Posted on 01/20/2005 9:50:25 PM PST by NormsRevenge
"Amend for Arnold" was the message on the T-shirt handed to me on New Year's Day by a group of Schwarzenegger fans who were making a commercial in favor of the constitutional amendment allowing immigrants who have been citizens for 20 years to run for president. They asked me to say a few words in support, but I demurred.
Why? Because the governor was still, for me, more promise than performance. He'd talked the talk about digging California out of bankruptcy but had yet to make good on any of the radical changes that are needed to achieve this - less borrowing, no more taxes and limits on union power.
Then, in his State of the State speech, I heard Schwarzenegger propose his reform package. I've also had a good look at the details so far published about his ideas for matching spending and revenue, and rescuing the state government from legislative gridlock. Result: I'm having second thoughts about Amend for Arnold. Maybe this guy is for real. A second Teddy Roosevelt - TR with an Austrian accent? Or, more persuasively, Thatchernegger, California's equivalent of Margaret Thatcher with muscles?
The parallels between Schwarzenegger and Thatcher are instructive. The choice of an Austrian body-builder to be governor of California was no morerevolutionary in 2003 than the emergence in the 1970s of a platinum blonde to be the leader - the "leaderene," as we called her - of Britain's ultra-male Tory party whose social powerhouse, the Carlton Club, in those days forbade women to walk up its grand staircase.
Britain, too, was facing the same kind of problems as California confronts today - out-of-control public spending, half a century of the Legislature ratcheting up taxes, union bosses calling the shots as an ever higher proportion of employees relied on the government payroll.
(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...
Still not interested in having an Austrian immigrant as cheif executive. History says it's a bad idea.
I'm looking for Schwarzenegger to take Boxer's seat. He'll be finished with his second term as governor by then. I won't change the constitution for the political life of our esteemed govenator.
Nice oblique reference BUMP!
Not a chance in H. We just won't stand for it. Besides,
<< Still not interested in having an Austrian immigrant as chief executive.
History says it's a bad idea. >>
That's a pithy!
Welcome to Free Republic!
Well...
...maybe NOT!
why thats a great idea then when he is president he can outlaw guns and grab massive chunk s of land to appease the environzais on a national scale just like hes doing in california now whats not to love about this amending the constitution idea
Schwarzenegger's political life in California began as a champion of a very expensive part of the cradle to grave social system. The initiative he championed is outside the control of the legislature and is a monster (a midnight basketball program) that sucks away more and more of the education budget as time passes. It is the worst of these "autopilot" programs that Schwarzenegger now complains about.
Upon taking office Schwarzenegger was hailed as a hero by his fans for reinstating a vehicle registration fee subsidy, intended to protect small businesses, but given to everyone in the euphoria of his victory, which deepened California's financial woes by about $4B per year. While he promised illegal aliens that he wouldn't support their deportation he still wasn't ready to mainstream them "just yet .. but soon". Both actions were hailed as great conservative victories by his supporters but in reality they were self defense mechanism since the mob was at the gate ready to lynch any and all who wouldn't do their will. On the contrary, to any not wearing party blinders, these were simple acts of sanity and self preservation; pandering to the mob, not great sacrifices driven by conservative principals.
As his governorship started in earnest, Schwarzenegger proposed and presided over record state spending and record taxes and fees. He is the biggest taxer and biggest spender the state has known. He has outspent and out taxed his predecessor who was thrown from office by the mob..
If party loyalist want to swallow the KoolAid and desire larger government, more pervasive social programs, higher taxes and the mainstreaming of illegal aliens work your magic so that this Austrian citizen can become your new king.
Please, let's not do to "-negger" what "Watergate" did to "-gate." (i.e., irangate, monicagate, etc.)
It's just begging for a disastrous error.
I have a question regarding the midnight basketball program. I have seen recent articles that say this program is not yet funded. But as I posted last October, it was clearly shown as being funded in the 2004-05 budget. Do you know why the discrepancy?
California 2004-2005 Budget:Before- and After-School Programs— The Budget includes over $284 million in State and federal funds to provide before and after school enrichment programs for 275,000 children. Priority for expending over $60 million in new federal 21st Century Community Learning Center funds will be placed on increasing slots for 11-and 12-year olds and their eligible younger siblings in order to accommodate these children in before and after school programs, rather than in more expensive subsidized child care programs. To further this goal, the Superintendent of Public Instruction has been given the authority to waive grant caps to enable programs to create additional slots.
The Budget also allocates $5 million to expand high school programs. Also included in the total is $20 million in one-time federal funds to be used to expand grant caps to increase slots for 11- and 12-year olds, increase days of program operation, and increase grant caps for programs with waiting lists. Additionally, $5 million in one-time federal funds is available to programs in the first two cohorts for training, standards-aligned materials, and other allowable onetime costs.
In accordance with the provisions of Proposition 49, which was approved by the voters in November 2002, the After School Education and Safety Program became continuously appropriated in July 2004 at $121.5 million. This amount will increase as other provisions of Proposition 49 become effective in subsequent years.
www.documents.dgs.ca,gov 2004-05 Budget (PDF FILE)
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