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??"It won't be solved in six months," South said.
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"This is an immediate problem that is not susceptible to an immediate solution. This is a several-year process to get this situation back under control."
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??As for the governor's critics, "I think they should be asked to produce their own plan. It's awful easy to take pot shots, but most of those who I read about in the newspapers have no plan."
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??The intraparty sniping on the eve of the party convention highlights the frustration Democrats are feeling about the crisis_and its potential political damage.
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??Four months ago, this weekend's convention in Anaheim seemed certain to be a Davis fete.
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Although Democrats had lost the presidency, Al Gore easily carried California and the party was in firm control of the Legislature and the state's congressional delegation.
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??Davis had led the Gore effort in California and the governor was personally and politically popular across the state.
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This would have been the convention for him to showcase his achievements for education, the issue he had promised to make the hallmark of his first term.
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??But electricity now overshadows everything else.
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To be sure, the governor will tout his policy achievements during a Saturday morning speech to the convention delegates.
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And he is not shying away from the spotlight.
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??Tonight, he will host a party for the delegates at Disney's California Adventure Theme Park.
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That prompted one Democratic consultant from Sacramento who won't be attending to quip, "We're in fantasy land here, thank you. We don't need to go to Disneyland for that."
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??Some are shaking their heads in disbelief at how the governor has handled the events of the past week.
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"In many ways, he appears to have gone politically tone deaf," said Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, political analyst at Claremont Graduate University.
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"His instincts are not serving him well."
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??While his top aides were meeting with legislators last week to warn them that a $10 billion bond package won't be enough to get the state out of the crisis, Davis was at a $10,000-per-person Palm Springs golf tournament to raise money for his re-election campaign.
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??When his hand-picked members of the Public Utilities Commission this week approved an electricity rate hike that experts have been predicting for months, Davis claimed that he didn't know about the plan before it was announced and that he thought it was premature.
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??Other Democrats, however, thought the commission action was overdue.
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"I'm glad to see the PUC stepping out and doing something along the lines that some of us have been talking about needing to be done for the last six or eight weeks," said state Sen. Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch.
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"There's a high level of frustration. There haven't been clear answers to what the solution is."
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??South, the Davis political strategist, said a lot of factors are outside the governor's control.
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"No one can predict with any certainty where this is going to go, and no one can predict when this situation is going to be brought under control. We don't control the generators, we don't control the FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission), we don't control what Wall Street is going to do."
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??As for the potential political fallout, South said the governor and Democrats remain in a strong position.
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After all, he said, the deregulation plan was pushed through by a Republican governor and Republicans in Washington are blocking efforts to cap prices.
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??Jack Pitney, government professor at Claremont McKenna College, predicted Davis could weather the electricity crisis.
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"People who are following it know it's roots run deeper than the Davis administration and the Republicans don't have any plausible alternatives," he said.
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??"My read of public opinion is people don't think there's a simple and easy solution and they're not expecting one. They may be impatient but they won't necessarily take it out on (Davis)."
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??It's too early to predict the political outcome, said Mark Baldassare, pollster at the Public Policy Institute of California.
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??"The impacts won't be clear until people have gone through a few billing cycles and we've gone through the summer blackouts, until we see what the personal impacts are so we know what the political impacts are," he said.
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"That's the really crucial period for Gray Davis' political future, after this summer."
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You're sweet.
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I'm responding from under a palapas.
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(From yesterday's 1:30 call, I see much ain't changed since I left. :) Best, Jeff
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Thank you.
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Sounds like it was a good meeting and Lay did a great job.
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Best, Jeff
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thanks.
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i'll review.
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Best, Jeff
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Hi Margaret: I'll get you my comments first thing Monday morning.
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Best, Jeff
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Hi Avrim: So sorry this took me so long, and I hope you haven't already left---I recayou saying that you guys were leaving on the 1st, which I hope is the case.Anyway, hope that this finds you before you depart.
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First, if you didn't buy a "Plan du Paris" ("map of Paris, in English) onyour first trip, I highly recommend it. All Parisians use it, it costs abou$10-15 and you'll use if for all your other trips to Paris. It's a must fogetting around the town. Every street in the city; all the "arrondissements": map of the subway system, etc. OK, here goes. It's been a while, and I don't have my "Plan" with me here in Mexico, so I'm working from memory. Hope that it's helpful. Once you'vebought your "Plan," you can reference my suggestions and get yourself oriented, link the walks together, etc. For an exotic (and cool) experience, go to "the Mosque" ("La Mosquee") inFrench. It's in the southeastern part of the city (15th arrondissement, or5th?). Go the cafe in the mosque and have tea. It's just very cool. La Rue Moufftard (sp?). It starts on the top of the hill where the Pantheois (across the street from the Luxembourg Gardens). It's a neat little street that winds down the other side of the hill. Go before noon when themarket fills the street---you can buy a few things and picnic in the Luxembourg Garden. Speaking of the Luxembourg Gardens, it's a neat place. I'd take a walk through---check out all of the "espaille'd" fruit trees----truly a work ofart. Walk to the other side of the Garden (opposite from the Pantheon side) andfind the "St.
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Sulpice" church. Very cool neighborhood (St. Germain des Preneighborhood). The church is on a square; there's a lot of very nice cafesand restaurants, and it's the site of the famous "Left Bank" fashion centerWhile you're over there, wander to the Montparnasse neighborhood and stop iat the "Rosebud" bar. Hemmingway and the gang drank there. It's small, thwaiters where little white coats and they play real vinyl records of the best jazz anywhere. Best of all, it's not pretentious. It's hip. Also there is a cemetery where many famous folks are buried (including SergGainsbourg)----cemeteries are of course a big deal in Paris, the most notabbeing the Pere LaChaise Cemetery, where Jim Morrison is buried. They're Interesting enough, but I don't know if I'd go out of my way.... In the Latin Quarter (5th arrond), check out "L'Ecluse," right on the riverat the Quai les Grands Augustins, just off Boulevard St. Michel. Little wibar with tasty things to nibble on. Great place to take a breather in thelate afternoon (somewhat) in style. The Picasso museum in the &Marais8 neighborhood is an absolute must. And while you,re there be sure to cruise the neighborhood. Very gentrified these days (and it,s the gay neighborhood), but been renovated into a lot of vimpressive art galleries and fashion houses---very neat. While there (in the same neighborhood) go to the &Place des Vosges.8 Unreal big old square from way back when---great to look at and there,s shops acafes. Architechturally magnificent and the exhibits inside are modest and very impressive. Rue de la Roquette is now extremely hip---on the east side of the Bastillebehind the &new opera8 (if you get a chance go an opera there---very populist experience and fun. Roquette is where the clubs and the musique are. General hip-dome (and if you,re inclined to do some real people-watching, go to Boulevard St. Germain and sit outside at Les Deux Magots or Caf, Fleureand watch away). Find on your map the church St. Eustache. Walk around east of it for somevery cool neighborhood viewing*used to be big wholesale butchers and suc(extension of Les Halles, which is now a big shopping mall but used to beParis, outdoor market). From there walk to &Place des Victoires, or Place des Notre Dame des Victoires (I can,t remember). And look for GallerieVivienne, too---Belle Epoque little food a shopping corrider*very neat. And finally, while your over there, go to the Palais Royale (by the Louvre)which is where Louis XIV grew up as a boy---fantastic courtyard, controversial artwork (black and white striped columns); walk to the opposite end, exit the courtyard out the back and continue walking in theneighborhood. I,ll leave the museums, etc. to you. Sorry to quick and dirty. Have a great time. See you soon. Best, Jeff
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Avram: Ignore the babble about the "Plan du Paris," since you already have it.
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Have a fantastic and safe time.
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See you in a couple of weeks.
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Best to you both in your travels.
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Jeff
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In all week.
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Hi Joseph: Could you please look in that little "legislator info" booklet and email to Janel address, phone #, fax and email (or fax) info for: Robert Hertzberg John Burton Debra Bowen Fred Keeley Janel: let us know if there are others for whom you need the info.
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As always, thanks a bunch Joseph.
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Best, Jeff
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Got it.
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Here's what I sent Rick and Jim before I left.
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Best, Jeff
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Works for me.
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Best, Jeff
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Laura: Good talking to you.
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Per our conversation, here's the package.
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Thanks very much for passing it along.
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If you have any questions, etc., don't hesitate.
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Best, Jeff
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Hi Jason: Per my voice mail, here's the package of materials for customers to use to make sure key policy makers know that maintaining customer choice in California is critical.
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As I mentioned in the voice mail, the Legislature's likely to move this week on a variety of fronts, so it's important that the business community make its voice heard immediately and clearly.
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If you could forward this along to the SVMG members, it would be very helpful to the fight for cusomer choice and greatly appreciated.
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Information on how to contact the key legislators is included.
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Also included are "form" letters that folks can print out, sign, and send.
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If you have any questions, don't hesitate to give me a call at 415.782.7822.
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Best, Jeff
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FYI.
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She's forwarding around the Valley, and I'll follow up to make sure that she's having Chambers sign and send.
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Best, Jeff
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My understanding is that it's languishing but still has a decent chance of getting through.
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The question is when.
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I'll try to get some more firm information and get back to you later in the afternoon.
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Best, Jeff
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Any news from the litigation front with UC/CSU?
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This should help Prentice's chances for employment come the Fall.
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You guys should have a HUGE phone bill on your room charges.
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Please fax me a copy of the bill.
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I will cover all phone charges.
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Also, please forward to me what I owe you for the plane flight and golf and our share of dinners, drinks, guacamole, etc. We played spades at the airport.
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My team lost..........again.
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My losing streak now ties DiMaggio's hitting streak.
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Best, Jeff
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oh shit.
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you're right.
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Yes.
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And I'd be happy to call him and harass him.
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Better yet, if Ken Lay's willing to call him and harass him, that'd be better still.
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Best, Jeff
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Thanks a million.
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Do you think that you're boss is inclinded to put a call in to the governor regarding the importance of choice and/or sign and send letters to the leadership?
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Also, what was the name of the association you forwarded the package to?
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Thanks again.
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Best, Jeff
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My understanding (as of yesterday evening) is that it's on its own.
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I'll check and get back to you.
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