Free Republic

Despite a commanding financial advantage, state Controller Steve Westly could have trouble overcoming the union muscle that will direct voters toward his rival, state Treasurer Phil Angelides, in the Democratic primary for governor. The failure of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's public works bond to reach the June ballot means there will be little to attract the moderate voters Westly needs to counteract the died-in-the-wool Democrats that unions are expected to drive toward Angelides. "The challenge for Steve Westly is going to be getting people who are not so tightly affiliated with the Democratic Party to show up and vote," said Bruce...

The tickets for Washington's hottest inaugural bash went in 48 minutes, all 10,000 of them. The ones with the Hollywood firepower, with Macy Gray headlining, went on sale yesterday at $1,000 a pop. By the close of business, perhaps 200 of the 1,000 tickets were still available. Even before the few public tickets for the nine official inaugural balls go on sale or the artists performing at those events are announced, the parties around the nation's 55th presidential inauguration are shaping up to be hard sellouts by the end of the holidays. Greg Jenkins, executive director of the Presidential...