as the tone of the story suggests. LINKThe New York Times and Washington Post on how the Democrats on the Hill and the hustings have been emboldened by the president's Sunday speech to ask questions and try to make political points. LINK and LINKThe Washington Post 's Mike Allen on how the president talks about 9/11 in many contexts. LINKThe Boston Globe on John Kerry's musings on not taking federal matching funds if Howard Dean opts out of the system, with the former having some tough words for the latter, and Trippi (interesting … .) holding his tongue. LINK
Anything on Howard Dean's troubles with statements about the Middle East (where he has expressed regret about using certain language) and race (where he and his staff are taking an apparently dangerous "no apologies" strategy), such as these: LINK and LINK and LINK and LINK.
More on all these below.
In the recall:
The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena holds a hearing on the ACLU's lawsuit concerning the use of punch card ballots in six California counties.
Governor Davis observes a moment of silence this morning at a ceremony to lower the Capitol flag to half-staff in honor of 9/11. He also attends a Medal of Valor ceremony at the California Highway Patrol Academy in West Sacramento. He also holds a bill signing ceremony at the Capitol later in the day.
Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante has no public events today.
Arnold Schwarzenegger will tour the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles today.
State Senator Tom McClintock does one radio appearance today on Los Angeles KFI.
Dean and Clark:
Read the Washington Post story about Saturday's meeting between presidential candidate Howard Dean and possible presidential candidate Wes Clark closely and you will find that there is less there than meets the eye.
Yes, the two men met again on Saturday (They talk regularly.).
Yes, Dean asked Clark to support him if he ends up not running himself (What else would you expect him to do?).
Despite the article's suggestive language, we are told that the notion of running together was NOT the focus of the meeting, and it is unlikely to happen anytime soon, if at all.
Most signs point to Clark getting in the presidential race himself in the next week, but there are still sources who say they believe in the end he won't run.
So this was all set off by the Washington Post 's Jim VandeHei and Dan Balz, telling the world that Dean and Clark met privately in California over the weekend, and Dean asked Clark to join him if Clark decides not to mount his own bid for the White House. LINKClark played coy about the meeting — the fourth time they've sat down mano a mano.
"Asked about reports that the two men had discussed a wide range of issues, including endorsing Dean, joining the campaign, possible roles in a Dean administration and the vice presidency, he said only, 'It was a complete tour of the horizon.'"
Some think this could be a political dream team, with ads, money and a devoted following — not to mention that whole Internet thing.
But then there are the downsides. Clark's never run for office and at the moment — despite talks with strategists like Gore 2000 communications guru Mark Fabiani — doesn't have an organization.
VandeHei and Balz remind us all that Clark's scheduled to speak Sept. 19 at the University of Iowa, and maybe then he'll announce his intentions and let us all exhale.
It was up to the AP's Fournier to add some perspective back in:
"Officials close to Dean said there is no such agreement in the works." LINK
The Times ' Wilgoren is forced to write last-minute about the Burlington-and-Brass connection with a Trippi Note that the two men have "been meeting for months … They've had these conversations over the phone. Every time they're in the same city, they meet."LINKABC News Dean campaign reporter Marc Ambinder reports that in fundraisers when Dean is asked about his vice presidential pick, he demurs and says it's too early, but then ticks off points about how he and Clark might be a good fit.
Dean and himself:
The long-running frustration felt by many presidential candidates and their staffs over Howard Dean's careless use of language (often in furtherance of his presidential campaign and at the expense of his rivals) is now manifesting itself in the attitudes and output of some of America's leading political reporters.
It's easy (almost too easy) for Trippi and Co. to dismiss this as simply the carping of opponents who are frustrated at Dean's success (a la the way Bill Clinton lashed back at attacks in '92 and beyond), and surely core Dean supporters don't care about stuff they think is angels-on-the-head-of-a-pin stuff.
But words have consequences, and Dean's are starting to get the scrutiny they should have gotten even before he got on his glide path to the nomination.
When Dean is caught saying something that seems wrong or different from what he has said in the past on the same topic, various things happen next.
1. Sometimes, he apologizes.
2. Sometimes, he explains that he changed his mind based on new facts or thinking anew.
3. Sometimes, as suggested, he accuses his opponents of attacking him out of frustration.
4. In the case of Dean's Baltimore debate remark about being the only white politician who talks about race in front of white audiences, Dean's defense was that he said the same thing in June at a Rainbow-PUSH event and wasn't corrected, so the attacks now are politically motivated.
Leaving aside the questionable notion that a public figure can say something that is wrong with impunity forever if no one stops him after the first time; and leaving aside the fact that Dean had no reason to assume it was true that the other candidates don't talk about race — it now turns out that what he said at the Rainbow event wasn't the same (as helpfully provided — via a Googling monkey — by another campaign):
In June, Dean said at the Rainbow/PUSH forum "I don't just talk about quotas here in front of a predominantly Latino and Black American, African American, audience. I talk about quotas and affirmative action in front of white audiences, because white people need to hear from white politicians that this is an important issue." [Rainbow PUSH Forum, 6/22/03]
No mention, obviously, of being the only one.
During the debate, Dean said, "Secondly, I'll tell you why I connect with African-American audiences. I'm the only white politician that ever talks about race in front of white audiences. Black people have heard lectures from white politicians for a long time. White folks need talk to white people in America about race.
Obviously, two different things.
USA Today 's Jill Lawrence contemplates the accusations of Dean's flip-flopping on (and in) black and white. LINK"Joe Trippi, Dean's campaign manager, said Dean's rivals are piling on because he has surged in fundraising and polls of New Hampshire and Iowa, sites of the first two contests. Dean made the same remark in June at a Rainbow Coalition gathering, Trippi said, and 'not a single other campaign had any moral indignation at that time when we weren't leading in the polls.'"
(Alleged) flip-flops: LINKThe New York Post 's Deborah Orin writes that Dean is "starting to get a reputation for talking out of both sides of his mouth" in what "may be the first hint of an Achilles heel … ." LINK
The Boston Globe 's Sarah Schweitzer reports on the reaction to Dean's race comments. LINK
"Dean's spokeswoman, Tricia Enright, dismissed the criticism. 'This is not about whether any of the other candidates are committed [sic] to the issue of civil rights,' she said. 'What Governor Dean is talking about is not just the need for civil rights. He is out there talking about how when the president uses the word 'quota,' it is a race-loaded word designed to instill fear of African-Americans and other minorities.'"
The Raleigh News and Observer's John Wagner leads with Edwards' reaction. LINKThe AP's Nedra Pickler reports on the other big area of pressure on Dean, where he has backed off a bit, acknowledging that he doesn't know all the diplo code yet.
"Dean drew fire from House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and several Jewish lawmakers yesterday over his remarks concerning Israel." LINK
"Pelosi, Berman — who is Jewish — and several others who signed the letter are supporting" Gephardt, "while others back" Kerry.
"'It is unacceptable for the U.S. to be 'evenhanded' on these fundamental issues,' the letter said."
"During the debate Tuesday night, Dean defended himself by saying he and former President Bill Clinton held the same view on the issue — that the United States must have the trust of both sides to negotiate between the two countries. He repeated that argument during an appearance yesterday on CNN's 'Wolf Blitzer Reports.'"
"'I believe the position that I take on Israel is exactly the position the United States has taken for 54 years,' he said on the show. But he acknowledged that saying there should be an 'evenhanded policy' toward the Israelis and the Palestinians may have been a poor choice of words."
"'I have since learned that is a sensitive word to use in certain communities,' he said. 'So perhaps I could have used a different euphemism. But the fact of the matter is, at the negotiating table, we have to have the trust of both sides.'"
The AP's Ron Fournier reports that from "the Middle East to race, Social Security and campaign finance reform, the former Vermont governor is getting singed by nearly every hot-button issue he touches." LINK
Fournier dissects Dean's Middle East comments: "It was not, by any stretch, an anti-Israel position. But his use of colloquial terms — 'enormous numbers' of settlements that 'have to come out' — was a stark contrast to measured replies most politicians give, and was at one point inconsistent with Dean's long-held position."
"Dean has repeatedly said the first step toward peace is a secure, terror-free Israel and true negotiations cannot begin until then. Aides couldn't explain why he seemed to send the opposite signal in New Mexico."
"In saying the United States can't take sides, Dean is preaching the evenhanded approach that has guided presidential diplomacy for decades. However, with the spate of terrorist attacks in Israel, its supporters are skeptical about any presidential candidate who doesn't come clearly down on Israel's side."
Dean:
K Street In Burlington? The executive producer of the new show, Henry Bean, confirms that several prominent presidential campaigns have been asked about appearing on the likely hit Carville-Matalin-Clooney vehicle.
It's not beyond the realm of possibility that the show may take a trip to Burlington.
At Tuesday's debate, a mock TV crew "interviewed" a K Street actor who recently "joined" the "Dean campaign" as a consultant. Bean wouldn't speculate about story lines, but might they be working on a Dewey Square/firewall arc? Who would be the Whouley character?.
If the K Street crew does go to Burlington, how they would explain the CNN Presents producer following Joe Trippi's every move … is anyone's guess.
The show premiers this Sunday at 10:35 ET.on HBO.
On CNN, Dean was grilled by Middle East uber-journalist Wolf Blitzer:
--Should Israel dismantle settlements? "That's going to be left up to the negotiations between the parties." "The question is, how many … "
--Primacy of Israel in American Middle East diplomacy: "No one is challenging that."
--Targeted assassinations: He favors peace, but "[t]hey [Hamas] are going to be casualties if they are going to make war [against Israel]."
--Expel Arafat? "I wouldn't recommend it because … [he'd] become a martyr."
--"I have called on George Bush formally to swallow his pride and ask Bill Clinton to go to the Middle East."
We reported yesterday that the Dean staff claimed that the candidate's Baltimore debate line about Trent Lott and Martin Luther King was an off-the-cuff candidate creation. The staff has since been alerted to the fact that Dean got in the line from raconteur/party host/television mogul/Democratic strategist James Carville. Our sources, and ourselves, regret the error.
SEIU:
SEIU and campaign sources say that Dean got the most endorsement votes of the conference members, followed by Edwards, then Gephardt.
The Washington Post on SEIU's non-endorsement: LINKA surging John Edwards and a stumbling John Kerry make their way into the AP's lead about SEIU's decision to wait before making an endorsement. LINK
ABC 2004: The Invisible Primary:Cash as cash can? Glen Justice on Terry McAuliffe's contention that Dems fighting for the nomination "should consider opting out of the country's public financing system during the primary season." LINK Roll Call 's Chris Cillizza writes up the efforts of the Gephardt, Kerry, Edwards and Dean campaigns to rally congressional support for their candidacies.
"Most of the Democratic presidential candidates are putting their campaigns on hold for the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, choosing to take part in memorial services or simply staying out of the public spotlight for the day," the AP's Will Lester reports. LINK
"The lone exception was Senator Bob Graham of Florida, who planned to address the Council on Foreign Relations in New York Thursday."
Kerry:
The Boston Globe 's Michael Kranish reports on Senator Kerry's pondering of public financing. LINK
Kranish reports, "Kerry bristled when asked about the possibility that Dean may break the cap, pointing out that Dean had pledged in a letter to the Federal Election Commission that he would abide by the spending cap. The issue prompted Kerry to use some of his strongest language yet about Dean, criticizing the former Vermont governor for changing his positions on a variety of issues."
"'Somebody who wants to be president ought to keep their word,' Kerry said. 'I think it goes to the core of whether you are a different politician or a politician of your word or what you are.'"
The Globe's Joanna Weiss and Christopher Muther watched Kerry and Moby last night. LINK
"[Kerry's] playing could only be described as tentative; Kerry, wearing shirtsleeves and casual pants, kept looking over at his aide, Roger Fisk, and apologized both beforehand and afterward. But his performance was not forced, or at least not as forced as a politician riding in a tank."
Yeeouch.
In his review of the Democrats' Baltimore debate, Michael Kramer of The New York Daily News gets an unnamed Kerry adviser to say that "his man's fund-raising efforts have 'pretty much stalled' in the face of Dean's surge … 'none of us have figured a surefire way to rough him up without hurting ourselves. We'd better think of something pretty fast, though, or it'll be Bush who ends up roughing him up next year." LINK
New Hampshire:
John DiStaso has Kathleen Sullivan warning that candidates who run full-fledged campaigns in DC's "beauty contest" two weeks before New Hampshire's primary risk a "backlash" in the Granite State. LINK
Iowa:
The Des Moines Register 's Tom Beaumont reports on the other campaign's reactions to a new Zogby poll showing Dean in the lead in Iowa. LINKSpin, please: "Gephardt spokesman Erik Smith said he expects Gephardt's labor base to rally as Jan. 19 approaches. 'On caucus day, Democratic union households will overwhelmingly go for Gephardt,' he said."
And more: "Kerry's Iowa spokeswoman, Laura Capps, said other candidates started their ads in Iowa earlier than Kerry. 'We're pleased to be in a solid position with four more months to go before the caucuses,' Capps said."
The AP's Nedra Pickler writes it up too. LINKThe AP' s Mike Glover curtain raises the Harkin steak fry. LINKLieberman:
George Will handicaps Lieberman's chances — and gets in a dig at Dean — in a Washington Post op-ed. LINKJoe vs Howard on Lieberman's home turf:LINK
The Hartford Advocate reports on Dean's growing Meetup effort in Connecticut. "Dean is building a nationwide grass-roots volunteer base through the Meetup structure, a feat unmatched by any of the other challengers to President George W. Bush. Connecticut now boasts four Dean Meetup venues, with West Hartford and New Haven drawing more than 100 volunteers each month."
So what about home state support?
"All of us are very proud of CT Senator Joe Lieberman," the Connecticut for Howard Dean website says. "But this election is not about Joe Lieberman; it is about winning the White House, plain and simple."
Gephardt:
The Gephardt campaign Web site will be different today to honor the 9/11 anniversary. www.dickgephardt2004.com
Gephardt campaign spokeswoman Kathy Roeder said in an email, "To honor the victims of 9/11, we decided to do something special with our web site today. Visitors are asked to share their thoughts, memories and stories of that tragic day."
Edwards:
The Iowa State Daily's Scott Rank reports on Edwards receiving the endorsement of Ashley Bell, president of the College Democrats of America. LINK
Edwards "announced he had received the endorsement of Ashley Bell, president of the College Democrats of America, and announced his agenda for young Americans during a conference call with college newspapers Wednesday," the Iowa State Daily reports. LINK
Clark:
USA Today 's Andrea Stone reports that General Clark's candidacy could attack three candidates on two fronts? Can you guess which ones? LINKA USA Today bio box: LINKThe Christian Science Monitor says McAuliffe is ready for Clark to enter the race. LINK
"I think it would be very good for the democratic party to have a four star general traveling around the country talking about the democratic party, talking about the differences and failures with the Bush administration. I think he is going to make a decision very shortly. If he is in, I would like to see him in obviously by September 25, I would like to see him in our next debate."
ABC 2004: Bush-Cheney re-elect, national security:
President Bush's leadership since September 11, 2001 is major currency for the White House in facing down critics — and not only when talking about national security, the Washington Post 's Mike Allen writes. LINK
" … Bush is invoking the terrorist hijackings frequently as he ramps up his reelection campaign and tries to defuse the political risk posed by persistent joblessness, setbacks in Iraq and accusations that he exaggerated evidence on the road to war."
"In the past six weeks, Bush has cited "9/11" or Sept. 11, 2001, in arguing for his energy policy and in response to questions about campaign fundraising, tax cuts, unemployment, the deficit, airport security, Afghanistan and the length, cost and death toll of the Iraq occupation."
Will there be a backlash? Voters are talking more about the economy than terrorism in recent polls, Allen writes, and support for the troops and the war on terrorism hasn't meant widespread acceptance of the administration's domestic policies. And Democrats (with no sense of irony) argue that Bush is politicizing the issue.
The politics of national security:
Robin Toner says Sunday's White House address has emboldened the Dems to step up on the subject of security. Says Stan Greenberg, "Democrats can engage in a robust debate on security and foreign policy issues and be more than competitive. There's no need to walk in trepidation behind a president who's a wartime leader." LINKBut, says Ed Gillespie, "in their effort to appeal to their hard-core antiwar and anti-President Bush base in their party, are adopting a weak and vacillating foreign policy that will hurt them with their broader electorate."
Congressional Democrats are sensing some weakness for the White House over the president's $87 billion request for Iraq and Afghanistan, and they're trying to exploit a before-unheard of weakness on foreign policy and international issues, the Washington Post 's Juliet Eilperin writes. LINK"Democrats are still shaping their strategy in closed-door meetings, but some lines of attack have emerged. Senator Edward M. Kennedy (Mass.) has drafted an amendment to cut off funds for Iraq and Afghanistan at the end of October if the administration does not tell Congress how it plans to 'win the peace,' Kennedy spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said."
"Some congressional Democrats are citing the $87 billion request as they renew their call to suspend the scheduled tax cuts for upper-income Americans. Rep. Harold E. Ford Jr. (Tenn.) and Rep. John M. Spratt Jr. (S.C.), for example, want to suspend the tax cuts for those earning $1 million or more a year, and Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Del.) is considering a similar plan. 'We have far more unity on this than we've had in a while,' Ford said."
The New York Daily News writes up Terry McAuliffe's assessment that the Iraq war "wont' be an advantage to President Bush's reelection bid." LINK
California recall:
Power hitters Mark Z. Barabak and Michael Finnegan team up to take a must-read look at the Califronia Republican party's fight for its soul. LINK
"Facing a fresh chance to rejuvenate their party, California Republicans are falling into an old habit: feuding over whether they must compromise their conservative principles to elect a Republican governor."
"The question rests at the core of the increasingly intense competition between the two main Republicans left in the recall race, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and state Senator Tom McClintock of Thousand Oaks."
More Barabak/Finnegan: "With the vote less than a month away, most Republicans believe their only hope of beating Bustamante is to quickly get behind a single candidate."
"'I ultimately believe that is the right thing to do, for a Republican to step aside for another one,' said Assemblyman Ray Haynes of Murrieta, who joined McClintock in pushing the recall but remains neutral in the replacement race because he is not convinced that his fellow conservative can win."
"The question then is, who should leave the GOP race? And that, in turn, suggests a larger question: Does victory lie in hewing to undiluted party principles? Or should the faithful compromise on certain bedrock beliefs in pursuit of victory?"
John Wildermuth at the San Francisco Chronicle covers the same ground with a look ahead to the expected "arm-twisting" at this weekend's GOP convention. LINK
"There aren't many people in the party who can call McClintock and persuade him to get out."
"'I'm definitely not making that call,' insisted Sundheim, the party chairman, although he admitted that one Republican candidate is better than two."
"One observer close to the campaign said Schwarzenegger's backers are convinced McClintock will stay in the race."
"'Their strategy now is to co-opt his support,' said the GOP veteran, who asked not to be named. 'There's going to be a lot of meetings and a lot of arm- twisting at the convention.'"
The AP's Tom Chorneau looks ahead to the GOP convention as well. LINKThe Los Angeles Times explores McCliintock's decision to remain in the race to the end. LINK
Jeff Zeleny's crack at the less colorful and publicized replacement candidates. LINK
The recall won't resolve the serious economic crisis facing California and constitutes a serious threat to democracy, according to a group of students at a forum organized by NALEO, La Opinion, and Channel 34 (Univision). LINK
The AP looks at the immigration issue from the other side of the border: LINK
California recall, Arnold:
The Los Angeles Times wrapup of Schwarzenegger's education summit in San Jose: LINK
"After a nearly two-hour meeting with the 24-member panel, which is chaired by former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, Schwarzenegger told reporters that he wanted to reduce federal and state involvement in education and return more 'local control' to the schools."
Mr. Schwarzenegger also received an endorsement from his mother-in-law, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who was a member of the education panel.
Dion Nissenbaum of the San Jose Mercury News leads his story with Arnold's opposition to vouchers. LINKSchwarzenegger entered the "No spin zone" on O'Reilly yesterday. ABC News' Schifrin reports not much news was made during the interview, although Arnold hinted at one of his main strategies to deal with illegal immigration were he to win: convince other border-state governors to unite and actively lobby the the federal government for help.
Here's the transcript to the interview: LINKVariety reports on Schwarzenegger's efforts to woo Hollywood dollars.
"On Sunday, Schwarzenegger will appear at his first fundraiser targeted at Hollywood donors."
"The event, hosted by Jim Belushi, who got to know the candidate when they co-starred in 1988's 'Red Heat,' will take place at a private home in Santa Monica."
"A rep for Belushi described the gathering as 'a small garden party.'
The actor/gubernatorial candidate has collected $4 million thus far. LINKMickey Kaus in Slate traveled "all the way to Beverly Hills' Museum of Television and Radio" to fill his readers in on many things Arnold, including a sham-my home improvement operation he spoke of during a 1981 Tonight Show appearance. LINK You gotta read this for yourselves, folks … including the response from the Schwarzenegger camp's Rob Stutzman.
California recall, the governor and his guests:
As soon as Bill Clinton finishes his fried steak in Iowa he will be heading West to rally the faithful against the recall.
Jim Puzzanghera of the San Jose Mercury News explores the impact. LINK"Clinton will make a long-awaited campaign appearance with the embattled Davis at the First AME Church in South-Central Los Angeles in hopes of firing up the Democratic Party's core supporters to defeat the recall and save Davis' job."
"Although he has been out of office for more than 2 1/2 years, Clinton is arguably still the most popular figure in the Democratic Party. His appearance with Davis and a strong condemnation of the recall could help defeat it, said Leon Panetta, the former Monterey congressman who served as Clinton's White House chief of staff."
"'He made a point of focusing on California during the time he was president, and I think Californians have not forgotten,' Panetta said of Clinton, who visited the state 56 times during his eight years in the White House — an average of once every seven weeks."
The Schwarzenegger camp appears unfazed.
"Rob Stutzman, a spokesman for Republican gubernatorial candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger, said Clinton won't help Davis. 'For every hard-core Clinton-lover in the Democrat Party he energizes, he has an equal and opposite reaction with a Republican who can't stand him,' he said. 'It's a net zero.'"
The AP wonders whether former President Clinton's support of Gray Davis can bring national credibility to the recall election: LINKJohn Kerry's coming West too, so says the Boston Globe 's Glen Johnson. LINK
"Kerry, a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, will appear with Davis Wednesday in Los Angeles amid a two-day fund-raising swing through California. The two will tour New Directions, a homeless/jobless training center."
The Gray Davis stop on the California campaign trail will likely prove irresistable for all those presidential hopefuls swooping into the Golden State for some end of the quarter cash.
Three days after making comments about Arnold Schwarzenegger's pronunciation of 'California,' Governor Davis apologized. LINK"'It was a poor joke, I shouldn't have done it,' he said. 'If people want to hear me apologize, I apologize for it. … This was not a public remark. But if people find it offensive, then I want them to know that I am apologizing because my whole governorship has been reaching out, including people, offering them opportunity, because I think that is the path to a stronger California. … '"
The Clintons of Chappaqua:
It's like a day without speculation over whether Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) will run for President is like a day without sunshine. Page Six steps up today. LINK