The Buzz: It's splitsville at the governor's house

You can say a lot of things about Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger – and we do – but you can't say he doesn't believe in his "post-partisanship" mantra.

Witness his explanation to The Bee's editorial board last week of why there are both Barack Obama and John McCain signs by the front gate of the Schwarzenegger manse in Brentwood:

"My wife (Maria Shriver) came out and endorsed Obama … and my daughter and her put the sign up in front of the gate. So I couldn't have that sign alone, so I had to go and tell my guys, 'Get me a McCain sign, we've got to put one right next to it.' So we have both."

The guv said the political comity extends inside the gate as well. "There are no arguments ever about any of that," he said. But he did admit that "sometimes there is a bit of eye-rolling and those kinds of things."

Speaking of post-partisanship

Like a lot of folks, Noreen Evans enjoys touring California's 25 million wineries (well, it seems like it), purchasing a bottle or two and then having a picnic on the winery grounds. Trouble is, that's technically against state liquor laws.

Fortunately for picnic lovers and oenophiles, Evans is a Democratic assemblywoman from Santa Rosa and is pushing a bill (AB 2004) through the Legislature that would change the law. Not that it's taking a lot of pushing. After opening remarks that took about 30 seconds, the Assembly approved the bill 76-0 last week and sent it to the Senate.

Who says there's no commonality of interest between Reeps and Dems?

Return of the Deukster

There is bound to be a noticeable rise in the dignity/honor/class levels around the Capitol on June 14, and not just because it's a Saturday and the Legislature won't be there.

Nope, they'll be going up because Courken George Deukmejian, one the most decent guys to ever be governor of California, will be there. More specifically, the Deukster will be the guest of honor at a reunion celebrating the 25th anniversary of his taking office in 1983.

The $46-a-person reception/dinner at the Hyatt Regency is being put together by alumni of his administration and his 1982 and 1986 gubernatorial campaigns, and former Deukster spokeswoman Donna Lucas says a mob of more than 400 is expected. For info on attending, peruse www.dukereunion.org.

Being third and second – and first

To clear up some confusion in the wake of the swearing-in of Assemblywoman Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, as the state's 67th speaker last week:

• She is the third African American speaker.

• She is the second female speaker.

• She is the first African American female speaker.

What's maybe just as notable is that after an unbroken line of 57 white males, seven of the past 10 have been minorities, female or, in Bass' case, both.

And what's most notable about that is that almost no one has noticed.

About the writer:

• The Buzz is compiled by The Bee's Capitol Bureau and written by Bee columnist Steve Wiegand. Reach him at (916)321-1076 or swiegand@sacbee.com.