Posted on 12/07/2005 6:21:35 PM PST by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO (AP) - A couple of former political foes, Gray Davis and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, joined forces Wednesday to unveil Davis' official gubernatorial portrait - a bright painting showing a smiling Davis standing in a field of golden poppies with Carmel Bay in the background.
"I love it," California's 37th governor said after the portrait was hung on the third floor of the Capitol's historic west wing. "I hope that portrait reminds people how beautiful California is and of our obligation to preserve it for future generations." It hangs next to paintings of his four predecessors - Ronald Reagan, Jerry Brown, George Deukmejian and Pete Wilson.
The painting, a five-foot by four-foot oil by San Jose artist Robert Semans, shows Davis at Monterey County's Palo Corona Ranch, which the state bought with park bond funds approved by voters in 2002.
The ranch property, which includes redwood and Monterey pine forests, links Los Padres National Forest and the Ventana Wildness, creating a 70-mile wildlife corridor from the Carmel River to San Luis Obispo County.
Davis said he visited the site in 2002 and was "stunned by all the natural beauty around me" and decided he wanted it as the background for his portrait after he was recalled by voters in 2003.
He said Semans took photographs of him and the ranch and used them to paint the portrait.
The painting was unveiled during a ceremony before a crowd that included dozens of former Davis staffers in the Capitol rotunda.
"It's a festive occasion," said Byron Tucker, one of Davis' former press aides. "I have been excited about this. A lot of good people did a lot of good things in this administration. It's nice to see our guy get honored."
There were several references to the fact that a couple of former Davis administration officials - Susan Kennedy and Daniel Zingale - now work for Schwarzenegger and first lady Maria Shriver as their chiefs of staff. Shriver accompanied her husband to the unveiling.
"I thought Susan would succeed me, but I thought it would be in a Davis administration," said Lynn Schenk, Davis' former chief of staff, who served as emcee for the ceremony.
Schwarzenegger, a Republican who was often highly critical of Davis during the recall campaign, said the former Democratic governor had done an "incredible job" during his nearly five years in office.
"He always fought for the underdog," Schwarzenegger said. "He always fought for the poor. ... And he had a tremendous impact on education."
He said the two had become friends since the election and that Davis had given him "great advice" when he became governor.
Davis, who seemed to tear up briefly at the start of his remarks, said he "loved every minute" of his tenure as governor - "the good, the bad and the in-between."
Among his achievements, he cited increased funding and new standards for schools, expansion of health insurance programs for children, the opening of new California State University and University of California campuses and preservation of land for parks, wetlands and open space.
"I remain convinced today that California is a very special place, graced by God, where all things are possible, if we just believe in ourselves and embrace the future with confidence," he said.
The Legislature passed a law in 1931 authorizing the state to pay for portraits of governors after they leave office. Davis' portrait cost taxpayers $50,000, said Steve Maviglio, Davis' former press secretary who is now an aide to Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is applauded by former governor Gray Davis (L) after Schwarzenegger was sworn in to become Californias 38th Governor in Sacramento, November 17, 2003. Republican Schwarzenegger, who had little good to say about the Democrat during the unprecedented recall 2003 election, praised him at the unveiling of Davis' official portrait. (Mike Blake/Reuters)
Stinky is all I can say.
Schwarzenegger, a Republican who was often highly critical of Davis during the recall campaign, said the former Democratic governor had done an "incredible job" during his nearly five years in office.
"He always fought for the underdog," Schwarzenegger said. "He always fought for the poor. ... And he had a tremendous impact on education."
He said the two had become friends since the election and that Davis had given him "great advice" when he became governor.
"Ooooh, I love your blow-dry hairdo. Who does it?"
What???? Steve is not on Arnold's staff? This is an outrage! /s
The story of how Gray Davis treated Ronald Reagan's official portrait may be found here:
http://www.yaf.org/pres/ronald_reagan.html
If any FREEPER has a picture of Governor Moonbeam Jerry Brown, it should give us a laugh. It's the most "intresting" official portrait I have ever seen of any governor in any state house in America.It's kind of like Picasso meets Haight Ashbury.
Davis's official portrait should be of avis running scared with the Terminator hot on his heels!
Thanks, now maybe some of the rest of you folks will have thoughts on this as an "official" governors portrait.This has to be one of strangest ones of all time.
I will give this to Jerry Brown. He drove his own used car and didn't live in the mansion. And he stood up to Clinton in 1992 in the primaries.
Governor Moon beam has always been very different!
Jerry Brown's Official State Portrait.....
ROTFLMAOPIMPWTIME!!!
Good Gawduh!!! That's a danged abortion, right there!!!
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