California's new governor: What, me worry?

Jerry Brown should have been in that old commercial for Dry Idea deodorant - you know, the one with the tagline, "Never let 'm see you sweat." During his quick trip to L.A., the guy flew commercial (getting a senior discount), had next to no entourage (one security guy), stayed overnight at a friend's house (rather than billing the state for a fat hotel bill), and shrugged off being cut off during a morning news show ("I didn't have a lot to say, anyway, so I was glad for the interruption"). In the space of 36 hours, Brown has probably secured more respect as a public figure than L.A.'s mayor has received after six years in office. Of course, now it gets hard - he must somehow work out a budget compromise with Republicans that will ensure a special election in June - and a chance for voters to consider an emergency tax extension (itself an iffy prospect). During a morning event in Torrance, he said the Republicans will come out with their list of possible compromises next week. It could tell a lot. After giving Brown the cold shoulder for the past few weeks, a number of Republicans seem ready to deal - or at least to talk about dealing. From the LAT:

There were signs this week that a compromise might eventually be possible. Assembly Republican leader Connie Conway of Tulare seemed to soften her stance against the governor's proposal after her caucus met with Brown on Wednesday in Sacramento. "We're not to a point that we're saying yes to putting something on the ballot yet," Conway said. "I think it might depend on what that ballot looks like."

Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg said that Senate Democrats will support Brown's budget plan with only minor modifications before moving the budget out of committee meetings next week. During brief remarks yesterday, Brown had suggested that he was having trouble corralling the Democrats. Didn't seem too concerned, however.

Photo: AP