Posted on 10/29/2005 3:56:31 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger spent his Saturday shopping for votes and sunglasses. He went home with a pair of sleek Donna Karan shades that cost $189, but he'll have to wait until Election Day to see how he did with voters.
On a campaign swing through the city, Schwarzenegger was swarmed by shoppers at a mall in the city's Koreatown section, where he spent about a half-hour shaking hands and distributing flyers outlining his slate of proposals on the Nov. 8 ballot.
Polls show the Republican governor is struggling to win support among Democrats and independents, and at an earlier appearance in the Wilshire district he was pointedly critical of members of his own party.
Speaking to an Iranian community group, Schwarzenegger said that "Democrats and Republicans alike" are responsible for soaring debt in Sacramento "but they won't do anything about it."
The remark appeared aimed at convincing skeptical voters that his interests are broader than those of his own party or the corporate supporters that have contributed millions of dollars to his campaign.
Asked later about his Republican roots, Schwarzenegger said, "What is more important, rather than party, is to be a servant of the people.
"I don't think when I make decisions, 'What is best for my party?' But I make decisions about what is best for the state of California," he added.
While Schwarzenegger pumped hands and signed autographs in Los Angeles, about 1,000 teachers, nurses and firefighters knocked on doors around the state asking voters to turn out next month to oppose his proposals.
Schwarzenegger is pushing for passage of four ballot measures: Proposition 74, which would extend the probationary period for teachers to earn tenure; Proposition 75, which would require public employee unions to secure written permission from members before using their dues for political purposes; Proposition 76, which would give the governor more power to curb state spending; and Proposition 77, which would strip lawmakers of the power to draw their district boundaries.
Schwarzenegger stopped at an eyeglass shop in the Koreatown mall, where he bought the sunglasses and, after slipping them on, mugged for TV camera crews and photographers following him.
With polls showing several of his initiatives lagging, the Republican governor implored voters to support him at the polls. He said many voters are still confused about his "year of reform" initiatives, which seek to undercut union political strength in Sacramento and slow state spending.
"Let's fix the broken system," the governor told reporters after addressing the Iranian community leaders. "Do we want to have progress, reform, rebuild, or do we want to go and move backward and fail?"
If Ahnold fails here, you can just about write off the State of California in 10 years.
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Absolutely right. As Arnold said, he is trying to help California, he is not making his decisions based on politics, but what's best for CA:
"I make decisions about what is best for the state of California," he added. "
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THE CA PROPOSITIONS; Democratic and Republican activists discuss the propositions
Dean urges voters to reject measures governor supports [California]
Davis opposes Schwarzenegger's reform initiatives
CA: Feinstein to oppose Schwarzenegger's special election initiatives
John Alden (Marin cnty Dem Party chairman): Vote no on Prop 76 - we need better leaders
McClintock's recommendations for CA Propositions
Summary of Recommendations on the CA Propositions by various organizations and parties
CA: McClintock stumps for governor's ballot initiatives
Supporters of the CA Propositions 74-77 include CA Club for Growth, Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association, Ray Haynes, San Fernando Valley Town Hall Conservatives, Republican Party, and many others. Click on the link for a more comprehensive list.
And you can see from links above who are the ones opposing them: Democrats, Unions, Howard Dean, Gray Davis, various Dem party chairmen, etc.
He portrayed himself as a nonpartisan progressive and likened his challenge to the one Hiram Johnson faced when Johnson took on the railroad lobby.
BTTT
GM is being forced to sell off its most profitable business, GMAC, their multibillion dollar auto and mortgage finance unit, just to survive.
Californians to me have become too hedonistic, and intellectually lazy to survive.
Well, as the song says... "Well it's too late baby, it's too late..."
The single Republican most responsible for debt is Schwarzenegger himself who sold Prop 57/58 and wants us to approve more borrowing and bonds in Prop 76.
$189 for a stinking pair of sunglasses Arnold? how wasteful and assinine is that? I bet if you took another pair of glasses for $15 and put the Karan label on it he wouldn't know the difference. What a waste!
There you have it. Arnold believes that many conservative Republican values and policies are adverse to the best interest of the State of Califiornia.
Gosh Arnold, what part of lower taxes, smaller government, and intact nuclear families with parental authority over children do you find so destructive?
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