A Dose of Reality for Schwarzenegger (MClintock opposes California bond measure)

LA TImes ^ | Nov. 20, 2003 | Gregg Jones and Evan Halper

[FairOpinion]

"... the governor faced concerns from fellow Republicans over his plan to deal with California's fiscal difficulties without a tax increase.

Brulte said he expected the borrowing proposal to pass the Senate eventually. But Sen. Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) said he would vote against it, and other Republicans interviewed Wednesday echoed concerns already raised by Burton and other Democrats.

"I think it's fiscally irresponsible to use long-term, general obligation bonds to meet state expenses," McClintock said after the Senate session. "That is why, for over 100 years, the state Constitution has prohibited that practice — to prevent a prodigal generation from running up a huge debt while it parties, then passing the bill on to his children."

He added, "A deficit bond will not have my vote."

Brulte said the key to Schwarzenegger's fiscal recovery plan was a cap on state spending, a central Republican demand. "If the price I have to pay for a spending cap is a willingness to support a deficit bond, I'm willing to look at that," Brulte said. "But our prime objective is the spending cap."

[nunya bidness]

Now good old Tom is opening his mouth. All he's doing is aiding the ENEMIES of the state of California and the nation; the damned Dems.

Or he's adding sanity to a situation that needs sanity. Once again, it's all in one's perspective. Whether it's a Gold Coast blueblood or a career public servant.

I doubt Tom's service will be overlooked as easily by Arnold as it is by late-night naysayers.

[nopardons]

I am really very interested in all of the " GOLD COASt " stuff you keep flinging at me. Which " GOLD COAST " are you referring to, since I have lived in two places, which used that term, and YOU didn't know that. LOL

Arnold will peobably try to keep Tom in his circle, until Tom manages to destroy Arnold's good will. Not being an elected pol ( which you aren't either and so, can and do manage to voice unPC prose late at night to FR !), I don't have to couch my words, nor try to keep the " good will " of others. I can and do, speak the truth bluntly and well.

[FairOpinion]

"late-night naysayers"

===

Wait a minute.

Arnold is DOING what needs to be done to get CA out of the crisis.

McClintock pipes up, as "the man who says can't be done, telling the guy who is already doing it" and we are the "naysayers"?!

[nopardons]

It's just nunya baiting me...ignore him. LOL

[nunya bidness]

If getting a loan is "doing something" then by all means cheer the guy on. My point is that it would make more sense to cut spending (outside of the bloated 70% mandated).

It can and has been done in liberal Maryland by a governor who told state employees that they're lucky to have a job, when they pressed him for a cost of living increase.

Leadership means making tough choices and sound decisions.

[sruleoflaw]

You can't let an opportunity go by to take out your hammers and hit McClintock. You can't understand that reasonable people can disagree.

The bonds WILL BE PAID OFF IN 2033 -- and $1.6 billion of interest per year. And neither of you see that some people might have a problem with that.

[FairOpinion]

"You can't let an opportunity go by to take out your hammers and hit McClintock."

===

You have it backwards. McClintock is the one, who can't seem to let an opportunity to go by and hit Arnold -- even two days after his inauguration.

[FairOpinion]

"Leadership means making tough choices and sound decisions."

===

You mean, like this?


(California)Governor's plan means big cuts (Schwarzenegger to slash 18% from budget)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1025812/posts

Arnold Orders State Hiring Freeze
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1026029/posts

"Schwarzenegger also said he would ask voters to approve a cap on future state spending, to prevent crippling deficits from occurring in years to come."

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-gov19nov19,1,3191623.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[FairOpinion]

And your REALISTIC solution is....?

[sruleoflaw]

No, I don't have it backwards. I've got it perfectly. McClintock would oppose a bond issue NO MATTER WHO IS GOVERNOR. And I would imagine you can't think of any reasonable causes for opposing such a bond issue -- even though we'll pay $1.75 for every $1 borrowed.

Just chill out for a few days. When Arnold goes after the bloated bureaucracy and state expenditures, he will have no better ally than McClintock. Will you still be hitting Tom with the hammer then, too?

[FairOpinion]

"When Arnold goes after the bloated bureaucracy and state expenditures, he will have no better ally than McClintock."

See my post 81, I think.

[William Tell]

FairOpinion said: "If anyone has a magic wand, please speak up."

For starters, let's repeal all of the gun laws which infringe the right to keep and bear arms.

It can't be a trivial amount which is being spent to defend Kalifornia's ridiculous "assault weapons" laws. Whatever amounts are presently being spent to maintain registration lists can be recovered in the blink of an eye.

At the same time we adopt Arizona's workers compensation system, let's adopt Vermonts firearms laws.

What I really expect to see is that government meddling in my life and the lives of others will continue in Kalifornia and the spending will continue.

[BibChr]

Post 207 makes what would be my first point.

My second would be to ask, is that what you see as OUR point? That we're enthusiastic about this particular idea?

Dan

[Sal]

...[Arnold] will have no better ally than McClintock. Will you still be hitting Tom with the hammer then, too?

Back in the heat of the election I was surprised to see such naked hatred for a consistant small government Republican, but I wrote it off to a fear of losing the whole shooting match. Now I'm not so sure.

I was and remain a McClintock supporter, but I voted for Arnold even though I knew by then that he would win anyway. I wanted his victory to be as big as possible to send a message to the legislature and the LA Slimes that there was nothing they could do to stop this grass roots juggernaut so they better just get out of the way.

I'm still hoping California can be dragged back from the brink of utter destruction. Arguments on the way to do it are to be expected. Not all of the arguments are accurate. IMO bonds and taxes are the same thing in the end.

I expect harsh words over which solutions are right, but I do NOT understand this desire to absolutely rip a very good man to bits and leave him bleeding out on the sidewalk. The hatred is visceral. It is also irrational. I don't know the cause, but I no longer believe it's because they see McClintock as a spoiler.

[The Old Hoosier]

You CAN cut the budget by enough--only it requires courage that Schwarzenegger never had. Some of us knew he didn't have it and made that argument based on his wishy-washy public statements and the deliberately misleading mixed signals he sent throughout his campaign.

[The Old Hoosier]

I would add that it's especially easy for a governor in a state that has a line-item veto, like Kullyfoornya.