RON AND JOHN
By Bob Schmidt, Capitol Morning Report
John Burton and Ron Nehring, respective chairmen of the California Democratic and Republican Parties, kept 101 luncheon guests of the Sacramento Press Club entertained for nearly an hour Tuesday as they gave their takes on the 2010 election campaigns.
Even before they spoke, you knew they couldn't agree on much. Burton: the canny elder, dressed casually in a bright yellow sport shirt hanging outside his pants. Nehring: the earnest advocate, attired formally in blue suit, white shirt and tie.
Burton gave the first of their five minute openings and used it in part to recall how good things were back in the late 1970s and early 80s when the current Democratic gubernatorial candidate, AG Jerry Brown, served his first two terms as governor. Among other things, Burton pointed to fees students pay for public higher education and how precipitously they have risen since the first era of Brown.
Burton also praised Brown for seeking 11 debates with Republican candidate Meg Whitman, who so far has agreed to only one. In the other big race, incumbent US Sen. Barbara Boxer against Republican Carly Fiorina, Burton attacked Fiorina's record as head of Hewlett Packard and said she was guilty of "shipping jobs overseas"
Nehring initially said relatively little of Brown and Boxer, instead praising the two "dynamic women" on the Republican side. Mostly, he spoke of what he called a "Republican resurgence" across the land, including the recent Sam Blakeslee win in SD 15. And he recalled how Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had come to the GOP state convention in 2006 and had told the Republicans to change their ways, that the party was "dying on the vine." Said Nehring with a small grin "What a difference."
What to expect from the opposing sides? From Democrats, Burton said, Whitman's huge campaign spending budget, her failure to accumulate much of a voting record in previous California elections, and her apparent reluctance to debate Brown would be prominently mentioned.
Speaking of Whitman's deep pockets, Burton said her wealth made his job harder than Nehring's. "I have to raise money. He doesn't," Burton said.
Nehring said, California voters would be reminded frequently of the Washington records compiled by President Barack Obama, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Asked why voters should pay attention to either party leader since California's fiscal and social problems continue to deteriorate no matter which party controls the Legislature or the governor's office, Burton responded that the two-thirds vote requirement to pass revenue bills was a continuing roadblock.
"You can't govern if you need a super-majority to go to the bathroom," he said.
Nehring said voters would see accomplishment if they sent Whitman to the governor's office along with a full slate of Republicans in other executive offices.
"Gov. Schwarzenegger has been frustrated because the controller, his chief financial officer, is Democrat John Chiang," and every time the governor makes a proposal the controller says "No, I'm not going to do that."
In response to a question about Propositions 20 and 27, both involving responsibility for reapportionment, it appeared that the parties would take opposing positions.
Proposition 20, which would create a commission to draw district lines every 10 years, will be challenged successfully in court, Burton predicted. "How are they going to find 11 people qualified to do that?" he asked. "All of the people who have indicated they're willing to serve look like me (white and male)," he said.
Nehring didn't clearly say the position Republicans would take on Proposition 20, but he left no doubt that the party would oppose Proposition 27, which would give the redistricting responsibility back to the Legislature.
"Show me one legislator, one term-limited legislator, who would not be delighted at the opportunity to draw a congressional district for himself or herself," he said.
Nehring said the Democratic leaders in Washington - Obama, Reid, and Pelosi, - "have pulled the party so far to the left that the polls show they are being rejected by Democratic voters." "President Obama's approval rating has fallen farther, faster, than any president's in history," he said. "We thank the three of them for setting the November table for us. We're going to be constantly on offense to take advantage of the opportunity they have provided."
Burton predicted that Brown would defeat Whitman and Boxer would defeat Fiorina. "Voters aren't going to let Meg Whitman buy this election," he said, "and it's absolutely astounding that Barbara Boxer, who hardly campaigned, got more votes in the June primary than the two Republican candidates combined, each of whom campaigned vigorously."
Both Burton and Nehring agreed that if the current budget negotiations fail to reach agreement by the July 1 Constitutional deadline, it will have no effect on the November campaigns.
Contact: Schmidt
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