Arizona's Own Espresso Pundit

SNL Parody of the Guv...Ouch.

By now you have heard that Saturday Night Live has parodied Governor Napolitano.  I've been looking for the clip and it's on KTVK's website.

It's interesting to see how others view the Governor.  We are used to Governor Napolitano's bizarre appearance and hardball tactics. 

However, she appears to be making an unfavorable impression on the national scene.  The SNL mocking is devastating.  Even her harshest critics don't point out her harsh hair style, deep voice and awkward mannerisms. 

Perhaps worse, the President Elect's advisers seem to have noticed that Napolitano's political style has more in common with Tony Soprano than with Barack Obama. 

The Yellow Sheets reported last week that they had a "An unimpeachable Dem source with top-level contacts in Obama's Chicago" who said that Napolitano is not being considered for AG and that she is only second or third in line for Homeland Security.  Here's what the source said."The people that are vetting her say she's too rough and not a team player,"

Here's how the AP described the SNL parody.

The brief impersonation by cast member Kristen Wiig came during host Paul Rudd's opening monologue.

Wiig then came out donning Napolitano's hairstyle - short and black with a gray spot in the front. She walked offstage awkwardly after giving an oversimplified answer on how she would secure the U.S.-Mexico border.

Even Governor Napolitano's geatest moment on the national stage--being named one of Time Magazine's Top Five Governors has been tainted by subsequent events. Time's award was based primarily on Napolitano's budget prowess. 

In her first week on the job, Napolitano took on the state's budget-deficit crisis. She presented a proposal that eliminated the $1 billion deficit without any tax increases. She persuaded moderate Republicans to vote the bill through with the minority Democrats. Now Arizona's economy is booming, with a projected budget surplus of more than $300 million and 4% job growth, the second highest in the nation after Nevada.

That reminds me of the time in 1999 when I proudly displayed the Wall Street Journal to my wife and announced that the fund where I had invested our money earned the highest returns of any mutual fund that year.  Subsequent results have made it impossible for me to refer back to that moment.  I guess the Governor may soon learn the same thing that I learned in 1999--Past Performance is Not Necessarily Indicative of Future Results.

Swing Shift

I practice in front of the Corporation Commission so I don't cover it in Espresso Pundit.  But I will say that the most significant election news in the last week was the 5,000 vote swing that  allowed Bob Stump to move ahead of Sam George for the third ACC seat. 

The six ACC candidates were all pretty similar, but Stump and George represented the ends of the spectrum so the swing dramatically shifts the ACC's political center of gravity.  More significantly, of course, is that the ACC was going to be in Democratic control under George and it remains in Republican control under Stump. 

Few people understand that--with the possible exception of the Governor--Corporation Commissioners are the most powerful elected officials in Arizona state Government. 

I'm sure that there will be plenty of commentary expressing dismay that I would even question whether an ACC Commissioner is in the same league as the Governor.  I would argue that there are almost daily examples of the ACC's power in the news.  However, for a dramatic example, I would point you to the extraordinary Open Letter to the Commissioners from Arizona Public Service Chairman Bill Post in Sunday's Republic.

We understand that increasing electric prices is difficult during the best of times. However, APS is not seeking a bailout from taxpayers. Rather, APS is seeking to recover actual costs incurred. Moreover, the level of rate relief sought is consistent with or less than that requested, and in some cases already received, by Arizona's other two major electric providers.

This is where the role of regulatory leadership comes in. Arizona needs the Corporation Commission to act now at this critical juncture for the state and the more than 1 million APS customers. The stakes are very high; and the risks of inaction or the wrong action are both very real and very dangerous to consumers and Arizona.

This is really starting to tick me off.

Mesa police say an impaired driver triggered a crash early Saturday that killed a 16-year-old girl and injured her 17-year-old brother as they drove to a school band event.

Manuel Contreras-Galdean, 32, was arrested and booked into a Maricopa County jail on suspicion of manslaughter and aggravated assault.

Authorities also placed an immigration hold on him after it was determined that he is in the country illegally.

At least the Republic was willing to mention  within the first couple paragraphs that he was an illegal alien 

The Hunt for Red October

Whenever I discuss the collapse of the mainstream media with journalists, they inevitably shake their heads and lament that fact that there will no longer be a cadre of professional journalists whow can provide the general public with accurate information.  At that point I try to avoid laughing so hard that the espresso comes out my nose.

Dude, the blogospere is more accurate than the mainstream media.  The blogosphere is an open source, low-trust environment in which competing interests work to debunk each other's stories.  Morever, most of the top bloggers are professionals--judges, lawyers, political consultants, economists, professors--blog for free.   

For example,  I haven't seen much mention of this in the mainstream media. 

On Monday, Nasa's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS)... one of four bodies responsible for monitoring global temperatures, announced that last month was the hottest October on record.

Turns out that Nasa got it wrong.  So who caught it?  Bloggers.

The error was so glaring that when it was reported on the two blogs - run by the US meteorologist Anthony Watts and Steve McIntyre, the Canadian computer analyst who won fame for his expert debunking of the notorious "hockey stick" graph - GISS began hastily revising its figures.

Here's an example from the Tribune that I think is funny. 

That's right, former Gilbert Councilman David Petersen is running for mayor.  Of course, the picture on the right is of former State Treasurer David Petersen.

I hope my reporter friends will keep those examples in mind the next time they question the accuracy of the blogoshpere.

By Golly, he was right.

I have to admit that I was skeptical when Barrack Obama told us that if we elected him it would be seen as the "moment when the rise of the Ocean began to slow and the Earth began to heal..."  But it turns out that he was right.  Wow, good job...or should I say "cool."

Rapid Rebound Brings Ice Back to Levels from the 1980s.

An abnormally cool Arctic is seeing dramatic changes to ice levels.  In sharp contrast to the rapid melting seen last year, the amount of global sea ice has rebounded sharply and is now growing rapidly. The total amount of ice, which set a record low value last year, grew in October at the fastest pace since record-keeping began in 1979.

Road Trip!

I don't know about you, but I've been, like totally stressed out by the recent election. I'm sure that Team Napolitano feels the same way.  I mean all those trips to swing states...week after week in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Wisconsin.  The endless effort to get TIME on the ballot, playing in all those Republican primaries by claiming that her liberal Republican favorites would "Secure the Border," and offer "Conservative Leadership."  Then the debacle of the General election...spending $1.5 million on cookie-cutter hit pieces in Republican districts with nothing to show for it.  Then to actually lose seats held by Democratic incumbents--and now Bob Burns is Senate President.   What a nightmare.

Team Napolitano deserves so serious R & R.  I'm thinking tropical climate and margaritas by the pool.  But who's going to pay for it?  The state budget is in a shambles.  State employees are getting hit, school funding is going to suffer, agencies had their fund balances swept, the regulatory boards are raising fees on professionals just to make payroll.

Never fear.  Team Napolitano has found a solution.  Check out this awesome trip to beautiful Hermosillo Mexico on December 4th and 5th.  Wow, 13 Committees chock full of state employees and staff, with each on paying $500 for round trip airfare and a couple hundred dollars each for room--not to mention that they are all getting salary and per diem.  That sounds like a great time.

I know some of you will say that the trip is important and the delegates are actually "working."  Whatever.

I'm sure that Team Napolitano will argue that Hermosillo isn't a resort town.  Some will argue that the conditions are so Spartan that the delegates would rather be drinking margaritas at the Biltmore or Camelback Inn.  I'm sympathetic to that argument.  In fact while I was doing the research for this post, I uncovered this very sad photo demonstrating that the delegates actually have to ration toilet paper.

But even if that's true, even if the work is important and the conditions are harsh, is now the time to fly a hundred state employees to Mexico for a conference?

That's so...you know, so AIG or Lehman Bros.

Hey buddy, want to hear a secret?

Everyone I talk to has a theory about Governor Napolitano's next move.  They all seem to know a guy who gets his hair cut by the same guy who cuts Howard Deans' son's hair...and that guy says that Napolitano is definitely going to get appointed to X. 

The latest rumor seems credible.  I know a guy who knows a guy who is friends with Rahm Emanual's Secretary and he thinks that Janet will be appointed White House Counsel.  Hmm.  I think that actually makes a lot of sense.   Unlike an obscure cabinet appointee,  White House Counsel is one of the President's closest advisers.  It's also a position that has a lot of flexibility and doesn't require Senate Confirmation. 

You will recall that Bush's White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales went on to be appointed Attorney General and Harriot Meyers was nominated to the Supreme Court.  Obviously, neither of those appointments worked out well, but they show how important the White House Counsel is.

So that has become my official prediction.  Now that's change I can believe in.

Next, I'm going to ask my source what interest rates are going to do. 

Back Away from the Laptop and no one gets hurt.

I'm in my last semester at ASU's law school, Finals are in three weeks, tensions are running high and like every other student, I have all of my notes on my laptop.  The first year students (1Ls) are the under the most stress.  First year classes are run on the Socratic Method, so 1Ls often get called on and occasionally get humiliated.  Grades are on a curve, and all 160 1Ls were top students in their undergraduate work, and now half of them are going to be in the bottom half of the class. 

So, this story doesn't really surprise me.   What does surprise me is that this guy survived and that the story is starting to go national.

Arizona State University student Alex Botsios said he had no problem giving a nighttime intruder his wallet and guitars.

When the man asked for Botsios' laptop, however, the first-year law student drew the line.

"I was like, 'Dude, no -- please, no!" Botsios said. "I have all my case notes…that's four months of work!"

Police said Gabriel Saucedo entered Botsios' apartment through an open window early Thursday morning. When Botsios woke up, Saucedo threatened him with a baseball bat, police said.

He was just like, 'I'm going to smash your head in,'" Botsios said.

At that point, the law student wrestled the bat away and began punching Saucedo, Botsios said.

"I basically grabbed him and threw him this way, and he held onto the bat so it threw him to the ground," he said.

Run Forrest!

Readers are starting to complain that I haven't updated in a while.  I would like to claim that it's because work and school are both crazy right now.  That's true; I'm hosting two major events, and have a full hearing schedule for work, plus I have a major paper on regulatory history and costs of Arsenic removal due on Friday. 

But the truth is that I can't think of anything to write.  My two most recent posts about the fall of the Republic and the Republican victories in Arizona don't actually mark the conclusions of two of this blog's major themes, but they do signal a brief hiatus in two of the areas that I cover most.  It seems like any more coverage of them in the immediate future would be piling on.

So give me the rest of the day to regroup.  I'll take some time during lunch and be sure to have something for you this afternoon.  Thanks for your patience.

Republic Publisher Sends Letter to Employees

Republic Publisher John Zidich just sent this message to Republic employees.

Just over a week ago Bob Dickey, president of the newspaper division, sent all employees a note outlining the difficult business conditions facing the company and steps being taken to manage through these tough times. Bob shared that across Community Publishing Division, newspapers will be reducing payroll expenses by approximately 10%. The decision on how the reductions are implemented is a local one. During the last week many of you have suggested ideas that could reduce cost. Those suggestions have been thoughtful and are under consideration.

Since the announcement I have met with each department head to review all aspects of our operations. The goal of these meetings is to determine the most effective way to manage job elimination and retain the core values of this company. Needless to say these decisions are difficult. Job eliminations are expected to take place in early December, although special circumstances may dictate deferring the effective date a few weeks. Those whose jobs are eliminated will receive severance, which will be 1 week of pay for each completed years of service, with a minimum of 2 weeks of severance and a maximum of 26 weeks of severance.

If any employee wishes to be voluntarily considered for this severance, you may submit your request to Mike Spector V. P. Human Resources or your department head no later than noon on Tuesday November 11, 2008. You would receive the same severance and timetable outlined above. Of course, we must also work to preserve our operational strength as we go forward with this process, so I cannot guarantee that anyone who volunteers will be accepted, but your offer will be seriously considered.

I appreciate your support in these difficult times.

John

Laid off a few weeks before Christmas in this economy.  That really sucks.

Let me ask a question.  It's inevitable that this is going to sound snarky, but I'm serious.  How can ASU still have a Journalism School?  Is there any prospect of those graduates getting jobs?  The Tribune just laid off 143 employees and will be lucky to be around in a year.  The Republic has had two major layoffs and a buy out in the last couple months and no one is arguing that this is simply cyclical. 

It's not like Boeing firing a bunch of engineers who will re-hired in a few years, or who can work at other engineering jobs.  There will be fewer professional journalists working each year for the foreseeable future.  The only way the new graduates can compete with the recently laid off veterans is on price, and that's not much of a way to make a living. 

To be sure, Journalism School teaches some general skills.  It used to be like an English degree with the possibility of employment.  Now both majors provide a four-year path to a career at Starbucks.