What's In/What's Out in 2008

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Now that the ball has dropped in Times Square, it's time for our "What's In, What's Out" list, where we take a look at what's hot -- and what's not in California politics.

In: Shane Goldmacher, Out: Dan Walters

Capitol Alert, shedding its high price subscription requirement, is the snazzy new way to get breaking news in the Capitol. Now if it would drop the whining W's -- Walters and Weigand -- for columnists that are capable of offering insight rather than daily lampooning of elected officials, they'd have a news product that would live up to the much-missed "Political Muscle" from the LA Times.

In: SEIU, AFSCME, Out: UNITE-HERE

Pragmatic labor unions SEIU and AFSCME, which helped muscle the new health care accord through the Assembly, are getting new respect in the Capitol. Meanwhile, UNITE-HERE -- whose leadership's scorched earth strategy failed to block Senate and Assembly approval of  tribal compacts -- appears to be throwing $2 million in members dues down the drain in fighting the compacts on the February ballot.

In: Adam Mendelsohn, Out: Adam Mendelsohn

Arnold's take-no-prisoners communications director is leaving Team Schwarzenegger when it needs him most, replaced by a spokesperson who has defended the Iraq war for Bush (how's that going?).  But he's simply moving over to the campaign side to help efforts on health care. So don't worry, reporters: he still has your number on speed dial if you write something shitty about the Governor.

In: Sen. Dave Cogdill, Out: Sen. Dick Ackerman

State Senate Republicans "What I Did on My Summer Vacation" escapade was the most embarrassing political drama of 2007. After holding up the budget for months, they ended up snookered on a CEQA deal and won no political points. Their PR strategy was to outmaneuver each other on the Flash Report instead of winning points in the mainstream media. Even if Prop 93 passes, watch for the Senate GOP to put gentlemanly Dave Cogdill in their leadership slot. You need only watch the Flash Report's "Holiday Video" to see why.

There's more...