The American Spectator

p> YOU HEARD IT HERE br> It’s unclear how many Republicans will jump into the race for governor of California, but a lot of people are looking. No one Washington seriously expects former Rep. Jack Kemp to enter the race, however. /p>

“He hasn’t shown an interest to run for anything in his entire career other than from defensive linemen and for his safe House seat,” says a Washington insider, who knows Kemp. “He wouldn’t run for a leadership post in the House when the party needed him. He wouldn’t run for Senator in New York or California, when the party needed him. Why do people think he’d run for governor?”

Another name being floated is that of radio talk show host Michael Reagan. A rookie of sorts, Reagan would energize the conservative base that has been looking for a candidate more in line ideologically than the moderate Ah-nold, and more appealing than Rep. Darrell Issa.

p> SUMMER PLEADING br> Before leaving town for the summer recess, members of both House caucuses receive binders full of talking points and issue briefings for use during public appearances during their time back home — but the briefing books House Democrats were sent home with turn out to be mighty slim. Whereas Republicans were sent off to tout the work and achievements of this session, Democrats were instructed to complain about the Bush Administration’s prescription drug plan, the war on terrorism, and unemployment and the weak economy. /p>

“Don’t see how those issues help us,” says a Democratic member from a Southern state. “The economy is looking better, we didn’t have a prescription drug plan and the Republicans did, and we just took out Saddam’s kids. This is all pretty weak stuff.”

House Democrats complained that there was nothing for them to tout back home, no real Democratic alternatives, no new ideas. “We’ve got nothing, and we’ve had nothing for a couple of sessions now,” says a House Democratic leadership staffer. “When Gingrich and those guys were backbenchers, they were always pushing ideas, even if they didn’t have a chance since we were in control. Now that we’re back there, we don’t have anything. At some point, something has to give.”

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