Dan Walters: No ifs, ands or butts - special election is big for the governor

Sacramento Bee ^ | 10/28/5 | Dan Walters

[SmithL]

Arnold Schwarzenegger's war on Democratic legislators and their labor union allies may have begun with his famous - or infamous - remark in July 2004, that the lawmakers were "girlie men" for refusing to stand up to the unions, an epithet he borrowed, oddly enough, from a "Saturday Night Live" character who was a satiric version of the governor in his bodybuilder days.

Active hostilities, however, commenced three months later, on Oct. 27, 2004, when Schwarzenegger, appearing before a women's conference, mocked union nurses who were fighting with him over work rules. "I'm always kicking their butts," a chuckling Schwarzenegger said. "That's why they don't like me."

Within days, Schwarzenegger and his aides were drafting ballot measures that became his "year of reform" crusade, confident that his soaring approval ratings, then nearly 70 percent, would become a juggernaut that would seal his dominance of the Capitol.

As it happened, the one-year anniversary of Schwarzenegger's "kicking their butts" remark Thursday coincided with the release of a new poll indicating that Schwarzenegger and his anti-union ballot measures are faring poorly just days before the Nov. 8 special election he called to pass them.

And the poll shifted both sides into full spin cycle.

The poll, conducted for the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), found that Schwarzenegger wins approval from just a third of all adult Californians. And of the four measures he is pushing, PPIC said three are running behind among likely voters and the fourth, requiring public worker unions to get members' permission to use dues for politics, is tied.

"Whose butt is getting kicked now?" anti-Schwarzenegger media maven Steve Maviglio crowed in an e-mail to reporters, adding, "Clearly, Californians are ready to shoot the messenger."

[SierraWasp]

No, the ignorance of Arnold is what's unfortunate! Bush may be down in the polls, but so's Arnold!!! In fact ANYBODY in government, either state or national is currently the object of utter contempt amongst the people of EARTH!!!

For you and poor dumb Arnold to think that hooking up with the President would somehow be risky for ARNOLD... is utterly insane!!! I spose you think Bush shoulda brought Arnold some Federal "bail-out bucks" like the other Arnold supporter on that thread! Sheeesh!!! Whew!!! Gag!!! Spit!!! Sputter!!! Spew!!!

[SierraWasp]

"I always wanted to know how you can color text, but I don't know."

Well... You need a time-out in the FR HTML sandbox!!!

[calcowgirl]

There are plenty of Republicans opposing Prop 77, FO.

Ballot item creates GOP split
Doolittle opposes proposition on redistricting, but activists, other Republicans back it.
Sacramento Bee, September 11, 2005

"I think people know I am a pretty strong and loyal Republican," the 54-year-old, eight-term congressman said. "This proposition is bad for the Republican Party."

With only nine of the 20 members of the California Republican congressional delegation lined up behind Schwarzenegger's redistricting initiative, Doolittle represents the majority view but feels a bit lonely on the front lines.

It may come as a big surprise to California Republicans backing Schwarzenegger's initiative, but Doolittle is convinced that the California measure has unwittingly become part of a nationwide Democratic plot.

"Democrats are doing this because they think this is a way they are going to take away our majority in Congress," he said.

Grass-roots redistricting initiatives are also under way in Illinois, Michigan and Florida, he said. If the California initiative isn't nipped in the bud, Doolittle forecasts a flowering national movement.

"The speaker of the House, the entire House leadership, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee and the chairman of the Republican National Committee all think (Proposition 77) is a disastrous idea," Doolittle said.

The Ohio measure, which recently qualified for the November ballot, is being pushed by Democrats and labor unions [and endorsed by Schwarzenegger]. According to Ohio Republicans, they could lose six of their 12 seats in Congress.

Take a look at who is bankrolling Prop 77 in California. Lots of Dems and RINOS! Steve Poizner, Reed Hastings, Eli Broad, etc. etc. etc. Perhaps YOU should look at the company you are keeping!

[calcowgirl]

Arnold spit on Bush by not showing up--totally disrespectful, imo, and contrary to the very "unity" that Fair Opinion espouses. Yet if its Arnold, he gets a pass. FO thinks that Bush should kowtow to Arnold. I think Arnold's ego is way out of control.

The official Schwarzenegger spokesperson was also an embarrassment with her official comments:

"Unless President Bush is coming to California to hand over a check from the federal government to help us with the financial challenges we face, the visit seems ill timed," said Karen Hanretty, a spokeswoman for the state Republican Party."

[FairOpinion]

But Republicans are united in supporting Prop. 76, which only you and the Democrats oppose.

[calcowgirl]

 

Apparently you didn't bother to read the very poll that you posted!

Prop 76 Vote by Party Identification:

	Republicans			Independents			Democrats			Total
	%	#		%	#		%	#		%	#
Yes	49	85		23	20		16	31		30	136
No	51	90		77	66		84	158		70	314

 

[calcowgirl]

I note that since you fail to mention it, you now acknowledge that those opposing Prop 77 are NOT taking the position of Democrats alone, but are joined by many Republicans.

Also, I support Prop 73, 74, and 75, so I am not joining with Democrats on that either.

As evidenced in the above post, Prop 76 also does not have the majority support of Republicans.

So... your allegation is BOGUS, as usual! Unsupported rhetoric!

[Carry_Okie]

You abuse this forum again.

But that's nothing new.

[SierraWasp]

"BOGUS, as usual!"

Hey! That has a real ring to it! Maybe we can make some kind of jingle out of it!! BO-GUS! BO-GUS!! BOGUS, BILIOUS, BANAL... whoops... wait a minute! None of that crappola even rhymes or is based on any reason!! Does it have any emotional value? Does it have any redeeming social value? What has inspired such weird allegations?

I know! Let's ask the church lady!! Church lady, what's up with these bogus allegations??? Could it be... SATAN??? (Satan says:"Not quite. I just instill the urge to spam and FO just does the rest) Happy Saturday night all!!!

[Czar]

Now that FO has been outed again, I suppose this means there will be no further FO postings on this particular thread. That's the usual FO modus operandi, I believe.

FO has so little credibility left it's barely detectable.

[calcowgirl]

Yep. Another cut and run. Same ol', same ol'.