Ah-nuld for Gov

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Arnold Schwartzeneggar(sic?) has thrown his hat into the ring and various other political cliches. The Terminator is running for Governer of the great and wacky state of California. Who's gonna be his running mate, Scott Baio?

Well, friends ("Graduation March" cued up) I suppose you're all wondering what I, Taboo #7 will do. Can I sit back and just allow California politics to be littered with the remenants of once-was movie stars and nutjob millionaire hacks? Can I honestly look you in the face and say, "Please pass the remote" while millions cry? Can I look in the mirror and still see honor in a face so wracked with anger over the tide of Anaheim Angels Rally Monkeys ravaging the great state of Cali?........No, I cannot, and I will not.........and so, my friends (rising crescendo) I am here to announce that I will seek the Governer's seat of California!

I do not expect this to be an easy campaign, or a hard one. The most my enemies on the far right/left/center can hold against me is that I have never been to the West Coast. My high-profile animal molestation case was settled out-of-court in Kentucky, where the judge agreed that the goat in question was "mighty purdy!" And my video rental history at Blockbuster should NOT be a campaign issue. No, friends, I see no reason why I, your humble and oh-so-to-the-point Taboo #7, beloved by all and hated by none, should not seek the position of Gubner of the grate staight of Kalephorneia........

The "Trevor Seigler for Gov." Party will cross all political divides: We will accept anyone....so long as they have money, power, and don't mind leaving their farm animals alone with me in my campaign headquarters (Holiday Inn, just off the Interstate, Reseda). I run not to curry favor with the establishment (though that would be nice), I run not to endorse the policies of the current national administration (but just to be safe I'll say I am. Otherwise I might be labeled a terrorist), I run not out of spite for my enemies (though they will be the first to suffer when I introduce the "re-education" camps in Bakersfield and Fresno), nor to seek the approval of Hollywood (Spielberg and Warner Bros. won't return my phone calls). No, I run because.......because I don't have anything better to do until school starts back on the 25th!

So, ladies and gentlemen, when you go into that voting booth on the 7th of October (two days before my birthday--how can I lose?!), remember: I'm Trevor Seigler AKA Taboo #7, I don't know shit about California, but I'm bored! (where else would you get that honesty? From Ah-nuld? Huffington?)

GOD BLESS AMERICA, LITTLE BABIES, APPLE PIE, "GESTAPO" ASHCROFT, AND FRENCH...ERM, "LIBERTY" TOAST! THANK YOU AND GOODNIGHT!

Less publicity, but also entering, or thinking of entering the race are Gary "Whu'ch'you talkin' bout Willis" Coleman and the watermellon-destroying comedian Gallagher.

It's the Us Weekly-ization of America, where we -- and they themselves -- think that movie/tv stars are somehow qualified leaders.

Originally posted by Thief Like Me Less publicity, but also entering, or thinking of entering the race are Gary "Whu'ch'you talkin' bout Willis" Coleman and the watermellon-destroying comedian Gallagher. It's the Us Weekly-ization of America, where we -- and they themselves -- think that movie/tv stars are somehow qualified leaders.

Case in point: Ronnie "Gipper" Reagan (Pres 1981-1989)

Originally posted by Taboo # 7 > Originally posted by Thief Like Me> Less publicity, but also entering, or thinking of entering the race are Gary "Whu'ch'you talkin' bout Willis" Coleman and the watermellon-destroying comedian Gallagher. > > It's the Us Weekly-ization of America, where we -- and they themselves -- think that movie/tv stars are somehow qualified leaders.

Case in point: Ronnie "Gipper" Reagan (Pres 1981-1989)

Easy there, Trev.......

:)

I'm so proud of my state of California, the only qualified candidate dropping out (Feinstein), Coleman, Flynt, a porn star, Huffington v. Huffington, Davis, Issa whom everyone has already forgotten, Bill Simon, maybe Riordan, and my choice Arnold Schwarzenegger; to me this seems like a weird episode of Hollywood Squares

Originally posted by Taboo # 7 > Originally posted by Thief Like Me> Less publicity, but also entering, or thinking of entering the race are Gary "Whu'ch'you talkin' bout Willis" Coleman and the watermellon-destroying comedian Gallagher. > > It's the Us Weekly-ization of America, where we -- and they themselves -- think that movie/tv stars are somehow qualified leaders.

Case in point: Ronnie "Gipper" Reagan (Pres 1981-1989) Reagan was our best president since FDR

Yeah, everyone knows that only politicians are qualified to become politicians.

I for one don't miss the Berlin Wall one bit. Thanks Gipper.

(NOOL) HARD TIMES HIT AMATEUR POLITICAL HUMORISTS ONLINE Simple Mentions of Ronald Reagan No Longer Guaranteed Laugh, Poster Says

Originally posted by Gnu Odor Yeah, everyone knows that only politicians are qualified to become politicians.I for one don't miss the Berlin Wall one bit. Thanks Gipper.(NOOL) HARD TIMES HIT AMATEUR POLITICAL HUMORISTS ONLINE Simple Mentions of Ronald Reagan No Longer Guaranteed Laugh, Poster Says

Ronnie had his good points, to be sure...........damned if I can remember any, though :D

The best president since FDR? That's easy: Gerald Ford!

You need to retire from politics and get to work on that personals ad.

We love you, Trevor...just not in that way.

Originally posted by Gnu Odor You need to retire from politics and get to work on that personals ad.We love you, Trevor...just not in that way.

it's offical, Gary Coleman's in the race as well! Damn, I could never beat a midget in a general election.....well, it was fun while it lasted, but I have decided to withdraw from the recall election and get back to what I do best: making an ass out of myself. I'd like to think all the campaign volunteers, I know they all took valuable time out of their lives to help my canidacy, but I feel it's in my best interest to withdraw. I realize now what I didn't when I delcared my canidacy not even an hour ago: I won't be able to respond when Mr. Coleman asks me that one important question destined to define the campaign....."What you talkin' 'bout, Willis?"

again, I want to think all of you who devoted so much to my campaign, and all I can offer you is some words of wisdom I learned long ago...."They're come to take me away, ho-ho. They're coming to take me away, ha-ha."

I VILL TERMINATE ALL OPPONENTS UF AH-NULD.

Gary Coleman...you puny wimp...you're next.

Originally posted by Gnu Odor I VILL TERMINATE ALL OPPONENTS UF AH-NULD.Gary Coleman...you puny wimp...you're next.

You are going to have to kill Gallagher as well

Originally posted by Taboo # 7 > Originally posted by Thief Like Me> Less publicity, but also entering, or thinking of entering the race are Gary "Whu'ch'you talkin' bout Willis" Coleman and the watermellon-destroying comedian Gallagher. > > It's the Us Weekly-ization of America, where we -- and they themselves -- think that movie/tv stars are somehow qualified leaders.

Case in point: Ronnie "Gipper" Reagan (Pres 1981-1989)

don't forget he was also an ex-california gov.

i for one wish Pete Wilson was still the man in the chair. he was the genius behind prop-"kick-the-mexican's-out-and-refuse-any-non-citizen-healthcare-so-they-can-die-in-our-streets"

i can't figure out if that one was worse than Ronnies big prop that fucked the property tax laws up, depleting the funding for public schools, while simultaneously easing the tax burdens of all land owners. can i get a woot-woot?!?

Goddamnit...must withhold opinion...

Originally posted by Gnu Odor Goddamnit...must withhold opinion...

don't w/hold it, let it out

Originally posted by Taboo # 7

Ronnie had his good points, to be sure...........damned if I can remember any, though :D

I'm sure he can't remember them either. :D

yeah, but i am sure nancy has seen 'em all come out... in to his bed pan.

Reagan was an ass. The Berlin Wall fell because the Soviets were willing to loosen up, not because the Gip was threatening them with "Evil Empire" status (thus bringing Christian morality into the realm of politics). Big deficits are fun, high taxes are fun, tax breaks for the wealthiest portion of society are fun.

yeah... you know what else is fun? wearing dark brown pants, so no one can tell if you shit yourself in public. :D

poor gorbachev, having to sit so close to ronnie and his poopie-pants all the time.

Originally posted by Sean Taugher yeah... you know what else is fun? wearing dark brown pants, so no one can tell if you shit yourself in public. :Dpoor gorbachev, having to sit so close to ronnie and his poopie-pants all the time.

I just hope you get Alzheimer's one day

i hope you lighten up one day

Comedy Rule No. 1 - Alzheimer's = Sure-Fire Laff Chuckle

"Way more funny than breast cancer!" - Joe Maudlin, New Comedy Review

Fuck this...any of you who has had to deal with an Alzheimer's patient, raise your hand.

Didn't think so.

Fuck off.

My great-grandmother had Alzheimer's, so I guess I'll raise my hand....this thread has taken a nasty turn, I merely meant to mock the debacle that is California politics. I'll quit cracking on Ronnie, just so we can get away from these harsh words. Alright?...

Anyway, I changed my mind, the race is back on....I'll be running on a platform of "More Guns for Our Children!"

Originally posted by Tristan Jayol I'm so proud of my state of California, the only qualified candidate dropping out (Feinstein), Coleman, Flynt, a porn star, Huffington v. Huffington, Davis, Issa whom everyone has already forgotten, Bill Simon, maybe Riordan, and my choice Arnold Schwarzenegger; to me this seems like a weird episode of Hollywood Squares

If I lived in California, which I don't, since the farthest west I've been was Chicago, I'd vote for Flynt. Why? I dunno, but, who knows, he'll probably be a better leader than any of the above. But, hey, I live in a state where Tom Ridge and Rick Santorom (sic?) were both governors at one point.

Originally posted by Tristan Jayol I'm so proud of my state of California, the only qualified candidate dropping out (Feinstein), Coleman, Flynt, a porn star, Huffington v. Huffington, Davis, Issa whom everyone has already forgotten, Bill Simon, maybe Riordan, and my choice Arnold Schwarzenegger; to me this seems like a weird episode of Hollywood Squares

If I lived in California, which I don't, since the farthest west I've been was Chicago, I'd vote for Flynt. Why? I dunno, but, who knows, he'll probably be a better leader than any of the above. But, hey, I live in a state where Tom Ridge and Rick Santorom (sic?) were both governors at one point.

Originally posted by Who is this man that follows me? > Originally posted by Tristan Jayol> I'm so proud of my state of California, the only qualified candidate dropping out (Feinstein), Coleman, Flynt, a porn star, Huffington v. Huffington, Davis, Issa whom everyone has already forgotten, Bill Simon, maybe Riordan, and my choice Arnold Schwarzenegger; to me this seems like a weird episode of Hollywood Squares

If I lived in California, which I don't, since the farthest west I've been was Chicago, I'd vote for Flynt. Why? I dunno, but, who knows, he'll probably be a better leader than any of the above. But, hey, I live in a state where Tom Ridge and Rick Santorom (sic?) were both governors at one point. i love the smut peddler who cares, porno and gambling for all Californians, huzzah

Heck, Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys ran for mayor in SF and came in a respectable 4th, so nothing much surprises me anymore. Purely in the interest of research, of course, I found part of the platform of the porn star, Mary Carey. Naked jumping jacks?

That's right, Mary Carey is trying to throw her hat into the California governors race. She is pledging to make lap dances tax deductible, start taxing breast implants to generate revenue, and hiring porn stars to negotiate the states electricity prices. She also wants to create a Porno for Pistols program to reduce violence in California. Under the plan, gun owners could swap their weapons for X-rated movies. But JJ1 has a better reason to vote for Mary. She would be the first governor to do naked jumping jacks. Put that on your resume Dianne Feinstein

Originally posted by Gnu Odor Fuck this...any of you who has had to deal with an Alzheimer's patient, raise your hand.Didn't think so.Fuck off.I admire the comedy here but may i just point out at the tender age of 54 my mother got this awful ZOMBIE illness that is called ALZEIMERS (sorry for spelling).It took 14 years before she died.WORST thing i have ever witnessed and this more than anything made me MAD MICK as they call me in CHORLEY.This is what life is all about ,learning to cope with tragedy and adversity aswll as the great times(your son's being born or eating WALKERS CRISP with a ).But carry on joking ,i know i do.But sometimes we all may hit someone elses LOW spot.I apologize to all those that i have done this in the past but will carry on making BLUFFS,GAFFS and INSANE comments.Now you may forgive me just a little.Rocket Mick

I apologize sincerely for my outburst earlier, which came at the end of a day which included walking up to my house after work to find my children crying in the front yard and and ambulance parked out front. You know what they say about comedy and timing, right?

Again, sorry. Now back to the program already in progress.

Originally posted by His Holiness, The Pope Reagan was an ass. The Berlin Wall fell because the Soviets were willing to loosen up, not because the Gip was threatening them with "Evil Empire" status (thus bringing Christian morality into the realm of politics).

I enjoy your posts, David, but if you're going to quote passages directly from you American public high school textbook, at the very least use quotation marks.

After much consoltation with my campaign manager (David Lee Roth) and my spouse (Charro), I have decided once again to withdraw my name from the recall election, as I fear my past as an ex-CIA bananna salesman in the Philippines might come back to haunt me. :(

Originally posted by Gnu Odor I apologize sincerely for my outburst earlier, which came at the end of a day which included walking up to my house after work to find my children crying in the front yard and and ambulance parked out front. You know what they say about comedy and timing, right?Again, sorry. Now back to the program already in progress.> Originally posted by His Holiness, The Pope> Reagan was an ass. The Berlin Wall fell because the Soviets were willing to loosen up, not because the Gip was threatening them with "Evil Empire" status (thus bringing Christian morality into the realm of politics).

I enjoy your posts, David, but if you're going to quote passages directly from you American public high school textbook, at the very least use quotation marks.

Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm afraid that was all me. I'm sure I've read it somewhere long ago, but I've read nothing recently inolving Reagan and there was nothing sitting in front of me when I wrote it. And while I'm on the subject, if I were a typical American public high school student I would need a textbook just to know who Ronald Reagan was.

Originally posted by Taboo # 7 After much consoltation with my campaign manager (David Lee Roth) and my spouse (Charro), I have decided once again to withdraw my name from the recall election, as I fear my past as an ex-CIA bananna salesman in the Philippines might come back to haunt me. :(

I'm sorry to bring it to you this way, but I've sleeping with Charro for six months now, that's why she has always been leaving her Arizona home to drive to California every weekend, also the van Halens were planning to fire bomb your house earlier, but Sammy Hagar prevented this tragedy with some of his homemade tequila. Finally Imelda Marcos wants the shoes you took from her (you perfectly know which pair)

Originally posted by Tristan Jayol > Originally posted by Taboo # 7> After much consoltation with my campaign manager (David Lee Roth) and my spouse (Charro), I have decided once again to withdraw my name from the recall election, as I fear my past as an ex-CIA bananna salesman in the Philippines might come back to haunt me. :(

I'm sorry to bring it to you this way, but I've sleeping with Charro for six months now, that's why she has always been leaving her Arizona home to drive to California every weekend, also the van Halens were planning to fire bomb your house earlier, but Sammy Hagar prevented this tragedy with some of his homemade tequila. Finally Imelda Marcos wants the shoes you took from her (you perfectly know which pair)

I spoke too soon!...The National Midget-Tossers Union has thrown their weight behind me (no pun intended). Seeing as N.M.T.U. are the most powerful midget-tossing union in California, I can expect a lot of badgering and vote-buying on my behalf, so I'm back in.

My new campaign slogan: "Get Kids Hooked on Drugs, not Phonics!"

Originally posted by Taboo # 7 > Originally posted by Tristan Jayol> > > > Originally posted by Taboo # 7> > After much consoltation with my campaign manager (David Lee Roth) and my spouse (Charro), I have decided once again to withdraw my name from the recall election, as I fear my past as an ex-CIA bananna salesman in the Philippines might come back to haunt me. :(>

I'm sorry to bring it to you this way, but I've sleeping with Charro for six months now, that's why she has always been leaving her Arizona home to drive to California every weekend, also the van Halens were planning to fire bomb your house earlier, but Sammy Hagar prevented this tragedy with some of his homemade tequila. Finally Imelda Marcos wants the shoes you took from her (you perfectly know which pair)

I spoke too soon!...The National Midget-Tossers Union has thrown their weight behind me (no pun intended). Seeing as N.M.T.U. are the most powerful midget-tossing union in California, I can expect a lot of badgering and vote-buying on my behalf, so I'm back in.

My new campaign slogan: "Get Kids Hooked on Drugs, not Phonics!" If the state would legalize marijuana and tax the hell out of it, y not?

but marijuana isn't a chemically addictive substance...

Originally posted by Tristan Jayol I'm so proud of my state of California, the only qualified candidate dropping out (Feinstein), Coleman, Flynt, a porn star, Huffington v. Huffington, Davis, Issa whom everyone has already forgotten, Bill Simon, maybe Riordan, and my choice Arnold Schwarzenegger; to me this seems like a weird episode of Hollywood Squares

Best moment of the campaign so far: That chump Issa breaking down in tears as he announced he would not be running. Another SoCal millionaire thinking he can buy his way into office. And he got blown out of the water. And cried about it, on camera. Chump.

Love it

CALIFORNIA, UBER ALLES!!!!!!!!!!

WTF is going on there??? Did someone from Florida bribe the California???

Personally, I hope Gray out loses so badly he considers suicide. Well, not that extreme.

As for the Berlin Wall, El Gipper initiated the arms race that bankrupted the USSR. He stood up to the Commie bastards and and reversed the US image of being a bunch of pussies. I remember this quite clearly. i protested him when I was a young college student. My SS card (social security) says "Contras suck".

But in retrospect, Democrats tend to fuck things up. Clinton spent his two terms covering up his penis stains and the money his wife stole. BTW, Hillary has a penis.

So Gray Davis cannot keep the power on and social welfare hand outs running at all time highs. Yep, as a land owner I too would boot his ass out of office. recalls should occur more often.

people get the government they deserve. They have the right to recall them. Assasination is how they do it overseas.

Originally posted by twist So Gray Davis cannot keep the power on and social welfare hand outs running at all time highs. Yep, as a land owner I too would boot his ass out of office. recalls should occur more often.people get the government they deserve. They have the right to recall them.

Gray Davis can't keep the power on because the California Legislature, which was controlled by the Republican party, passed an energy deregulation bill, which led directly and almost immediately to California's energy crisis.

Therefore, if California's energy crisis is a legitimate campaign issue, the Republicans in the Legislature who voted for deregulation are the ones who should be up for recall, not Davis, who wasn't even in office when the deregulation bill was passed.

Personally, of the 87 front runners in the recall campaign, I kinda like this Dave Grayvis guy who's running.

Originally posted by bLuE oRdEr > Originally posted by twist> So Gray Davis cannot keep the power on and social welfare hand outs running at all time highs. Yep, as a land owner I too would boot his ass out of office. recalls should occur more often.> > people get the government they deserve. They have the right to recall them.

Gray Davis can't keep the power on because the California Legislature, which was controlled by the Republican party, passed an energy deregulation bill, which led directly and almost immediately to California's energy crisis.

Therefore, if California's energy crisis is a legitimate campaign issue, the Republicans in the Legislature who voted for deregulation are the ones who should be up for recall, not Davis, who wasn't even in office when the deregulation bill was passed.

Personally, of the 87 front runners in the recall campaign, I kinda like this Dave Grayvis guy who's running.

The power deregulation bill did not work for the sole reason for the lack of new power plants (forcing the lack of competition and allowed for price gouging) built largely due to unnecessary environmental concerns. So liberal stubbornness prevented the Republican bill to function as predicted

And they didn't know this when they made their "predictions"? What a bunch of morons.

Originally posted by bLuE oRdEr And they didn't know this when they made their "predictions"? What a bunch of morons.

how should someone know that Californians prefer clean deserts and empty land instead of having power to their appliances

Are you suggesting that the Republicans who rammed that bill through had no idea how many power plants California had AT THE TIME THAT THEY WROTE THE BILL? Or how many power plants California would need to make deregulation work? If so, what a bunch of morons.

BTW, I'm just going with your line of reasoning here. I really think your environmental argument is a red herring. It totally ignores that actual facts of what happened.

And it totally ignores the fact that at least some Republicans are blaming Gray Davis for the energy crisis.

Originally posted by bLuE oRdEr Are you suggesting that the Republicans who rammed that bill through had no idea how many power plants California had AT THE TIME THAT THEY WROTE THE BILL? Or how many power plants California would need to make deregulation work? If so, what a bunch of morons.BTW, I'm just going with your line of reasoning here. I really think your environmental argument is a red herring. It totally ignores that actual facts of what happened.

The sole basis of the bill was to deregulate power so that competition between companies to service california would drive power prices much lower, instead the lack of new plants to match the surge in demand for power in california in past years has allowed the few companies that provide power to california to raise prices much higher because of much higher demand in the past few years

And you're saying the California Republicans didn't know anything at all about California's energy infrastucture when they wrote that bill?

Originally posted by bLuE oRdEr And you're saying the California Republicans didn't know anything at all about California's energy infrastucture when they wrote that bill?

I am saying that with our highly unnecessary environmental concerns, companies did not come and build power plants in California, which left our power supply very low compared to the great demand, so prices went up. I am sure that the Republicans could have put measures to bolster the move of power companies to build plants here, but the growing demand was unforseen, and was the CA legislature dominated by Republicans in 96, I'm not sure, but i don't think so.

Originally posted by Tristan Jayol > Originally posted by bLuE oRdEr> And you're saying the California Republicans didn't know anything at all about California's energy infrastucture when they wrote that bill?

I am saying that with our highly unnecessary environmental concerns, companies did not come and build power plants in California, which left our power supply very low compared to the great demand, so prices went up. I am sure that the Republicans could have put measures to bolster the move of power companies to build plants here, but the growing demand was unforseen, and was the CA legislature dominated by Republicans in 96, I'm not sure, but i don't think so.

I wouldnt put all the blame on the environmentalists for this one.. theres more than just ecoweeners on the NIMBY bandwagon. its everyone in the state. WE NEED MORE POWERPLANTS. 'how about in your county?' NO FRIGGIN WAY. its the same thing with funding for schools, prisons, etc.

and remember enron? they were energy brokers who were supposed to be filling the gap that was due to us not having enough power plants. unfortunately, they were more interested in gouging the shit out of us instead and manufacturing fake crises to limit supply.

admittedly, grey davis didnt do anything to stop deregulation in 96, but the president didnt do squat to help us out either when his texas buddies were making record profits.

Originally posted by we be scrubbins > Originally posted by Tristan Jayol> > > > Originally posted by bLuE oRdEr> > And you're saying the California Republicans didn't know anything at all about California's energy infrastucture when they wrote that bill?>

I am saying that with our highly unnecessary environmental concerns, companies did not come and build power plants in California, which left our power supply very low compared to the great demand, so prices went up. I am sure that the Republicans could have put measures to bolster the move of power companies to build plants here, but the growing demand was unforseen, and was the CA legislature dominated by Republicans in 96, I'm not sure, but i don't think so.

I wouldnt put all the blame on the environmentalists for this one.. theres more than just ecoweeners on the NIMBY bandwagon. its everyone in the state. WE NEED MORE POWERPLANTS. 'how about in your county?' NO FRIGGIN WAY. its the same thing with funding for schools, prisons, etc.

and remember enron? they were energy brokers who were supposed to be filling the gap that was due to us not having enough power plants. unfortunately, they were more interested in gouging the shit out of us instead and manufacturing fake crises to limit supply.

admittedly, grey davis didnt do anything to stop deregulation in 96, but the president didnt do squat to help us out either when his texas buddies were making record profits.

It was Pete Wilson who was governor in 96; he signed the bill, and the eco-freaks are the ones to blame, since the laws that they lobbied for and their connections to the Californian government has prevented power plants being built here, hence the low supply allowed Enron to price gauge to make ridiculous profits off Californians. The impracticality of environmental concerns in California are to blame for the rolling blackouts.

Tristan, I'm not buying for one minute that environmental laws are behind the energy crisis, when it's been clearly demonstrated that energy companies manufactured a crisis because deregulation opened the doors for them to do so.

However, going with your argument here, exactly which environmental laws are you referring to as "unnecessary"?

Originally posted by bLuE oRdEr Tristan, I'm not buying for one minute that environmental laws are behind the energy crisis, when it's been clearly demonstrated that energy companies manufactured a crisis because deregulation opened the doors for them to do so.However, going with your argument here, exactly which environmental laws are you referring to as "unnecessary"?

Sorry I should be more specific, but I am talking about air quality laws, which are necessary (I should not have said unnecessary) to an extent considering our foul air quality, but we do need power. Air quality laws are partially to blame (In 1993 the utilities helped to stop a state auction that would have lead to the opening of new power plants in the state, but the utilities, faced record surpluses in the early nineties, and they feared price plummets, so they took the matter to court). I believe we should build nuclear plants in the Mojave area and in Imperial County, but community groups would most likely quash such initiatives, or California can do what Cheney suggested two years ago: build power plants in Mexico where environmental laws are much less strict.

Published on Monday, August 18, 2003 by CommonDreams.org
Forget Arnold, "Blackout Pete" Wilson is the Electric Terminator
by Harvey Wasserman

The California media has been whining that Pete Wilson, Arnold's chief press flak, won't let them ask Schwarzenegger any direct questions.

But in the wake of the big northeast blackout, they're missing the boat---it's "Blackout Pete" they should be grilling. If the policies he enacted as governor of California are any indicator, the Terminator will be destroying a lot more than just the Golden State grid.

Wilson was the Republican governor of California in 1996 when he made utility deregulation the centerpiece of his doomed campaign for president. Competition in the electric power business, said Wilson, would usher in a new age of lower prices. The "miracle of the marketplace" would mean better, cheaper, more reliable electricity from a host of competing suppliers.

Deregulation is also the centerpiece of Schwarzenegger's campaign for Wilson's old job. The Terminator isn't allowed to say much. But the few short sentences he does utter seem to have something to do with policies that would mirror what Wilson did when he set the utilities free.

Unfortunately, what Wilson did led directly to the staged rolling blackouts of 2000-1. As we now know, those blackouts were actually a form of blackmail used by Texas gas companies to rob California of more than $60 billion. Among the chief perpetrators were Kenny-Boy Lay of the now-bankrupt Enron (George W. Bush's number one campaign contributor) and James Baker, George H.W. Bush's Secretary of State, the man the GOP sent to Florida to finally fix the election of 2000.

Wilson's big idea then was to cut the utilities loose from the 90 years of public supervision that had kept prices and supply reasonably stable in California and most of the rest of the US. Regulation was not a perfect system. But the regulatory checks and balances that had evolved from the early 1900s through the New Deal and the Carter 1970s formed a complex, sophisticated counterbalance to utility greed.

Wilson's AB1890 unanimously passed the California Assembly with virtually no public hearings or media debate. The bill let Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric and other utilities force ratepayers to foot the bill for nearly $30 billion in bad capital investments, most of that from commercial reactors built near earthquake faults at the infamous San Onofre and Diablo Canyon sites.

AB1890 was actually written in the offices of Southern California Edison by its president John Bryson. Former chair of the state's Public Utilities Commission, Bryson had been strongly identified with California's powerful grassroots movement for solar power.

But as the million-dollar-per-year chief of SoCalEd, Bryson killed a massive green plan for some 600 megawatts of solar, wind, biomass and other renewables.

In 1978 Herb Gunther of San Francisco's Public Media Center, Harvey Rosenfeld and other consumer campaigners challenged the deregulation bill with a statewide referendum. They predicted the utilities would take the bailout money and then play games with the California grid. Bryson and the other utility barons spent more than $40 million to protect their $30 billion subsidy. They beat the repeal, 70-30,

But in 2000, the Wilson-Bryson dereg plan blew up, as predicted. Enron and the other gas companies began "gaming" the market. By manipulating supply and shutting down key generators at crucial moments, they jacked up spot prices and walked away with some $60 billion.

Rather than prosecuting John Bryson, the new Governor Gray Davis essentially groveled at his feet. Faced with catastrophic shortages, Davis held endless private meetings with Bryson, practically begging for new power sources to keep the state's lights on, and then overpaying billions for whatever power he could get. It's those meetings and those overpayments that most thoroughly anger those now demanding Davis's ouster.

But if Wilson and Bryson had not killed that 600 megawatt green power plan, the 2000-1 crisis could never have happened. Wilson's AB1890 has crippled California's budget.

Arnold's sound bites continue to focus on the "miracle of the marketplace" that has already cost California at least $100 billion. The media should directly demand answers from Blackout Pete about his utility deregulation fiasco, instead of begging to get it all rehashed by Arnold.

Harvey Wasserman is author of THE LAST ENERGY WAR and senior editor of freepress.org. He is co-author with Bob Fitrakis of THE SUPERPOWER OF PEACE, available from freepress.org in September.

Originally posted by bLuE oRdEr Published on Monday, August 18, 2003 by CommonDreams.org Forget Arnold, "Blackout Pete" Wilson is the Electric Terminator by Harvey Wasserman The California media has been whining that Pete Wilson, Arnold's chief press flak, won't let them ask Schwarzenegger any direct questions. But in the wake of the big northeast blackout, they're missing the boat---it's "Blackout Pete" they should be grilling. If the policies he enacted as governor of California are any indicator, the Terminator will be destroying a lot more than just the Golden State grid. Wilson was the Republican governor of California in 1996 when he made utility deregulation the centerpiece of his doomed campaign for president. Competition in the electric power business, said Wilson, would usher in a new age of lower prices. The "miracle of the marketplace" would mean better, cheaper, more reliable electricity from a host of competing suppliers. Deregulation is also the centerpiece of Schwarzenegger's campaign for Wilson's old job. The Terminator isn't allowed to say much. But the few short sentences he does utter seem to have something to do with policies that would mirror what Wilson did when he set the utilities free. Unfortunately, what Wilson did led directly to the staged rolling blackouts of 2000-1. As we now know, those blackouts were actually a form of blackmail used by Texas gas companies to rob California of more than $60 billion. Among the chief perpetrators were Kenny-Boy Lay of the now-bankrupt Enron (George W. Bush's number one campaign contributor) and James Baker, George H.W. Bush's Secretary of State, the man the GOP sent to Florida to finally fix the election of 2000. Wilson's big idea then was to cut the utilities loose from the 90 years of public supervision that had kept prices and supply reasonably stable in California and most of the rest of the US. Regulation was not a perfect system. But the regulatory checks and balances that had evolved from the early 1900s through the New Deal and the Carter 1970s formed a complex, sophisticated counterbalance to utility greed. Wilson's AB1890 unanimously passed the California Assembly with virtually no public hearings or media debate. The bill let Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric and other utilities force ratepayers to foot the bill for nearly $30 billion in bad capital investments, most of that from commercial reactors built near earthquake faults at the infamous San Onofre and Diablo Canyon sites. AB1890 was actually written in the offices of Southern California Edison by its president John Bryson. Former chair of the state's Public Utilities Commission, Bryson had been strongly identified with California's powerful grassroots movement for solar power. But as the million-dollar-per-year chief of SoCalEd, Bryson killed a massive green plan for some 600 megawatts of solar, wind, biomass and other renewables. In 1978 Herb Gunther of San Francisco's Public Media Center, Harvey Rosenfeld and other consumer campaigners challenged the deregulation bill with a statewide referendum. They predicted the utilities would take the bailout money and then play games with the California grid. Bryson and the other utility barons spent more than $40 million to protect their $30 billion subsidy. They beat the repeal, 70-30, But in 2000, the Wilson-Bryson dereg plan blew up, as predicted. Enron and the other gas companies began "gaming" the market. By manipulating supply and shutting down key generators at crucial moments, they jacked up spot prices and walked away with some $60 billion. Rather than prosecuting John Bryson, the new Governor Gray Davis essentially groveled at his feet. Faced with catastrophic shortages, Davis held endless private meetings with Bryson, practically begging for new power sources to keep the state's lights on, and then overpaying billions for whatever power he could get. It's those meetings and those overpayments that most thoroughly anger those now demanding Davis's ouster. But if Wilson and Bryson had not killed that 600 megawatt green power plan, the 2000-1 crisis could never have happened. Wilson's AB1890 has crippled California's budget. Arnold's sound bites continue to focus on the "miracle of the marketplace" that has already cost California at least $100 billion. The media should directly demand answers from Blackout Pete about his utility deregulation fiasco, instead of begging to get it all rehashed by Arnold. Harvey Wasserman is author of THE LAST ENERGY WAR and senior editor of freepress.org. He is co-author with Bob Fitrakis of THE SUPERPOWER OF PEACE, available from freepress.org in September.

you never quit do you? Don't be suprised to get a visit from my Republican buddies in the middle of the night

Hmmmm. Republicans coming for me in the night. So that would make them...what? Brownshirts, or KKK?

Originally posted by bLuE oRdEr Hmmmm. Republicans coming for me in the night. So that would make them...what? Brownshirts, or KKK?

Richard,

While I vehemently disagree with you on most issues (except, of course, British sports cars) and I find the hate speech you use against GWB repulsive, I as a memeber of this forum won't stand for personal threats.

Tristan, you owe Richard an apology. Instead of threatening physical violence, strengthen your argument.

As a conservative Republican, I'm ALL ABOUT free speech. That's what frustrates most liberals. They have cliamed the First Amendment as their own for so long that it really gets under their skin when others choose to utilize their right to free speech to the fullest. They despise a two way street. Re: the success of Fox News, Sean Hannity, Rush, O'Reiley et al. and the liberal consternation they cause.

Anyway, let's lay off the threats.........

Originally posted by Michael McDermott > Originally posted by bLuE oRdEr> Hmmmm. Republicans coming for me in the night. So that would make them...what? Brownshirts, or KKK?

Richard,

While I vehemently disagree with you on most issues (except, of course, British sports cars) and I find the hate speech you use against GWB repulsive, I as a memeber of this forum won't stand for personal threats.

Tristan, you owe Richard an apology. Instead of threatening physical violence, strengthen your argument.

As a conservative Republican, I'm ALL ABOUT free speech. That's what frustrates most liberals. They have cliamed the First Amendment as their own for so long that it really gets under their skin when others choose to utilize their right to free speech to the fullest. They despise a two way street. Re: the success of Fox News, Sean Hannity, Rush, O'Reiley et al. and the liberal consternation they cause.

Anyway, let's lay off the threats......... Lighten up, I'm kidding; where's the fun in being serious all the time, and I hope you did not truly believe that I made a serious threat to him.

Originally posted by bLuE oRdEr Hmmmm. Republicans coming for me in the night. So that would make them...what? Brownshirts, or KKK?

Actually teenage Republicans, well one of them is close to being a fascist , but the rest are the children of the yuppies

Originally posted by Tristan Jayol > Originally posted by Michael McDermott> > > > Originally posted by bLuE oRdEr> > Hmmmm. Republicans coming for me in the night. So that would make them...what? Brownshirts, or KKK?>

Richard,

While I vehemently disagree with you on most issues (except, of course, British sports cars) and I find the hate speech you use against GWB repulsive, I as a memeber of this forum won't stand for personal threats.

Tristan, you owe Richard an apology. Instead of threatening physical violence, strengthen your argument.

As a conservative Republican, I'm ALL ABOUT free speech. That's what frustrates most liberals. They have cliamed the First Amendment as their own for so long that it really gets under their skin when others choose to utilize their right to free speech to the fullest. They despise a two way street. Re: the success of Fox News, Sean Hannity, Rush, O'Reiley et al. and the liberal consternation they cause.

Anyway, let's lay off the threats......... Lighten up, I'm kidding; where's the fun in being serious all the time, and I hope you did not truly believe that I made a serious threat to him.

My reaction to your statement is partly a function of my age. When you have a wife and children you take any threat of persons coming to "visit" your home seriously.

That's my $.02.

[Content deleted by Michael McDermott on 8/29/2003 10:10:35 AM EDT]

Cruz Bustamante........a racist?

It turns out he was a member of (and still publicly supports) a group called MECHa while in college.

This organization's motto is, "For the Race, everything. For those outside the Race, nothing."

Over the years, members of this "student organization" have physically attacked European-Americans and African-Americans who dared oppose illegal immigration. In addition, they caused $500k worth of damage to UCLA while demanding a Chicano Studies department.

Can you EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE if Cruz were a European-American? By the way, Cruz is also the guy who dropped a "N" bomb in a speech at an African-American organization's conference.

It's interesting what liberals will accept from one of their own.

Yes, but where does Gary Coleman stand on the issues? :D

Originally posted by Taboo # 7 Yes, but where does Gary Coleman stand on the issues? :D

(Trevor sets up t-ball stand, places ball on stand and Michael SWINGS....) Oh, I'd say he stands about 3'7".

Originally posted by Michael McDermott > Originally posted by Taboo # 7> Yes, but where does Gary Coleman stand on the issues? :D

(Trevor sets up t-ball stand, places ball on stand and Michael SWINGS....) Oh, I'd say he stands about 3'7".

And he makes a damn good security guard