Governor: The State Of Our State Will Soon Be Strong (Arnold Lays It Down To The Democrats)

Los Angeles Times ^ | 01/07/04 | Joe Mathews, Peter Nicholas And Nancy Vogel

[goldstategop]

Schwarzenegger called for spending cuts, changes in education regulations, a cap on university fee increases, reform of state purchasing, consolidation of duplicative government departments and commissions, renegotiation of state energy contracts and a solution to the state's unemployment insurance woes.

He said that he was steadfast in his opposition to taxes and that spending cuts were the key to fixing the state's budget crisis.

"The fact of the matter is that we do not have a tax crisis; we do not have a budget crisis; we have a spending crisis," he said. "We cannot tax our way out of this problem." ...

Historians and political commentators say Schwarzenegger's address, broadcast worldwide and covered by a crowd of reporters so large that tents had to be erected on the Capitol lawn to hold them, was the most widely watched State of the State speech ever. Amid tight security, it had all the trappings of a major presidential address, from an orchestrated build-up through media briefings to post-address interviews with Cabinet secretaries and a "spin tent" for broadcasters.

The event even had its own merchandising, with attendees trading the new gubernatorial souvenir — an Arnold bobble-head lapel pin.

Schwarzenegger was interrupted 39 times by applause. Many of the clapping hands belonged to Republicans, who were quick to stand and cheer as Democrats mostly stayed in their seats. But some prominent Democrats appear to be cooperating with Schwarzenegger, among them state Controller Steve Westly, who the governor said would "be co-chairing with me" the campaign committee for his March ballot initiatives

The governor's wife, Maria Shriver, was seated between former Republican Gov. Pete Wilson and former Democratic Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg.

When Schwarzenegger vowed once again that he would not raise taxes ("I will not make matters worse"), half the chamber erupted, the other half sat unmoved.

[goldstategop]

Arnold has a presidential aura. And he's a born leader. Which of course puts the Democrats for once in the hot seat. After all can they really compete with an Arnold bobble-head lapel pin? <grin

[Simmy2.5]

Dims will just resort what it does best. Lie, lie, lie, doom, gloom, hurt the poor, hurt the children, cry racism, must raise taxes or the world ends, so on and so on and so on.

Unfortuenetly for the Dims, the sun is coming up.

[BADROTOFINGER]

I have to admit, while I was a McClintock supporter (tho not a Californian), I am pleasantly surprised by what I am seeing from Ahhnold so far. I hope he succeeds and sets an example nationwide...JFK

[Stallone]

Forget pious and polite Buckley and Will.

The new GOP heros are in-your-face Warriors like Arnold, Coulter, Steyn, and Freepers.

'Rat thugs are shaking.

[The Raven]

Wow....sounds Reaganesque

[grobdriver]

Arnold has a presidential aura.

Arnold in '08?
Hmmm... could he terminate, once and for all, the Clinton cloud?

[goldstategop]

Unfortunately unless the U.S Constitution is amended, NO. Arnold is not a native born (and neither is yours truly) American and is ineligible for the Presidency.

[ClintonBeGone]

Arnold has a presidential aura. And he's a born leader. Which of course puts the Democrats for once in the hot seat.

You mean Democrats and the McClintock koolaiders.

[goldstategop]

Sacramento won't change unless its branded. The Democrats really need an army to besiege them into oblivion before they get the message. Where is Arnold's army?

[stopem]

Good for one republican who is finally doing right by the people. Maybe he can help Bush to make "right" decisions concerning the illegal alien travesty!

[goldstategop]

The Son Of 187 will show where Californians are. I'd love to see the Democrats play the "Pummel Pedro" card again. It will flop.

[Moonmad27]

When I went back to Texas at Christmas, all the conservatives I know asked me about the Governator. Strangely, only the Texas liberals I know (who had seen all of his movies numerous times) didn't ask - and when I happened to mention how happy I was that he had won, they were extremely grumpy about him being Governor. If they heard the speech last night, the conservatives would be as overjoyed as I am - and happily the liberals would be further down in the dumps.

[ClintonBeGone]

Where is Arnold's army?

As soon as they get done fending off back stabbling losers like McClintock, you'll see them. This is perhaps the most disappointing part of Arnold's landslide - he must continue to battle ankle biters like McClinton.

[You Dirty Rats]

Ah-nold needs to be the keynote speaker at the Convention in New York. THAT will get ratings! He will pump up the convention:

"... and I have a message for the Democrats ... George W. Bush ... HE'LL BE BACK!!!"

[ClintonBeGone]

"... and I have a message for the Democrats ... George W. Bush ... HE'LL BE BACK!!!"

LOL Love it.

[Redbob]

"...... George W. Bush ... HE'LL BE BACK!!!"

Not, unfortunately, if he persists in this misbegotten scheme to legalize the illegals and let in millions more to accomplish... what?
Import more votes for the Dimocraps?

[randita]

Unfortunately for Arnold, the Democrats in CA, just like the Democrats nationwide as regards Bush, want Arnold's plans to fail. They have no interest in fixing CA. If CA is fixed, the benefit will accrue to Arnold and the GOP.

Rather than cooperate and share in the benefits of CA returning to fiscal sanity, Democrats would rather obstruct and blame as the way of gaining power again.

Arnold can cope with this just as Reagan and Bush did--go over the heads of the legislators straight to the people. Arnold is a good communicator and is proving himself a formidable and decisive leader. Slowly he will gain the trust of the people and they will support his plans.

[suzyq5558]

The dimwit's IMHO are like a virus that invades your system,or a cancer ,feeding off the host,ravenous draining the host of life knowing full well that when they have utterly destroyed said host that they too will also die. yet on they continue eating and killing the host.
the dim's mindset makes absolutely no sense. being so angry they are willing to destroy and bring to ruin rather than to work toward a solution. they are a true blight and chanker sore on society.

[Tamzee]

Well done :-)

It's interesting how the audience reaction mirrored Bush's so well last year at the State of the Union. The Republicans cheered him on and the Democrats huffily remained seated like spoiled little children. It proves the GOP cares about the country or state primarily, the Dems only care about the level of their own power.

[William Tell]

ClintonBeGone said: "This is perhaps the most disappointing part of Arnold's landslide - he must continue to battle ankle biters like McClinton."

Borrowing $13 billion dollars to balance the budget was wrong when Davis proposed it and borrowing $15 billion to balance the budget is wrong even when proposed by Arnold.