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President Bush's Campaign Chief Explores Run For Governor
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | March 12, 2005 | Associated Press

Posted on 03/12/2005 3:40:32 PM PST by VAGirlieGirl

Los Angeles financier Gerry Parsky, who coordinated President's Bush's 2004 presidential campaign in California and chairs the University of California Board of Regents, said he is exploring a run for governor next year if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger decides not to run. In a statement released Friday, Parsky insisted his focus remains on the UC system, but said, "Should either President Bush or Gov. Schwarzenegger call upon me to consider additional public service in another capacity, I would seriously consider the honor." Parsky's announcement represented an early sign of alternative candidates should the Schwarzenegger decide to return to the private sector or mount a campaign for the U.S. Senate next year. Schwarzenegger, elected in the October 2003 recall contest against former Gov. Gray Davis, has not commented on whether he will run again. Last November, he told CNN talk show host Larry King he would decide this spring. Parsky has close ties to the White House, but he is unpopular in some segments of the state's Republican party after testifying against Schwarzenegger's plan to privatize public employee pension systems. He's also an untested candidate in statewide elections. Parsky adviser and state Republican activist Dora Kingsley said Friday she was certain that if Parsky becomes a candidate, he "would have the resources necessary to be successful." Parsky, a multimillionaire, chairs Aurora Capital, a Los Angeles-based investment firm. Kingsley recently traveled to Washington D.C., where she floated the idea of a Parsky candidacy to congressional and media representatives. But the party activist also noted that the Republican nomination for governor belongs solely to Schwarzenegger, and said she supports him "as long as the governor chooses to lead." Schwarzenegger spokesman Rob Stutzman declined comment Friday on a possible Parsky candidacy.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: bush; cagop; governor; parsky; pension; schwarzenegger; senate
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Sounds pretty serious about the bid to me!
1 posted on 03/12/2005 3:40:32 PM PST by VAGirlieGirl
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To: StoneColdGOP

get a load of this.


2 posted on 03/12/2005 3:44:58 PM PST by ambrose (....)
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To: VAGirlieGirl

3 posted on 03/12/2005 3:49:22 PM PST by Righty_McRight
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To: VAGirlieGirl

seems like this Parskey guy makes McCain look like a conservative icon...........


4 posted on 03/12/2005 3:49:34 PM PST by NorCalRepub
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To: Righty_McRight

Well, if your point was to remind me that Governor Schwarzenegger took steroids "under Dr's supervision" & smoked marijuana & took cocaine throughout the 70s and early 80s,while manhandling and abusing women - all the while Gerry Parsky was serving the American people as an Asst Sec of the Treasury (while Bush 41 was the DCI, Cheney was WH Chief of Staff and Rummy was SecDef) and other subsequent positions he was appointed to by FIVE republican adminsitrations --- you did just that. THANKS!!!


5 posted on 03/12/2005 3:55:35 PM PST by VAGirlieGirl
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To: VAGirlieGirl
See also the PREVIOUS thread:
Parsky for Governor?
  Posted by VAGirlieGirl
On News/Activism 03/12/2005 7:37:47 AM PST · 44 replies · 290+ views


Sacramento Bee ^ | March 12, 2005 | Amy Chance

6 posted on 03/12/2005 3:57:00 PM PST by RonDog
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To: VAGirlieGirl; Dales; calcowgirl

Arnold may not be perfect, but he'll be a far, far better Senator than Feinstein...and she can't beat him in 2006.

Democrats already stand to lose 3 to 5 Senate seats in 2006, Arnold could bump that up towards 4 to 6 seats that the Dems stand to lose, costing the Dems their filibuster power (they only have 44 Senators right now).

7 posted on 03/12/2005 4:01:04 PM PST by Southack (Media Bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)
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To: VAGirlieGirl
Parsky, appointed to the UC board by former Gov. Pete Wilson in 1996, challenged the governor's plan last week to turn state retirement plans into 401k-style systems for new hires after 2007. Testifying during state Assembly hearings on the governor's plans, he said it would "put us at a competitive disadvantage for hiring faculty."

That prompted criticism from some fellow Republicans who noted that his investment firm handles $100 million worth of investments for the state's largest pension fund — the $186 billion California Public Employees Retirement System.


You're right, this guy is a boyscout compared to Arnold.
8 posted on 03/12/2005 4:18:45 PM PST by Righty_McRight
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To: VAGirlieGirl

I have nothing to say about him, pro or con. But the name of the game begins with "name recognition."

If you don't have it, you have to get it. Usually with money, occasionally with some type of stunt.

Republicans are not so good at stunts. Better at accounting.

What was the name of the last Republican candidate?

?????

That's what most people say. He didn't achieve name recognition.


9 posted on 03/12/2005 4:21:45 PM PST by truth_seeker
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To: Righty_McRight

In his role as Chair as UC Board of Regents, and previously as the Chair on the UC Investment Committee - Parsky is drawing a line between Cal PERS - which is underfunded by $6 Billion - and the UC Pensions - which are overfunded by hundreds of millions of dollars. Net: Cal Pers is broke - and the UC Pension system can actually pay the benefits on the books.

UC is the single largest employer in the state - 133,000 jobs. Since Parsky became a UC Regent in 1996 - according to the RAND institute, the University of California has ranked in the top 10 higher ed institutions receiving the MOST federal Research & Development dollars, regardless of which Department of Agency was awarding the funds.

Parsky has gone around the country and eliminated all the serious competition for the UC Nuclear Lab bid - and so, thanks to Parsky - the UC System will remain competitive - despite the fact that the faculty receives on average 14% less in salary than faulty at private institutions. (which is why the benefit package is so important)

Parsky has at least delivered federal dollars --- Governor Schwarzenegger has nothing to show except for a COmmon Cause endorsement for redistricting. A proposition that coudld cost us seats, or one of the three committee chairmanships we have. As if it isn't bad enough to live in a donor state.


10 posted on 03/12/2005 4:33:05 PM PST by VAGirlieGirl
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To: VAGirlieGirl
The GOP needs a swift kick in the pants here to find strong candidates to contest ALL of the state's seats. Not just those rigged in a bipartisan sweetheart deal to protect party incumbents. We need to decide whether we're content to be a minority party or whether we want to change things for the better in California.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
11 posted on 03/12/2005 9:41:32 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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Comment #12 Removed by Moderator

To: William Creel
Quite frankly, sir, your tone is crass and unintelligible. I am a NRA card carrying, Southern Baptist Republican with family roots in this party going back to the Tory & Free Soil Days. So, for the sake of honest discourse, why don't you discuss a policy position Mr. Parsky holds that you disagree with rather than call a girl names. Its not surprising that you support Schwarzenegger since you chose to employ name-calling & hate-speech.

I have not stated that I agree with all of Mr. Parsky's positions, I simply believe that if President Bush trusts him & his judgement - that perhaps out loyalty should be to the President rather than attacking Parsky for matters that were never under his control. If those of you who trash Parsky on a regular basis were capable of setting up a grassfire campaign, perhaps one of your candidates would have been successful.
13 posted on 03/13/2005 9:08:26 AM PST by VAGirlieGirl
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To: goldstategop

Indeed, we do need better & MORE candidates in the GOP for all the statewide and state leg seats. I am hopeful that the party will get serious about recuiting. Its too important!


14 posted on 03/13/2005 9:10:30 AM PST by VAGirlieGirl
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To: William Creel

President George W. Bush is an honorable man. He is a faithful, smart and thoughtful man. As leader of my party, my nation and a movement toward Democracy around the world - I trust in his judgement. Not blindly, but with acceptance that he has better information than a bunch of embittered activists.


15 posted on 03/13/2005 9:11:26 AM PST by VAGirlieGirl
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Comment #16 Removed by Moderator

To: William Creel

That explains a lot. Toomey stood by while Club for Growth spent $2 million in special interests money. Specter held the seat & chairs the Judiciary Committee. He's a moderate. And as a social conservative, I will take the President & his choices every time. Schwarzenegger hasn't delivered any tangible changes on state spending. Every time he goes to a special election it costs the taxpayers between $50 - $70 Million. All because he can't find a way to work with the legislature, not that the CA state legislature is all that great - they aren't. But he has ZERO institutional knowledge. And has not yet demonstrated the ability to govern. I support some of the ideas - but he needs to understand that the UC pension system is SEPARATE from CAlPERS & CalSTRS. The UC pensions are overfunded, thanks to Mr. Parsky's tenure as Chair of the Investment COmmittee & as the Regents Chair. Meaning, the Pension system that Parsky supervised - is the ONLY one that can actually pay for itself.


17 posted on 03/13/2005 10:39:41 AM PST by VAGirlieGirl
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Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: William Creel

You're most welcome. And when you decide to support the President, I'll be sure to pass your thoughts along. Parsky was here long before Schwarzenegger, and will be close to the White House long after he's gone. Who knows, maybe he'll have a hand in choosing the GOP's 2008 nominee. That would be delightful!


19 posted on 03/13/2005 11:04:59 AM PST by VAGirlieGirl
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Comment #20 Removed by Moderator


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