Governor Calls For Special Election; State Senator Alarcon; China, Inc.; Rebel Filmmakers
Governor Calls For Special Election
Governor Schwarzenegger has announced the launch a statewide petition drive aiming to take his reforms directly to voters in a November special election. His strategy is to circumvent the Democratic-controlled legislature, and also to pressure Democrats to negotiate with him. Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Weintraub talks about the Governor’s strategy, and the Democrat’s response. Joining Larry also is John Benoit, Republican State Assemblyman representing the 64th district (Riverside), Bonnie Garcia, California State Assemblywoman (Republican) for the 80th Assembly district, which includes Eastern Riverside and Imperial Counties, and Jackie Speir, D-San Francisco.
State Senator Alarcon
California State Senator Richard Alarcon, (D-Sun Valley), joins Host Larry Mantle to talk about his candidacy in the race for Mayor of Los Angeles.
China, Inc.
Economic and financial journalist, Ted Fishman, contends that China will be the world’s largest economy in two decades. China already makes over 70% of the goods sold by Wal-Mart. It can make Jeep-style cars that cost half the price of American-made Jeeps. Fishman says that in ten years’ time, Chinese drugs and planes will become a major challenge to these same goods made in America. In short, American economic superiority faces a serious challenge from China. How will America protect its industries and interests and maintain good relations with China? Fishman joins Host Larry Mantle to discuss his new book, China, Inc.: How the Rise of the Next Industrial Superpower Challenges America and the World (Scribner).
Rebel Filmmakers
Sharon Waxman, Hollywood correspondent for the New York Times, spent several years following maverick filmmakers who took their independent filmmaking into the studio system. She looks at the careers of Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, David Fincher, and others, showing how they shook up the way films were made, revitalizing the industry. Her new book is called Rebels on the Backlot: Six Maverick Directors and How They Conquered the Hollywood Studio System (Harper Collins).