Posted on 02/12/2005 3:54:58 PM PST by FairOpinion
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb 12 (Reuters) - California's Republican loyalists said on Saturday they are ready to rally behind Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's ambitious political agenda that includes ballot measures Democrats vow to defeat.
Republicans meeting at the party's state convention in Sacramento said they will eagerly fight by Schwarzenegger's side if he asks voters to support this year's agenda through ballot measures, a sharp contrast to a September convention when party officials feared key conservative members would not embrace the socially moderate Hollywood icon.
But Schwarzenegger has in recent public appearances rarely missed an opportunity to stress he stands with conservatives on fiscal matters and that he has ruled out tax increases to balance the state's budget. California faces a $9.1 billion shortfall in the next fiscal year starting in July.
"When he first came onto the scene, I was skeptical ... but I think he's proven himself," said R.Q. Williams of Napa County's Republican Central Committee. "He hit the nail on the head, pointing out that what we need to do is rein in spending, not worry about how to figure out taxes and new fees."
At a dinner on Friday night, Schwarzenegger launched into a blistering attack on California's Democrat-led legislature to get rank-and-file Republicans to support potential ballot measures to overhaul the state government.
Democrats, he said, are "spending addicts" who are standing in the way of his agenda, which includes a plan to partially privatize the state's public pension funds. The largest and third-largest U.S. pensions funds are in the state.
PUT IT TO VOTERS
His plan mirrors White House aims for the Social Security system.
Democrats, public employee unions and pension fund officials oppose the plan, which Schwarzenegger says is needed so the state can rid itself of costly financial obligations to the funds. Schwarzenegger has threatened to put the plan to voters if lawmakers do not seriously consider it.
The plan would strike at the heart of one of the state Democratic Party's most significant sources of support.
"The train has left the station and there's three things they can do," Schwarzenegger said. "One is they can join and jump on the train. Number two, they can go and stay behind and just wave and be left behind, or number three, they get in front of the train and you know what happens then."
Republicans gave Schwarzenegger raucous cheers, reflecting a new confidence after years of being shut out in California's political wilderness.
"There's a euphoria that we're relevant again," said U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa. "The Republican party was doing very well in Washington, and was irrelevant in California for a number of years. It was also divided and leaderless. Now they are united with a tremendous leader."
Issa is right.
Go Arnold, go Issa!
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks to delegates at the California Republican Convention in Sacramento, Calif., Friday, Feb. 11, 2005. Calling the upcoming special election a 'great battle,' Schwarzenegger promised a victory over unions, special interests and Democrats. (AP Photo/Steve Yeater)
Relevant again Bump
(Does that include Tom McClintock too? seeing as how he has been pushing for many of these same reforms for years.)
Progress not perfection........but of course I'm sure I'll be flamed for that.....doing nothing or leaving it in the hands of the Dems could hardly be better......
He could've been relevant at any point by getting these initiatives on the ballot.
But he punted.
"Does that include Tom McClintock too? seeing as how he has been pushing for many of these same reforms for years."
===
Does that mean that McClintock will enthusiastically support Arnold and his reforms? Last I heard McC is planning to run for the Lt. Governorship as the "anti-
Arnold", promising that he will oppose everything that Arnold will try to do.
Wonder how much Indian tribal gaming money he'll scarf up THIS time. He says the tribes are sovereign nations. Didn't we get really hacked off about Clinton accepting foreign campaign donations, once upon a time?
I think what Arnold said to the Democrats, applies to everyone else, including McC:
"The train has left the station and there's three things they can do," Schwarzenegger said. "One is they can join and jump on the train. Number two, they can go and stay behind and just wave and be left behind, or number three, they get in front of the train and you know what happens then."
Questions is, whether McC will get on the train, since he is claiming that Arnold is implementing his (McC's) ideas -- as if ideas were patented, and McC had been the first one, to have those conservative ideas in the history of the US.
GO, ARNOLD!!!
How come Arnie hasn't given Tom a prime position ? Rinold would have lost without Tom in the race. Davis would still be governor.
And you would be a bold faced liar to say such a thing.
Show me any evidence that Tom is fighting the Governor in any way.
If that means he can not talk and raise his concerns , then I guess we may as well jusy put the Cuban flag up over the Capitol.
"Rinold would have lost without Tom in the race."
===
Arnold almost lost, and Bustamante almost won, BECAUSE Tom was in the race.
It is typical for you and others to drag the Indians into this mess. almost laughable.
I would expect more from you , but I am not surpised you are turning as vicious as some others here.
If the vote against the recall would have won it wouldn't have mattered. Tom kept the base in the race to vote no.
It was in some of the articles the McC fans posted. I am not going to dig them out.
While I occasionally point out, that the information posted by some McC supporters in misleading, I don't call them liars.
Why are you so angry? Could it be because truth and facts are on my side?
The Christy Whitman Chapter of the CA GOP has arrived and is demanding tribute.
all bow to their eminences.
Stating facts, that McC is running as "anti-Arnold" is being vicious?
Yeah right, your group is so virtuos.
Gee, on a smoggy day , is the sky still blue for you in LA.
For the country club elite Republicans who live with their heads in the clouds, probably so.
>>Could it be because truth and facts are on my side?
Not a chance, from what I've seen.
LOL.. And please source your comment that Tom is "anti-Arnold".
He's pro-california and for all of its residents except the illegals ones.
"There's a euphoria that we're relevant again," said U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa. "The Republican party was doing very well in Washington, and was irrelevant in California for a number of years. It was also divided and leaderless. Now they are united with a tremendous leader."
I didn't know the existing CA GOP leadership is retiring ..lol... the burden of such a slugger batting average must be wearing them out. ;)
ROFL!! What's Darrell smokin' these days? United?
btw, He uses that term "irrelevant" like Pete Wilson did.
I didn't flame you for that when I responded on another thread. You did, however, fail to respond. One more time:
And what do you consider "progress"? Putting 1/5 of the state land under the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, run by unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats? Putting the state $25 billion in debt, while continuing to increase spending for more social programs? Diverting expense to the local level (with no matching revenue) to force local tax increases?Please note, these are not "single issues" nor do they have much to do with "social views," unless of course you consider communism a social view that should be accepted in the interest of "moderation".
put it this way without arguing the minutia.....Davis was bad, McClintock was good, Bustamante was bad, Arnold was in the middle and the most likely to win......I won't argue the finer points with you now......I'm having too much fun conversing with tolerant FR's here....I note your displeasure with Arnold......carry on
In an article posted by an ardent McC fan:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1310463/posts
"Lest we forget the senator's bent to be the Republican Party's "Arnold Antagonist" at ever turn... "
Almost? Norm, you're slippling. Grin...
Like I said , you're pretty much turning into a lost cause and irrelevant in my book. ;-)
Riddle me this, FO. If the reforms all go down to defeat, will the Gub run again?
His movie career timer is ticking, can't waste too many more years politicking and frittering others money and support away.
T'wouldn't be prudent. ;-)
You seem to want to quickly label those whose opinions you do not share as being intolerant and to avoid giving support for your contentions. If state spending, property rights, and borrowing are minutia, what do you find to be relevant?
You said Arnold has made progress. I asked how. It's a simple question. I'm not reliving the election; Bustamante, Davis, and McClintock are not relevant to my question. I'm talking about from November 2003 forward.
In contrast, I cited examples that have pushed us further to the left, negative progress.
Why do you participate in a "discussion" forum, if you aren't willing to engage in discussion?
well you are intolerant........I did not dismiss your opinions at any point......at all...you are entitled to them...but following me around the posts and to keep hitting me on it seems to show me that you are not willing to let sleeping dogs lie.....why is this so important that you feel compelled to foist your opinions on me. I've moved on to other posts and blogs.....just let it go calcowgirl......what is your aim and what is your insecurity???
I have to disagree......if Arnold was propping up the Dems, than why are they out to get him and circumvent him...I too think the initiative system can be bad at times since people voted to have a % or revenue be obligated towards certain programs......I think most people in Calif don't follow the issues as well as others from other states because they are preoccupied and thus vote for what sounds right instead of learning about the issue
Vote ? Think, mind numbed robots ...
"I'm having too much fun conversing with tolerant FR's here...."
We are also "pragmatic, sensible conservatives, who are grounded in reality", in addition to being tolerant towards the vicious little "all or nothing" promoters, who vastly prefer nothing to something, and they never learned, that "It's better to light one candle, than curse the darkness". They keep trying to put out the candle, to return us to full darkness and Democrat dominance.
well they do "vote"......whatever you call it...I've argued many a moon about Boxer for instance.....you being a Californian would admit that most people here may be Dem but not activist liberals like her but blindly "vote" the party line thus keeping her around
That's because I and others finally wised up and stopped arguing with them -- they are looking for fresh meat.
You are being wise, to not let yourself be drawn into those arguments.
"I do not want this guy holding office for a full term after 2006. "
Yes, we know, you can hardly wait for another Davis or Bustamante, instead.
Don't worry about it -- some of our ferocious McC supporters admitted to having voted for Clinton and Boxer, and expressed that they would prefer Bustamante.
How they can run around continuing to call themselves conservatives is beyond me, but they do.
I'm foisting nothing. I was not stating an opinion, I was asking yours.
You said there was progress. I asked for examples.
Simple question. Do you have a simple answer, or will you resort to name calling again?
Insecurity? ROFL!
The system is rigged here, I say it has to get worse before it can get better. It would expose what's really going on here.
agreed........they are almost as bad as the DUmmies in some cases......pragmatism as you said is better than losing the whole thing and wondering what we did wrong....don't know why some conservatives are so extreme that they have to label everyone a RINO or traitor that doesn't agree with them.......
well sometimes I do like arguing with them....I really do but when it becomes boring and nonending then it is time to move on.......they don't realize that they are just as intolerant as liberals but they don't even hear themselves talk
I post on these thread some, so that lurkers don't think that everyone thinks, like the unrealistic (to be charitable) few. Fortunately they are in a minority.
Most conservatives are indeed also sensible, and when the chips were down, they did vote for Arnold, and are not sorry for it, watching Arnold really making major changes, a step at a time.
"A jouney of a thousand miles begins with one step."
OH MY! Now that's a keeper!
I give up........finally.....go read FairOpinion and what they have to say.....it is how I stand also on this....I said insecure because you feel the need to follow me around and expound your ideas or continue to ask for examples. You guys are so mad at someone or something that you need to take it out on anyone who will listen and react like I did......as we keep saying to the Dems and Kerry......"you lost, get over it"
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