“The budget ‘countdown’ – real or illusory? Is that deadline the real thing, or can we go past it a few weeks and still get a budget on the ballot?”

Since the taxes run out June 30, why the rush to have an election on June 7?

The deadline is ‘real’ in the sense it

“Brown’s new appointment to the FPPC seems to favor rolling back the aggressive nature of the panel that has emerged over the past few years, including halting the practice of announcing when someone is under investigation. What do you think?”

The FPPC can (should) be aggressive in prosecuting abuses without announcing those under investigation.  To

“With Secretary of State Debra Bowen officially in the race to face L.A. City Councilmember Janice Hahn for the 36th Congressional District, the contest promises to be a real stem-winder. Any thoughts?”

Hahn has a stronger local organization and a meaningful head start. On the other hand, she’s a lightweight’s lightweight. Both have resources and

“The governor is meeting with Republicans inside and outside of the Capitol to sell his budget plan. What do you hear? Is he making any headway?

He is making headway. Having the Chamber endorse it didn’t hurt.

It’s hard to tell, but he better start selling this plan to the public soon, because these closed-door

“Jerry Brown seems to have won Round 1 in the PR fight over the budget: He directly challenged Republicans to come up with their own plan – and they refused. What do you think?”

Checkmate. The GOP’s only option would be a budget that slashes school aid.

Republicans have an opportunity to show some statesmanship

“Presumably, Jerry is a one-termer, so who’s the presumptive Democratic favorite in 2014 for governor – Harris, Newsom, Chiang, or a dark horse? Could be the best primary in years…”

Wow.  Give the man a break.  Even this Republican wants to see what happens for a few months before we start digging Jerry’s grave.

I

“The redevelopment agency revolt that is spreading across the state: Is this limited to them or is this a harbinger of things to come in Brown’s budget plan?”

It is, unfortunately, a harbinger of things to come, I fear. Every target of Brown’s proposed budget cuts will attempt to hide the ball or spend the

“Quite a mix: taxes, cuts and a special election. Can Jerry Brown pull this off?”

Hard to tell.  The real question is, is Brown the best chief salesman for an extension of the tax cuts?  Davis got his major education-reform package passed in 1999 when his approval rating was 58-12, and even a plurality of

“Just before he left office, Gov. Schwarzenegger made some controversial appointments and commutations. How will they affect his legacy, if at all?

The one you are referring to is a nasty turd blossom that will sink to the bottom of the murky pond and be forgotten in time.

Schwarzenegger will be remembered for having a

“The administration’s attempted sale of state buildings has emerged as a full-blown legal battle, topped by the recusal of all the members of the state Supreme Court. Was this sell-off a good idea or a bad idea?”

Bad idea. One-time fixes are bad all around.

It’s the state equivalent of heading to a pawn