Word-twisters are proliferating as Capitol's power struggle escalates

Sacramento Bee ^ | 5/23/5 | Dan Walters

[SmithL]

When Secretary of State Bruce McPherson addressed the Sacramento Press Club last week, Steve Maviglio listened closely.

Maviglio was the press secretary to ex-Gov. Gray Davis and now flacks for Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez. A couple of hours after McPherson finished his speech, Núñez declared that he was "pleased that the Republican secretary of state has joined the chorus of other Republicans and county election officials who believe that the governor's redistricting plans are ill-conceived and unworkable."

Sell It Yourself McPherson did not, however, say that the redistricting measure that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is promoting, and that will likely appear on a special election ballot next fall, is "ill-conceived and unworkable" or anything like that. McPherson, in fact, supports Schwarzenegger's demand that drawing legislative districts be taken out of lawmakers' hands and be given to an independent panel.

McPherson expressed an opinion that if the measure were to pass, there's "no way" that new districts could be drawn in time for the 2006 elections, and that because of near-certain post-election lawsuits, it's questionable whether they would be in place by 2008 - pretty much what Schwarzenegger's own aides have been saying.

It's what one might term "rhetorical ratcheting" - taking someone's statement, a news article or some other bit of verbiage and recasting it in starker and darker terms.

Another of McPherson's statements, that the special election would cost $70 million to $80 million, got a similar massage: Within hours, Democrats were describing it as an $80 million election and renewing their demand that Schwarzenegger identify state funds to pay for it.

[Brilliant]

Within hours, Democrats were describing it as an $80 million election and renewing their demand that Schwarzenegger identify state funds to pay for it.

Since when has the lack of funds stopped the State of California from spending?

[Spok]

The pretense is over and the Democrats are openly waging an ideological campaign against pro-life, strict constructionist judges. Now they're depicting conservative judges as being 'out of the mainstream' of legal thought, hoping everyone has forgotten that Roe, Furman, Mapp, et al., were all WAY out of the legal mainstream when they were decided.

[Young Werther]

Maybe, if their gonna have their "turds wisted" they'll regret it when they have to eat...{you get it dontcha?}

Sarcasm Alert!

[calcowgirl]

...there's "no way" that new districts could be drawn in time for the 2006 elections, and that because of near-certain post-election lawsuits, it's questionable whether they would be in place by 2008 - pretty much what Schwarzenegger's own aides have been saying.

So, if the dates aren't achievable, isn't the whole initiative flawed, as written? The proposed law says the Special Masters are appointed within 20 days of the law going into effect to draw districts "for use in the NEXT set of statewide primary and general elections ."

[Amerigomag]

So, if the dates aren't achievable, isn't the whole initiative flawed, as written?

A reminder. When dealing with people like Schwarzenegger, or any liberal, it's not the facts that matter. It's the seriousness of the charges/intentions.

....or if you're a big tent Republican ... and you throw enough dodo against the wall, some of it will stick and your conservative base will probably still support you because your intentions were noble.

...or if you're on the Wilson team ... there is now a basis for a plausible denial which means the center will still support you because you didn't really harm the left.

[goldstategop]

ROFL! That's funny coming from the same Democrats who have never met a spending program they haven't liked - and its never bothered them in the least about where to find the money to pay for it.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)