WEB WARS

CYBERSQUATTING?
The fight over California’s energy future is fast becoming the hottest measure on the ballot with supporters and foes of Proposition 87 about to battle it out in court. The so-called oil tax is now sparking accusations of cyberfraud, with the “No on 87″ campaign filing suit against what they say are illegal and deceptive guerilla tactics by the other side.

“Agents for Prop 87 bought up a number of Web sites that you would expect to be related to our Proposition – no on 87.com”, explains “No on 87″ spokesman Scott Macdonald. “And then they redirected most of those to their Web site”.

Check it out for yourself in this link noon87.comand you’ll see how the address magicly transforms itself to the Yes on 87 side. Macdonald says Prop 87 organizers have hijacked up to half a dozen potential sites and that voters are being mislead.

NO APOLOGIES, NO SURRENDER
The California Clean Energy Initiative folks are defiant about taking over the Web sites. “We want to talk about the truth too,” says “Yes on 87″ spokeswoman Karen Skelton. “And the truth of the matter on this campaign is five oil companies have already put in $30 million dollars to crush us,” adds Skelton.

FOOTPRINTS
The in-your-face campaign tactics have the signature of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights , a key supporter of Prop 87 and a group that will do almost anything to get attention, including holding unauthorized press conferences at the State Capitol with the intent of getting kicked out while the cameras are rolling (NBC-11 News Photographer Mykie Vang captured it on tape when FTCP President Jamie Court pulled that stunt earlier this year.)

As for Prop 87, Court wrote a letter to oil company executives saying there will be no surrender of the Web sites unless they agree to stop usuing the name “Californians Against Higher Taxes” and admit to bankrolling the No on 87 campaign.

LEGAL FIGHT
The battle now moves to Alameda County Superior Court where the No on 87 folks are hoping a judge will free up the pirated Web sites. In November, voters will decide if the $4 billion dollar oil tax in California will truly help spur development of alternative energy sources or backfire by making us more dependent on foreign oil.

SEEING PINK OVER THE WAR IN IRAQ

DEFENDING THE GUARD
Republicans are seeing red over Code Pink’s support of an Assembly Resolution (AJR 36) to pull California’s National Guard out of Iraq immediately. Code Pink is a California based group of primarily female peace activists. They rallied on the south steps of the Capitol this week urging California’s 2000 troops to come home now.

THE BERKELEY CONNECTION
Assemblywoman Loni Hancock (D) Berkeley is the author of the resolution directing Congress and President Bush to send the California National Guard back home. “We’re going into fire season in California this fall,” said Hancock. She added, “We need them right here protecting our state.”

WAVING THE WHITE FLAG?
Republicans reacted by accusing liberal Democrats of “waving the white flag of surrender to a barberic and dangerous enemy”, according to Assemblyman Chuck Devore of Irvine. Devore, a Lt. Colonel in the California National Guard, is incensed that peace activists would try to pull the plug on the Guard in the wake of last week’s alleged terror plot to blow up airplanes.

“Keep in mind,” said Devore, “this resolution was introduced the same day that our homeland defense and foreign allies foiled a large-scale terrorist attack, which illustrates that Democrats are out of touch with the significant role the war on terror plays in the survival of America.”

THE OUTCOME
Democrats needed five votes to pass the resolution out of the Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee, but could muster only three, with two of those votes coming from Bay Area lawmakers Joe Nation and Noreen Evans. Bay Area Assemblyman Joe Canciamilla was absent for the vote. The resolution is still up for reconsideration, but time is running out for the Democrats, who must act before August 31st, when the current legislative session ends.

THE DEBATE OVER THE DEBATE

CAN WE TALK?
The animosity between the Arnold Schwarzenegger campaign and the Phil Angelides camp is so strong, the two sides will fight on anything – including the number of debates between the two candidates. The Californians for Schwarzenegger are holding firm so far to just one debate, while the Angelides team wants multiple debates between now and Election Day.

DEMS DIG IN
Bob Mullholland, Senior Consultant to Phil Angelides tells Capitol Insider, “If Schwarzenegger’s mentor Bush can do 3 debates, why can’t his boy Arnie do 3-plus debates? It’s a lot of hot air from Schwarzenegger and I don’t think its fair to the voters.”

REPUBLICANS RESPOND
The Governor’s Re-election Communications Director Katie Levinson says, “The Governor looks forward to debating Phil Angelides in the fall and the opportunity to contrast his bold and optimistic vision for continuing to move the the state forward with Mr. Angelides $18 billion tax hike.”

WAR OF SEMANTICS

LANGUAGE BARRIERS
Did you ever wonder if Democrats and Republicans are speaking the same language?
Take a look at how the two parties are describing the exact same bills in totally different ways:

GLOBAL WARMING
The Democrats describe Assembly Bill 32 as “groundbreaking” because it would establish a tracking system and cap on greenhouse gases that produce global warming. Republicans call AB 32 a “job killer” that would increase costs for California businesses. Either way, the bill faces a tough challenge before the Senate Appropriations Committee.

EDUCATION
Democrats want to give L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa more control over public schools in Los Angeles. They call AB 1381 a “reform” measure that “helps implement an accountability structure…to improve school performance in the nation’s second largest district.” Republicans see the same bill as a sweetheart agreement between the Democrats and the teachers’ unions.

LOOKING AHEAD
Antonio Villaraigosa’s name is often mentioned around the Capitol. Political insiders see the charismatic L.A. Mayor as a leading Democratic contender for Governor in 2010, should Phil Angelides fall short in his bid to unseat Arnold Schwarzenegger this November.

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DOWN-TICKET DEMS

DONKEY POWER
The latest Field Poll shows Democrats taking big leads in the campaign for Lt. Governor, Attorney General and State Treasurer and other so called “down-ticket” races – meaning everything below the Governor’s race. So why is Phil Angelides still behind Arnold Schwarzenegger in the polls?

PHIL’S UPHILL FIGHT
“We’re the underdog,” admits Cathy Calfo, campaign manager for Phil Angelides. Calfo tells Capitol Insider that all the other Democrats in statewide races are better known than their Republican opponents – unlike the Governor’s race where Arnold Schwarzenegger enjoys 100% name recognition. Calfo says, “This is a campaign about California’s future and when voters know more about who Phil Angelides is and what he stands for and how hard he’ll fight for California families, his numbers in the polls will rise.”

ARNOLD’S ARMY
In response, Matt David, the Schwarzenegger campaign’s deputy communications director says, “What you are seeing is that Phil Angelides’ pessimistic message is not motivating his base.” David adds that Angelides is “underperforming among Democrats” and “his recycled policies are having an impact on his numbers.” But far from being overconfident, the Schwarzenegger team is predicting the race for Governor is very likely to tighten up as we get closer to election day.

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