Meg vs. Jerry: No Clear Winner

29 September 2010 |permalink | email article

In the first of their three major debates last night Whitman came across as a grinning, over scripted Cheshire Cat. She held her own in often struggling to demonstrate her command of public policy.  Brown was too verbose but often disarmingly funny about his age while introducing himself to a new generation of voters unfamiliar with his tenure as a two-time former governor.

There were no gaffes or knockdown blows but the lines of attacks by each candidate were predictable. Whitman described Brown as a tool of public-employee unions while he responded by accusing her of supporting $5 billion in tax cuts for the super rich.

Neither offered compelling new ideas about the most complex issues facing California: fixing the disastrous public pension system, dealing with the state’s fragile water-delivery system or, most important, balancing the budget. While reporters were aggressive a discussion of Proposition 23 to suspend the global warning law, known as AB32, never occurred. Whitman’s reluctant opposition but call for a one year moratorium if elected was never raised.

Perhaps their sharpest exchange occurred over immigration. Brown favors eventual legalization while Whitman is adamantly opposed which will hurt her with Democratic leaning Latino voters.

The two candidates go at it again Saturday afternoon in Fresno. But the most compelling debate will be refereed by former NBC anchorman Tom Brokaw Oct. 12, and sponsored by Dominican University of California in San Rafael. “I am particularity excited about participating in this debate because I began my NBC News career covering California politics in 1966,” Brokaw told the Los Angeles Times in August.

With a real adult keeping score perhaps one of the antagonists will finally break through the deadlock before Halloween. As of today the Field Poll finds her negatives up 18% since March, while his have soared 10%. 

Celebrity Congressional Testimonials

One has to laugh about the fuss House members made about Stephen Colbert’s testimony last week about the backbreaking agricultural work performed by many illegal immigrants as if he was the only celebrity to tarnish sacrosanct Congressional chambers.

It was, in fact, much adieu about nothing when one realizes that, as TPM reported, at least 400 celebrities have testified on Capitol Hill since 1969. The drum roll has included pre-politician Jesse Ventura, Charlton Heston, Ben Affleck, Danielle Steele, Sheryl Crow, Tony Bennett, Julia Roberts, Mary Tyler Moore and many others about their pet projects.

 

243