Schwarzenegger at Santa Monica College Commencement, June 14th. NEED BODIES!

SMC Republicans | Tom Oster

[68 grunt]

... Partisan Republicans should be ashamed what they've done to California. ...

Whackjobs on the fringe of the right should be ashamed of the discredit they've brought to the conservative cause.

The characterization you made that was incorrect, as you said, "... home base of the "other associated characters". You infer that this is the home of the rightwing fringers, willing to flush it down the tubes unless they get their way. That's the characterization you made which is incorrect. The rightwing fringe are worse than liberals and as bad as the leftwing fringe.

[68 grunt]

... you'll find them under the Che banners, red/black flags and International ANSWER posters. ...

Where it seems he belongs.

[Amerigomag]

Are you going to join these fine anti-Arnold demonstrators?

No. I'd rather express my opinion in the next Republican gubernatorial primary. My guess is that because of these same handful of conservatives that you blame for raining on your big tent parade, Schwarzenegger couldn't win in a partisan primary

Political conservatism is not a disease. California citizens who oppose social liberalism, big government and governors who are citizens of a foreign country are not necessarily the imbalanced souls in this argument on a conservative form.

[Amerigomag]

You infer that this is the home of the rightwing fringers

As of the last, state wide election, the rightwing fringers comprised about 35% of the Republicans in California who voted. They cast 13% of the votes in the recall election. In the past two years, principally because of the disappointment in Schwarzenegger's efforts and accomplishments, that figure has grown.

Every time the state budget increases 7% to 11% when it should be shrinking, they shake their head.

[68 grunt]

A third of a third of a third that voted. Uh-huh, sure. Besides which, without Arnie's command of the 'middleground' we have a communist govenor right now. The middleground would not have turned out for any other republican candidate. You seem to prefer we lose. That is why you would be much more comfortable under the Che poster. By definition, fringe is the edge, 1%, maybe. They are completely discredited yet they continue to attempting discrediting the whole right, 49%. Why do we have to refight this old and stale battle? An election is coming. McClintock has already begun running for LtGov. If you can't enjoy an attempt at unity why don't you find a mountaintop somewhere?

[Amerigomag]

I guess you must not consider Tom McClintock a conservative, because he praised Arnold several times recently.

I do consider McClintock a respectable conservative.

Please be reminded that McClintock praised certain actions of Schwarzenegger as "steps in the correct direction".

Also remember that McClintock is running for state wide office and he won't survive if the Republicans refuse to support him or actively work against him as they did in the recall. There is no better example than the fate of the next partisan, gubernatorial primary. There is none, because the Republican Central Committees were scared to death that a conservative, possibly McClintock, would derail the Austrain pretender.

[Amerigomag]

If you can't enjoy an attempt at unity why don't you find a mountaintop somewhere?

It would appear that we are working at two different purposes. I'm trying to save my state and you your party.

Partisans are frequently hailed as heroes in their moment and just as promptly forgotten by history.

[GVnana]

People's Republic of Santa Monica? Bump for encouragement and good luck.

[FairOpinion]

Please tell us how you win an election with 13% of the votes.

[FairOpinion]

"I'm trying to save my state and you your party."

And how is standing with the leftists attacking Arnold going to do that? Unless you consider having the communists take over California "saving it".

[68 grunt]

It would appear that we are working at two different purposes. I'm trying to save my state and you your party.

LOL ~ good one, man! Thats very funny, really. You're trying to save the state by losing everything, handing it to the demons on a silver platter.

[RonDog]

From a RECENT "anti-Arnold" rally in Pershing Square, as reported at la.indymedia.org:

Mass Rally vs. Arnold's Education Cuts

Thousands of teachers, school employees, and other citizens concerned about cuts to education held a mass rally in Pershing Square yesterday to demand that funding stolen from schools by Governor Schwarzenegger be restored immediately.

lookingtowardstagefromwithindemonstration.jpg, image/jpeg, 760x570

Above: Thousands of Unionists and others rally against Schwarzenegger's attacks upon education and labor.

Schwarzenegger is on the run as thousands of angry people protest his policies favoring corporations and the wealthy while shafting most citizens. An extraordinary groundswell of resistance is occurring as Schwarzenegger engages in a desperate attempt to shore up support by appealing to the neo-fascist right, as epitomized by his recent statements of support for anti-immigrant vigilantes.
All to no avail, as his numbers continue to dive in polls and previously-mesmerized Californians continue to wake up and fight back.

His latest move is to support several ballot measures that wiould deprive unions, the largest organized force composed of ordinary citizens, of their right to expend funds on campaigns intended to influence legislative and electoral struggles. Arnold apparently thinks that his own True Lies should be able to monopolize the airwaves with no response from those he is attacking.

Simultaneously, he is attempting to pass a proposition making teachers' salaries dependent upon performance on standardized tests, a move that would penalize teachers who have chosen to serve the disadvantaged, creating even more inequity as money shifts even more toward wealthier districts, and teachers flee the profession for more rewarding employment, while those remaining are forced to "teach to the test," a sure recipe for destroying pedagogy and dumbing down the entire teaching profession.

At this event, I saw college professors, grade school teachers, school service workers, students and other concerned citizens out together and united around their common goal of defending education. And, I saw people of all races and nationalities coming together as well in defense of their rights. This is not just a protest, but a very hopeful MOVEMENT that is coming together.

In Los Angeles, this new movement is threatening to dovetail with the African-American / Latino / Liberal / Labor alliance that recently swept Antonio Villaraigosa into the mayor's office. In fact, members of ACORN, the community organization / network founded by legendary organizer Anthony Thigpenn, who put together the African-American / Latino alliance that helped to power Villaraigosa's campaign, were quite prominent and visible at this event.

We are getting stronger, we are getting smarter, we are getting TOGETHER, and we are getting IT TOGETHER, and through our actions we are EDUCATING the people of this state to think for themselves. Education is the foundation of democracy, and an educated people will be the downfall of the California's wannabe ubermensch, Schwarzenegger, and his indecent ballot propositions.

Author: Getting Educated

[RonDog]

And:

No Class Without Classified School Employees

noclasswithoutclassifiedschoolemployees.jpg, image/jpeg, 404x570

...so, how about OUR guys carrying a sign that says:

HEY, UNION THUGS:
GO HOME!

[RonDog]

"Los Angeles ACORN" ?

acornmembersonstage.jpg, image/jpeg, 780x585

[RonDog]

From www.smc.edu:

[RonDog]

From www.corsairfootball.com:

S A N T A   M O N I C A   C O L L E G E   F O O T B A L L


Welcome to the 2005 Santa Monica College Corsair football web site. We invite you to browse and enjoy. We have information for college scouts recruiting Corsair student athletes, information for high school football recruits who maybe interested in becoming Corsairs, information for parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and Corsair football fans in general.

Corsair Football Profile

School location: 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA. 90405

Founded: 1929

Enrollment: 31,000

Affiliation: California Community College

Conference: Western State, Southern Division

Nickname: Corsair: noun.

   1.     Pirate, especially along the Barbary Coast.

   2.     Swift pirate ship, often operating with official sanction.

School colors: Black, Royal Blue, White

Stadium: Corsair Field (10,000)

[RonDog]

And, from usjournal.com:

Santa Monica College is a two-year community college with an enrollment of approximately 30,000 students -- including 2,940 international students from 105 countries.

Students completing their first two years of undergraduate requirements receive an Associate of Arts degree before transferring to a four-year university to complete their Bachelor's degree.

[RonDog]

From wikipedia.org:

Founded in 1929 with an enrollment of 153, Santa Monica College (SMC, informally known as Pico Tech or Harvard-by-the-Sea) now occupies 35 acres (142,000 m²) and enrolls 25,000 students annually.

The 2-year college is the leading source of transfers to the University of California system. Rolling Stone magazine rated it among the top ten community colleges in the nation in 1998.

Notable SMC alumni and dropouts include: James Dean, Dustin Hoffman, Rickie Lee Jones, and former Microsoft chief technology officer Nathan Myhrvold.

It is the host for KCRW, an innovative and popular National Public Radio affiliate.

[RonDog]

From www.smc.edu/missedinformation/archives:

SMC Continues to Be No. 1 in Transfers to UC

Hundreds of SMC students flocked to the college’s annual Transfer Fair in October.

SMC continued to maintain its No. 1 position in transfer of students to the prestigious University of California system in 2002-03, far outpacing the community college with the second highest transfer numbers.

In addition, the college continues to be a leader in sending underrepresented minorities to the UC system and in transferring students to such private schools as the University of Southern California.

“SMC attracts highly-qualified students and challenges them to meet high expectations,” said Dan Nannini, SMC Transfer Center coordinator.

Transfer Center Coordinator Dan Nannini talks to a representative from UC Irvine at the college’s annual Transfer Fair.

SMC transferred 895 students to UC campuses last school year, far outdistancing the No. 2 feeder, De Anza College in Cupertino, with 589.

In addition, SMC:

Was the leader in sending African American students to UC (33, up from last year’s 27).

Was the No. 2 transfer institution for Chicano/Latino students to UC (after Riverside Community College), sending 88.

Was by far the leading transfer school to USC, sending 149 to the highly regarded university – nearly twice the number sent by the No. 2 feeder, Pasadena City College, with 75.

Ranked second statewide in its combined UC-California State University transfers.

Sends about 1,000 students each year to campuses throughout the U.S., including such universities as Yale, Stanford, and Columbia.

UCLA, UC Irvine and UC Berkeley continue to be the most popular destinations for SMC students. SMC transfers to Berkeley jumped significantly in 2002-03 over the previous year, to 109 from 87.

Representatives from about 100 four-year schools from throughout the country came to SMC to recruit students at the Transfer Fair.

Nannini credits the college’s quality faculty, aggressive transfer counseling efforts, high school outreach programs and the clout of KCRW, the college’s public radio station, as draws for its high caliber students.

Nannini said he is pleased that SMC is ranked so high in transfers of students from underrepresented minorities, but noted that the total is still lower than what the college would like. Specialized centers for African American and Latino students work hard to improve those numbers, he said.

[RonDog]

From www.smc.edu/missedinformation:

Robertson Named to Schwarzenegger Transition Team

SMC President Dr. Piedad F. Robertson has been named to The Arnold Schwarzenegger Transition Committee and will be advising the governor on education issues.

“After consulting with the chair and vice chair of the SMC Board of Trustees, I am pleased that Gov.-elect Schwarzenegger has named me to his transition team,” Robertson said. “An alumnus of Santa Monica College, Gov.-elect Schwarzenegger recognizes the importance of community colleges to the educational, economic and social health of California. I will do my best to advise Mr. Schwarzenegger wisely on the crucial public education issues he will face, particularly at this time of a statewide budget crisis.”

Robertson was one of 65 prominent leaders from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines – including business, government, the law, agriculture, academia and nonprofits – selected for the team. The committee includes such names as former Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon Jr., former Democratic Assembly Speaker Robert Hertzberg, Hewlett-Packard Chief Executive Carly Fiorina, and San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.

“In my campaign, I said that I would reach across the political aisle and bring the best and brightest people together to help us solve the problems facing California,” Schwarzenegger said. “The Transition Committee is a distinguished group of men and women who share my commitment to restoring California to greatness.”

Since taking over the presidency of Santa Monica College in 1995, Robertson has established herself as a leader in innovative educational programs, workforce and economic development, fundraising, community and government relations, planning, and effective management. She has won wide praise for creating the SMC Academy of Entertainment and Technology, which prepares students for jobs in the entertainment industry, particularly digital animation and new media.

Known as a national education leader, Robertson is one of just seven members on the Gates Millennium Scholars Program Advisory Council, which oversees the $1 billion scholarship endowment created in 1999 by Microsoft founder Bill Gates. She is active with many local, state and national organizations, including the American Council on Education.

Before coming to SMC, Robertson served four years as Massachusetts Secretary of Education, a post she was appointed to by Governor William F. Weld on Sept. 1, 1991. A native of Cuba, Dr. Robertson received her B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Miami and was awarded an Ed.D. from Florida Atlantic University.