* Arnold Schwarzenegger's scheduled appearance on the Howard Stern radio show was postponed -- by the show.
* Gubernatorial candidate and state Sen. Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) was one of only three to vote against a bill by state Sen. Nell Soto, a Pomona Democrat, to toughen penalties for staging cockfights, raising the penalty from a maximum $1,000 fine and a year in jail to fines of up to $25,000 for a second offense. Support for the measure accelerated after evidence linked illegal cockfighting with the spread of Newcastle disease, which has devastated parts of the poultry industry.
* Taco Bell, the Orange County-based fast-food chain, is asking patrons to vote with their stomachs. Ordering a certain beef taco will count as a vote for Schwarzenegger, a certain burrito will count as a vote for any of the 134 other candidates, and a soft chicken taco order counts as a vote of support for Gov. Gray Davis. The menu-vote selection -- Schwarzenegger, beef, Davis, chicken, get it? -- could be said to reflect the political preferences of a man who until three years ago owned 13 Orange County Taco Bells: former Republican assemblyman Bill Campbell, who once displayed pictures of Taco Bell Chihuahuas among photos of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush in his Sacramento office.
For Candidates, the Party Never Ends
Feeling alone? Ignored? A wallflower at parties? Well, make your social life sparkle -- run for governor of California!
The six score-plus men and women running for governor have been besieged with varieties of invitations and importunings since they declared their political intentions. These two were forwarded by candidate Gary Leonard, Democrat and photographer-about-town: "Dear Candidate: The Modesto A's Professional Baseball Club, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, cordially invite you to throw out a ceremonial first pitch prior to our Fan Appreciation Night ... " A hundred-something first pitches? Even with the offer of five minutes to pitch the candidate's own spiel during pregame ceremonies, Leonard sent regrets; he had to work that night. But eight candidates showed up.
