Arianna in the Fray
Hi Glenn,
This romp in the Land of Fruits & Nuts is certainly entertaining.
The wittiest of the contendas has got to be Arianna Huffington, who is already quipping about "16 words".....
sfgate.com
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Arianna Huffington jumps into California's gubernatorial race
Associated Press Wednesday, August 6, 2003 LOS ANGELES (AP) --
Campaign-spouse-turned-commentator Arianna Huffington pledged Wednesday that she will end special interest tax breaks and decrease college tuition fees if elected California's governor in October.
Huffington, 53, said she would run as an independent and would try to galvanize "people who have given up on politics."
"Today I am announcing that I'm running for governor of the great state of California," said Huffington, who spoke at a rally at a youth center announcing her candidacy. "Those are 16 words I never thought I could hear myself say."
Huffington first announced her candidacy Wednesday on the "Today" show, a few hours before a news conference and rally.
Her former husband, Michael Huffington has taken out nominating papers and also is considering entering the race. His spokesman, Bruce Nestande, said Wednesday no decision has been made.
Despite the number of people who have expressed interest in being the state's next governor, Huffington felt it was the right time to run.
"I'm not, to say the least, a conventional candidate. But these are not conventional times," said Huffington, who was surrounded by signs reading "Arianna For Governor" and "Arianna, It's Time to Clean House." "And if we keep electing the same kind of politicians who got us into the same kind of mess, funded by the same kind of special interests, we'll never get out of this mess."
Born in Greece, Huffington moved to England when she was 16 years old and graduated from Cambridge University. She married Michael Huffington in 1986 and helped him win a congressional seat in Santa Barbara. Michael Huffington attempted a bid for a Senate seat in 1994 but was defeated by current U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. They divorced after he publicly announced he was gay.
Huffington writes a syndicated column that appears in the Los Angeles Times, the New York Daily News and the Boston Herald. She also has written nine books and has appeared on numerous talk shows.
Huffington heads a nonprofit group, The Detroit Project, that urges fuel efficiency among American drivers and less dependency on imported oil. Earlier this year, the group was criticized for two television ads that tried to link SUVs to terrorist funding. Some TV stations refused to air the ads.
On Wednesday, Huffington said she wanted all state employees to drive hybrid-fuel cars if she is elected. |
