BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS in Sacramento usually don’t heat up until the temperature climbs past the 100-degree mark. Not this year. Sacramento hit triple digits on July 5; the Golden State’s budget is now three weeks past its July 1 due date.

As for political rhetoric, all it took to overheat were a few wisecracks from the Governator, which occurred this weekend when Arnold Schwarzenegger hit the campaign trial to express his dissatisfaction with the Democratic-controlled and humor-challenged legislature.