----------------------------------------------------------------------

I woke up before sunrise Saturday morning to prepare for my day trip to Squaw Valley -- a three-and-a-half hour jaunt from San Francisco -- which was only my second ski day this season. And what a day! I couldn't have picked a better day to ski. The snow was perfect, the crowds were not, and the sun shone brightly (I have the burnt face to show it). All aspects of the trip went incredibly well. I woke up when I planned, left when I planned, didn't run into any traffic or snow problems on the way there or back. My luck ran out, though, a full day after returning from Tahoe.

Sunday night, on our way back from a trip to the grocery store, Jen and I were driving along The Embarcadero. All was going well in the rainy night, but visibility was low, and the lane in which we traveled suddenly was not. Rather, it had transitioned to a bike lane and a curb sneaked out and bit my right front tire, leaving it flat as a pancake. So on went the tiny spare, and off my car goes to the shop.

Have a great week, and don't forget to vote tomorrow.

-Gabe

*************************** ADVERTISEMENT *************************** YOUR AD HERE! Want to send a message to 1,700+ individuals each week? Place your ad here! This newsletter is not spam, so everyone who receives it has asked for it. For rates and other information on advertising, drop a message to ads@capenq.com. *********************************************************************

Of all those who vote for McCain, only the votes cast by Republicans will count toward the selection of delegates at the party's presidential nominating convention this summer. That means that all the crossover votes sought by McCain -- successfully in Michigan, for example -- will count for naught here in terms of delegate strength. And it is the delegates, not necessarily the primary election voters, who ultimately choose the nominee. California has some 162 Republican delegates, roughly 15 percent of the party's total.

The most likely scenario is that George W. Bush will win big in California -- at least that's what the polls say.

But polls have been wrong before -- one need only look to the gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races here in 1982.

And a McCain victory, even if it is only what professional polls call a "beauty contest," or even a strong McCain showing offers peril for the national party.

That's because non-Republicans in California who vote for McCain will not be pleased when they learn that their votes were irrelevant toward the selection of the Republican standard-bearer. Despite all that has been written about this issue, relatively few people are really aware of the complexities of this primary election and the fact that their votes may be written off.

So McCain could win the popular vote but lose the delegate vote. And if that happens in the nation's largest state, it is all but certain that there will be a bruising, divisive floor fight at the Republicans' national convention.

Party law dictates that any change in rules be prospective -- that is, that they take effect at the following convention. But rules are made to be broken, and those who write the rules can change them.

If McCain survives "Super Tuesday" and heads into the convention with popular support, the Republican Party will confront the unpleasant task of choosing between party dicta and the popular will. The state could even send a split delegation to the convention -- it's not unheard of -- and the resulting floor fight could wind up being one for the history books.

When California approved moving up its primary to March from June, the expectation was that it would force candidates to campaign here seriously. That has proven true. But the combination of early primary and "open" primary -- in which voters of any party can vote for any candidate -- has provided added drama. And it would certainly be ironic if, after all the talk of the importance of an early primary, the popular vote proved to be an irrelevancy.

For political professionals, as well as the 7.5 million votes who are expected to go to the polls, Tuesday promises to be interesting, indeed.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

--John Matthews in the Sacramento Bee, who reported that spending over Tuesday's ballot propositions has reached a whopping $150 million. "Sometimes single checks are being written for a stunning $500,000 or more, helping to bolster California's long-time reputation as the mother lode of campaign filling stations," Matthews reported. (March 4)

--Mike Geniella in the Press-Democrat of Santa Rosa, who reported that the Headwaters Forest accord has proven a financial and political boon to corporate and environmental interests. "For the corporate interests that owned the ancient forest until it was placed under public ownership a year ago this month, the deal brought $300 million in cash and title to a 7,000-acre swath of adjoining commercial timberland. And for the environmental interests that battled to preserve the forest, Headwaters continues to generate attention and money," Geniella reported. (March 5)

--Chris Mondics in the San Jose Mercury, who reported that newly obtained documents show that Al Gore, despite his earlier statements, was likley aware that a 1996 luncheon at a Buddhist temple was a political fund-raiser. "There is no evidence Gore knew anything about the money-laundering scheme, which appears to have been engineered by Democratic Party operatives seeking to curry favor with the White House. But one e-mail message written by the vice president shows that weeks before the event, he knew he would be attending a fundraiser in Southern California on April 29, 1996, though he does not mention the temple itself. Even his security staff understood the event to be a money-raising luncheon." (March 4)

--Steve Geissinger in the Oakland Tribune, who reported that the California Lottery's own demographics show a hefty number of low-income ticket purchasers.

--Tony Perry in the Los Angeles Times, reporting that traffic congestion has become the top political priority in tranquil, snug San Diego. "Candidates for municipal, county and even legislative office are citing the county's clogged freeways and surface roads during peak traffic hours as their top reason for seeking election," Perry wrote. "I'm running for mayor [because] traffic and growth are out of control," said Superior Court Judge Dick Murphy. "It's a parking lot out there now," said Councilman George Stevens, another mayoral hopeful. (March 3)

--Alan Gathright in the San Jose Mercury News reported on the growing number of children without adequate dental care. "San Mateo County supervisors on Tuesday ordered health officials to push to become California's first county to take over dental care for low-income children from the troubled state Denti-Cal program. Since 1997, there's been a 30 percent drop in the number of county dentists who will accept Denti-Cal patients, because the program has become infamous for red tape and paying only a fraction of dental bills. Only 129 dentists in the county will treat children under Denti-Cal, and only 105 are accepting new patients." (March 1)

Regarding Prop. 12 & 13, there is a huge difference between the year 2000 and 1960. In 1960, the state had essentially a balanced budget and bonds were used to amortize the large cost involved. In 2000, we poured a $4 billion dollar surplus (read that as excessive taxes) down the political rat hole and now these enlightened leaders want to borrow more money. They made the poor choices; let them suffer the public outrage for their mismanagement, not the tax payers of California.

Why incur debt when we could have effectively paid cash?

Kent Greenough
California Resident and Tax Payer

This handy directory lists alphabetically all agency and department-level organizations, most division and branch level offices. Names and titles of state offices and officials, with addresses, phone and fax numbers. Where a vacancy exists the position is listed without a name. Convenient 4" x 9" fits in your briefcase or on your desk. With the election of a Democratic Governor, major shifts are occurring in personnel and state agency structure. Order now at: http://www.capenq.com/order or fax (916) 442-1260.

*** NOW TAKING ORDERS FOR 2000 PUBLICATIONS! ***

*** 2000 Pocket Directory of the California Legislature ***

You need the 2000 Pocket Directory now! To be published March of 2000. Stay up-to-date on Legislative contact information. Order the newest edition of "the little red book" today! Place your secure online order through our Web site: http://www.capenq.com/order, or fax (916) 442-1260.

*** 2000 U.S. Congress Directory ***

Order the 2000 U.S. Congress Directory now! To be published March of 2000. Stay up-to-date on Congressional contact information for the entire U.S. Order the newest edition today! Place your secure online order through our Web site: http://www.capenq.com/order or fax (916) 442-1260.

*** UPDATED INFORMATION NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE ***

*** Committee Rosters ***

You asked for it, you got it! The updated listings for both Assembly and Senate committees are now available through our Web site. Point your browser to http://www.capenq.com/gov/info.html for links to the rosters.

*** Current Legislative Rosters ***

Looking for the current rosters of the Assembly or Senate? Head on over to http://www.capenq.com/gov/info.html for links to the current lists -- updated with district, member name, party, room and phone number.