Westly would bring twist to California's main political stalemate (Arnold good for business)

SHNS ^ | May 7, 2006 | DAN WALTERS

[FairOpinion]

They're focused on the Capitol's perpetual war between business and the big four Democratic Party subfactions: labor unions, personal injury lawyers, environmentalists and consumer protection advocates.

Other conflicts come and go, but this power struggle has dominated the Capitol for decades, manifesting itself in a yearly agenda of specific issues with immense economic consequences for those involved.

The past two years have been bleak ones for the Big 4 because Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has aligned himself with the California Chamber of Commerce and other business groups, rejecting nearly all of the measures they had dubbed "job killers." Schwarzenegger and business, moreover, bulldozed the Legislature into approving an overhaul of worker's compensation that authorities say is reducing employers' costs by $15 billion a year. It was the most significant advance either side had made in the war in many years and one that Democrats and their allies now want to undo.

Fundamentally, Schwarzenegger's re-election would continue the stalemate for the remainder of this decade. An Angelides victory would inaugurate the most liberal governorship in three decades and open the door to enactment of the Big 4 agenda, not only labor's benefit bills but the measures being pushed by the other three groups. A Westly win is more problematic since he styles himself a moderate and stresses his background as an executive of the eBay on-line auction house _ a career that brought him immense personal wealth.

[FairOpinion]

It is very clear that CA economy and business climate needs Arnold to get reelected. Arnold had the guts to take on the unions, it is very unfortunate, that his special election propositions were defeated.

While the articles says Angelides would be worse, than Westly, I am certain that Westly is just as liberal, he is just pretending to be "moderate" to distinguish himself from Angelides and fool the voters into voting for him (Westly).

[FairOpinion]

Related article -- for those who have the miconception that Westly is not a liberal:

Westly Campaign Launches New TV Ad In Los Angeles, Bay Area Media Markets

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1627880/posts

In the “Stand” spot, Westly says, “I’m Steve Westly – before I ask for your vote, I owe it to you to tell you where I stand. I’m strongly pro-choice and I believe protecting our environment is fundamental. As governor, I’ll make education my top priority.” Then the announcer adds, “Steve Westly. Require big corporations to provide adequate health insurance, expand the Healthy Families Program, incentives for hybrid vehicles and solar energy, stop any new offshore drilling.”

[Grampa Dave]

The 3 years before Arnold was elected was a disaster for the heavy construction industry in California.

Then a year ago, new construction and major retrofit construction of industrial sites started to come back. This year appears to headed to what used to be before Davis was elected.

Heavy duty Crane Birds have been seen over most of N California since the first of the year.