Posted on 08/02/2004 7:41:28 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Political junkies now have a full month of withdrawal to endure before the Republicans put their show on to try to counter the Democratic National Convention last week in Boston.
When the Republicans meet in New York beginning Aug. 30, one can only hope they have more delegates wearing funny hats and avoid the balloon snafu that marked the final night of the Democratic event.
For the 237 California Republicans who are delegates or alternates, the trip promises to have all the glitz and glamour one would expect when your governor is Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Among the events scheduled is a salute to Schwarzenegger at Tavern on the Green hosted by the party as well as another event at the Planet Hollywood restaurant.
"We want to make it special for the delegates," said Elizabeth Blackney, spokeswoman for the delegation.
However, Blackney denied rumors that some $5 million has been budgeted solely for the state delegation's parties.
"That seems awful high," Blackney said. "New York is expensive, but not that expensive."
One of the big differences for state lawmakers who are Republicans is that they will actually be able to go to the event. Most Democratic legislators were forced to remain in Sacramento because of the failure to adopt a budget in time.
The man Schwarzenegger ousted from office, former Gov. Gray Davis, continues to find life in front of the camera these days.
Davis, a delegate to the DNC, was featured on several news shows as well as making a brief appearance on the "Jimmy Kimmel Live" show along with Mayor James Hahn.
Comedian Don Novello, who was covering the convention for the show, threw a party in his hotel room for convention delegates.
Davis brought a six-pack of beer for Novello while Hahn provided him with a convention pass.
Kimmel took the opportunity to ask Davis about his plans. "Have you thought about running for governor in a smaller state?" the comedian asked.
Davis jokingly replied: "I'm looking into Rhode Island and Vermont."
Now that mainstream politicians have discovered the power of blogs -- Web journals of activities -- you have to start asking how much longer they will remain popular.
Take, for instance, the case of state Republican Chairman Duf Sundheim, who filed a daily blog for the party faithful as he went to the DNC to be part of the GOP response team.
As might be expected, Sundheim criticized the Democrats and poked fun at Sen. John Kerry for his efforts to throw out the first pitch at a Red Sox-Yankees game.
Sundheim did gloat that some fans booed Kerry. Of course, sports fans boo every politician.
For Sundheim, being around so many Democrats at one time must have been dizzying. At one point, he said he felt like Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz."
In local politics, former Los Angeles Councilman and failed city attorney candidate Mike Feuer is making an early start to try to scare off opponents.
Feuer recently put out a press release saying his campaign for the state Assembly has raised more than $180,000 so far. The only problem is the campaign is for the seat now held by Assemblyman Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood, and is for the election in 2006.
And, no matter how much Feuer raises, it is not expected to scare off what is likely to be a crowded field that includes West Hollywood Councilwoman Abby Land and Dr. William Warren Brien, who is the grandson of former Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren.
Daily News, Staff Writers Val Kuklenski and Harrison Sheppard contributed to this report.
But probably not his wife.
Will the other stockholders in Planet Hollywood have it fumigated after all the Republicans visit?
Try to counter the democRAT nation convertion. That won't be hard to do. Parley
Mark my words...this prissy pretty boy RINO is being groomed to run against Hitlery in '08! I can hear the Republicrats now..."but he's the only one who can beat Hillary." Nevermind that pesky little Constitutional provision insisting on native borns for President.
RNC..read my lips...NO WAY. A man who will not even say the Pledge of Allegiance because he retains Austrian citizenship will be President. What is it with all of these foreign nationals rising so high up in positions of power? Arnie, Mad Maddie, Karl Rove and let's not forget Henry Kissinger. We don't have knowledgeable and bright citizens to choose from? That's a question I'd like to have someone answer.
Planet Hollywood is one of Arnie's wise investments! LOL They're doing poorly in Vegas.
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