Ask most people in California - on either side of the political aisle - and they will tell you that Sen. Barbara Boxer's finest hour was not her infamous "Call Me Senator" rant.
While her GOP opponent in the Nov. 2 election, Carly Fiorina, did have one ad on the subject, it ran for just a short time and has since been forgotten.
The ad below, produced by a conservative group, is funny -- and to the point. (David Zucker, he of the "Airplane" and Naked Gun" movies...to name but a few, oversaw this ad.)
This is the ad her team should have run from the start. My guess, if they had, Fiorina vs. Boxer wouldn't be a dead heat right now...
Late add/bonus: Zucker explains why he made the video - "I thought an apology would have been appropriate, but to my knowledge, none has ever been made by Senator Boxer. This I find distressing, since apologies from public figures nowadays are the norm. I mean, it’s not as if she texted her junk to Brett Favre. This was just arrogantly insulting an army officer. But I guess that’s okay with her. In the debate with Carly Fiorina, the subject was brought up, but Boxer was quite adept at deflecting it — and still without an apology. Let this video be my apology. Every time I see the public record listing my campaign contribution to Boxer — I wince. I mean, we all have things we’ve done in the past that we’re embarrassed about, but I’d rather have my being restricted to 100 yards away from elementary schools be public knowledge than that $5,000 Boxer campaign contribution." (h/t: Hot Air)
From NBC News:"Republicans Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina having a little fun and downing shots a tequila Friday night, going along with tradition during a Hispanic 100 award gala in California. Fiorina was very animated at the beginning of her speech, calling for shots of tequila before every speech and then even let out a high-pitched trill of the tongue."
You could hear the bells going off as soon as she said it...
On June 16, 2009, U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) replied to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh's courtesy reply of "yes, ma'am," with an outburst that raised more than a few eyebrows. Since then, in e-mails and via call-ins on numerous media appearances, I've heard from pro-Carly Fiorina (U.S. senate candidate, R-CA) supporters who have wondered when Fiorina would make hay with the unflattering clip.
The wait is over...
From the Los Angeles Times:
"A week after her rival, Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, aired spots attacking her tenure as chief executive of Hewlett-Packard, Fiorina’s first general election ad uses campaign footage from a well-known exchange between Boxer and Army Corps of Engineers Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh at a hearing more than a year ago of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which Boxer chairs."
Boxer's exchange with the general:
"In the brief clip used by Fiorina’s team, Boxer has interrupted Walsh after he’s addressed her as ‘Ma’am’: “You know, do me a favor. Could you say ‘Senator’ instead of ‘Ma’am’? It’s just a thing. I worked so hard to get that title, so I’d appreciate it,” Boxer says to Walsh.
“Twenty eight years in Washington, and Barbara Boxer works hard for a title?” Fiorina says into the camera with a quick raise of her eyebrows. “I’ll really go to work — to end the arrogance in Washington.”
The Fiorina ad:
Was it worth the wait? Will it "move the dial" for Fiorina? We'll know in just a few weeks...
Actually, "our" conversation with Carly - Carly Fiorina.
Earlier this week on the John Batchelor Show, Messrs. Batchelor, Devin Nunes and I interviewed Fiorina, the woman looking to unseat three-term U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA).
Carly Fiorina...
The following, from Batchelor's blog, describes the encounter:
"Spoke to Carly FiorinaandDevin NunesCA-21 (R) re the senate race in California, and learned thatBarbara Boxer has just launched an ad campaign attacking Fiorina as a rich, spoiled, indifferent and failed capitalist for her tenure at HP. Fiornia pushed back accordingly; mention that building HP into the big cheese in Silicon Valleyis her legacy. The surprise to me is that Boxer has heretofore committed her campaign to preaching on green jobs and energy reform in California and nationally, and now she is shifting to ad hominem. Not a strong move."
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA 21)...
Batchelor continues: "Devin Nunes spoke passionately of the mandated water troubles in the San Joaquin Valley caused by radical environmentalists in San Francisco and Los Angeles and by regulation from Sacramento. Jeff Bliss raised the San Bruno investigation, and Carly Fiorina commented that Barbara Boxer ran a committee on the environment and energy and that she had done nothing in her service to address the out-of-date energy infrastructure in California that gives us a sixty-year-old pipe failure. Of the Tea Party, Carly Fiorina said she has attended many events and will again and welcomes the energy of citizens who are disgusted with the business as usual of Washington and Sacramento."
It’s turning out to be a busy week here at Broadcast Central®…
Carly Fiorina...
Tonight, it’s a special edition of the John Batchelor Show’s “Hotel California” as we interview Carly Fiorina (R), U.S. Senate candidate, from 6-6:30 p.m. PDT. The “we” includes John Batchelor, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA 21) and me. I’ll be broadcasting out of KSFO 560 AM in San Francisco (so if you’re outside the reach of its powerful antennas and catapults, you can listen to the show via its website).
At 6:35 p.m., I’ll shift over to the Central Coast’s favorite station, KVEC 920 AM, to chat with host Dave Congalton about the surging Tea Party movement and the results of recent elections (including last night’s surprising results in Delaware and New York). If you’re not in the broadcast area, you can listen online via KVEC’s website.
And tomorrow morning (Thursday), I'll join Brian Sussman, Officer Vic and Sheri Yee for another "adventure" on the KSFO-AM 560 morning show beginning around 8 a.m. PDT. If you’re in the Bay Area, you can tune in (it’s still a free country…I think) or listen anywhere in the world via the web.
I'll be joiningJohn Batchelor tonight (around 6:20 p.m., Pac Time) for a quick look at the economy, the national mid-term elections polls and the California election campaigns.
Republican candidates Carly Fiorina (left), U.S. Senate; Meg Whitman, governor...
Topics tonight are slated to include:
-- GOP concerns that Meg Whitman has "gone soft" in an effort to win over independents, moderates and ethnic voting blocs...
--The worsening economy: what it means for us and for the mid-term elections...
On Friday, as news was breaking on Hewlett-Packard CEO Mark Hurd's abrupt departure from the world's largest electronics company, I joined John Batchelor and NY Times reporter Ashlee Vance on John's show to begin unraveling this shocker story. (You can hear the podcast here.) So shocking, that the seismic waves crossed Silicon Valley, hit Wall Street before closing and traveled 'round the world in an eyeblink (causing HP's stock to drop close to 10 percent).
Mark Hurd, former HP CEO...
The big question was all about the "why?" Originally, it was said to have been born out of a sexual harassment investigation but HP said it found no evidence to support that claim. In the course of searching for facts, however, it was discovered that other improprieties had taken place/occurred. HP's board confronted Hurd and he stepped down (receiving more than $20 million in parting cash in the process).
Today we learn who it was he was accused of harassing (then cleared) and then, reportedly, conducting improper business with or because of...
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, "The woman who accused HP CEO Mark Hurd of sexual harassment and got him sacked has come forward and said she's sorry he got canned. [Jodie Fisher] also said--as he has--that they didn't have sex (or any other form of intimate relationship). Which begs the question: What exactly did he do that made her sue him for sexual harassment? In any event, she's in her early 50s now and works as a business consultant. When she was in her 30s, she was an actress and appeared in some crappy movies."
Jodie Fisher (from the SF Chronicle: "Here's one of her, um, headshots from IMDB.")...
The questions remain: what will become of HP, which had been recovering nicely after the departure of former CEO Carly Fiorina? Can the interim leadership and next CEO help keep HP growing and profitable? How will one man's departure from one of Silicon Valley's top companies impact the tech sector, not to mention the overall economy?
The Financially Challenged State: California's governor, the Honorable Arnold Terminator, tried pressuring the legislature - now far behind the statutory deadline - into finally passing the annual budget. He did so by attempting to place more than 200,000 state employees on minimum wage (at a little over $7 per hour). According to the Associated Press, "A judge on Friday declined to force the state controller to comply with an order by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to pay state workers minimum wage while the state remains without a budget." The guv has promised to keep the heat on by appealing to a higher court. No word if he ended his statement with, "I'll be back."
The Overcrowded State: California has long felt the pressures of illegal immigration, and during this time of economic downturn the friction is even greater. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday will order 224 California National Guard troops to the border with Mexico, fulfilling an earlier commitment to President Barack Obama. In May, Obama launched a plan to deploy 1,200 National Guard troops to the southwest border, alarmed by a tide of smuggled drugs and immigrants and pummeled politically over illegal immigration. Schwarzenegger earlier pledged California’s full cooperation with federal initiatives to secure the border and attack the narcotics trade. 'This is just the beginning,' Schwarzenegger said last month. 'We must find a more permanent solution to our broken immigration system.'" Is there an Arizona anti-illegal immigration bill for California in the wings?
Backing away...
Add illegal immigration:The Sacramento Bee reports that GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman looks to be doing a 180 on previous statements. "Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman is backing away from a key immigration proposal she advanced in this spring's competitive GOP primary after farmers and other business interests expressed displeasure with her idea. As she campaigned this spring, Whitman said she would send state and local officials into California businesses to look for illegal immigrants – her own version of federal immigration workplace inspections. But her campaign now says she would wait to act until the federal government institutes a 'fail-safe' way for employers to verify workers' status – an effort that has been more than a decade in the making." Looks like we might be getting a sequel to that last Hollywood flop, "The Governator."
In a Disagreeable State: What's the outlook for California's economy? Depends who you ask. On one hand, you've got three-term U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) - who is angling for a fourth - telling everyone that "clean and green" (jobs) are going to save the state. On the other hand, you've got U.S. Senate-hopeful Carly Fiorina (R), her challenger and the highest ranking female CEO (ever), bringing reality to the mix. According to a piece in the LA Times,"For Sen. Barbara Boxer and her opponent Carly Fiorina, the battle in the next four months may be over two Californias: whether the state is a gloomy place where businesses are still struggling to survive or one that is about to turn the corner and become the bustling hub of the clean-energy economy." Perhaps Sen. Boxer should ask her how her thinking on green-and-clean has worked out for Spain and Germany.
Serpentine (or is it a case of "rocks for brains?")
Finally (for now), "this state's got rocks in its head": In a state with a current budget deficit topping $20 billion and with unfunded liabilities in the range of $650 billion-plus, you'd think state lawmakers would focus on important, pressing matters. State Sen. Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) is taking on this charge by trying to eliminate one of California's greatest threats - the state rock...aka: serpentine. A San Francisco Chronicle story explains that, "Serpentine is a metamorphic rock that...can be found in the Sierra Nevada foothills and in 42 of California's 58 counties. It was often found by miners near gold deposits. Fire-resistant chrysotile asbestos is one of 20 minerals that can often be found within the rock. Considered a wonder substance in the 1960s, asbestos was mined extensively for use in building construction, household appliances and for insulation. In 1965, lobbyists for the makers of asbestos products were among those who urged state legislators to recognize serpentine as the state rock. Romero sponsored the [new] bill - which would eliminate not only serpentine, but the entire state rock category - because, she said, California has the highest rate of mesothelioma deaths in the nation and it is inappropriate to celebrate the source of that disease. 'This isn't against serpentine. It's about asbestos,' Romero said. 'Why in a health-conscious state like California do we have a state rock that is related to asbestos? This is a teachable moment. It's time to be sensitive to the fact that people suffer and die from this substance. It's time to drop the rock as a symbol.'" Geologists, scientists, medical professionals and others all say serpentine poses absolutely no threat to anyone's health, whatsoever. But as they say in Sacramento, "never let facts stand in the way of politics."
Just a few quick notes regarding recent developments here at home and around the world…all worth paying attention to…
A report in the Wall Street Journal details the further deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan. In a story that seems more farcical than real, officials have revealed that “U.S. Support for Power Plant in Afghanistan Benefits the Taliban.” It goes on to say that, “Since U.S.-funded repairs of a turbine at an Afghanistan power plant doubled its capacity in October, nearly half of the total electrical output has flowed to districts where the Taliban administer the grid, Afghan officials say.” Apparently, the Taliban doesn’t have to win this fight – we just have to keep shooting ourselves in the foot.
And you thought your utility company was tough...
From close behind to edging ahead: According to Taegan Goddard’s Political Wire, “A new SurveyUSA poll in California finds Carly Fiorina (R) edging Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) in the U.S. Senate race, 47% to 45%, a lead which is within the poll's four point margin of error. Key finding: The poll found twice as many Democrats cross-over to vote Republican as Republicans who cross-over to vote Democrat in the race.” Likewise, Goddard adds, “A new SurveyUSA poll in California finds Meg Whitman (R) leading Jerry Brown (D) by seven points among likely voters in the race for governor, 46% to 39%. Key finding: Whitman gets 77% of Republican voters, while Brown gets the support of 64% of Democrats. Independents break by a 5-4 margin for Whitman.” Suddenly, a whole bunch of folks are sitting up and paying attention…
Leading ladies...
Out of touch? Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) had an, um, “interesting” reply when asked about illegal immigrants working in his home state by a reporter from the Las Vegas CBS affiliate. "When you go to the unemployment office there's many U.S. citizens who are unemployed construction workers and they don't have jobs because right now, some of those construction companies find it easier to hire undocumented workers," said Reporter Nathan Baca. "I think that any information you have in that regard is absolutely without foundation," responded Reid. "That may be someplace, but it is not here in Nevada." You can see the report here.
Losing touch...
RIP: George Steinbrenner, the bêtenoire of every Red Sox fan (and decent human being) passed away today. He was 80. We won’t bother with an obit – that’s what print guys get paid to do. Instead, here’s the one great thing he did:
We’re from the government and we’re here to take your money, Part 2: Obama Admin. Argues in Court That Individual Mandate Is a Tax. Remember when we were told that the individual health insurance mandate is not a tax. The Obama Administration just appealed to the courts, “…the individual health insurance mandate is a tax.” (American Spectator)
If only there was a way they could legally “take” money from tourists to help pay for things -Nevada's unemployment rate tops in nation, 14%. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
It's the end of another week chock full o' news. Here's a collection of items sure to be making news in the days and weeks to come:
First...radio reminder: I'll be on tonight at 6:15 p.m. (PacTime) with guest host Simon Constable on the John Batchelor Show. (Check local listings for details.)
[Nancy] Pelosi defends plan for creating jobs - House speaker touts the economic stimulus and derides its Republican critics at an appearance in San Francisco. (SF Chronicle) Hey, if this is how you "cure" unemployment, why not just give everyone a federally funded job and declare full employment?! In a related story, Hiring Recovery Sputters - The economy added 431,000 jobs in May, nearly all from census hiring. The private sector added only 41,000 jobs. The unemployment rate fell to 9.7%. (Wall Street Journal) / Government Jobs Account for 95% of Job Increases (Bloomberg)
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) explaining economics to the masses...
Clap on, clap off…the Clapper:Obama to Name Retired General to Top Spy Post - The prospect of Lt. Gen. James R. Clapper Jr.’s nomination had drawn mixed reactions in Congress, where some argue the position should be for someone from outside the military world. (NY Times) / Lawmakers uneasy with DNI pick (Politico)
Lt. Gen. James R. (The) Clapper Jr...
Finally, putting all other news, snarkiness and such aside, we take time to recognize that today the world is diminished. Former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden died at 99 last night. "Basketball coach won 10 national championships - His accomplishments during his 27-year tenure with the Bruins made him one of the greatest coaches in sports history. He also created the 'Pyramid of Success' motivational program." (LA Times)
Coach John Wooden - and what mattered...
LA Dodgers' announcer Vin Scully broke into last night's broadcast to report on Coach Wooden’s passing (quoting Shakespeare): “His life was gentle; and the elements so mixed in him, that Nature might stand up, and say to all the world, THIS WAS A MAN!”
This afternoon, I’ll be on Dave Congalton’s “Big Broadcast” beginning at 4:30 p.m.(PacTime).We’ll discuss the recent poll numbers in the California GOP governor’s race – currently, they show Meg Whitman holding a seemingly unbeatable lead over her opponent, Steve Poizner. We might also get into the local race to fill recently appointed Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado’s seat in the state senate. If you’re on the Central Coast, you can listen to Dave’s show on KVEC-AM 920 (or anywhere else via KVEC’s website).
The formidable Dave Congalton...
And tomorrow night (Saturday), just after 6 p.m. PacTime, I’ll be joining guest host Simon Constable on the John Batchelor Show. The topic dejour will be the political races in California, with a special focus on the probable Carly Fiorina (R) vs. BarbaraBoxer (D) race for the Boxer’s seat in the U.S. senate.
The GOP probables: Meg Whitman (left) and Carly Fiorina...
LATE ADDITION: I just found out that I’ll be on The John Batchelor Show this Sunday evening at approximately 9 p.m. (PacTime) to discuss Tuesday's primary elections, polls and whatnot here in California. In addition to the stations listed above for Saturday night's appearance, you can also hear the show - Sunday thru Friday - in Northern California at KSFO-AM 560 San Francisco.
Tonight, I’ll be on a brief segment beginning at 6:15 p.m. PDT. We’ll be discussing the recent poll numbers in the California GOP primary races showing Meg Whitman (gov’s race) and Carly Fiorina (senate race) surging to commanding leads...
According to some polls, Meg Whitman (left) now has a 27-point lead and Carly Fiorina (right) a 24-point advantage...
Beginning at 6 p.m. PDT tomorrow night – in addition to the weekly edition of “Hotel California” – John and I will discuss a variety of subjects with correspondents from around the world.
…and on Thursday morning, I’ll join Brian Sussman and Officer Vic on The Brian Sussman Show on KSFO-AM 560 San Francisco at 8:05 a.m. What will we discuss? Hard to say, but I’m sure it will be fun/interesting/different…
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