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CA: Two years of roller-coaster politics, full of twists and turns
Sac Bee ^ | 10/7/05 | Dan Walters

Posted on 10/07/2005 9:09:22 AM PDT by NormsRevenge

It was exactly two years ago today that Californians took a giant leap of faith and hope by throwing out the governor whom they had re-elected just a year earlier and giving the job to a famous actor without any outward credentials other than his promises to make Sacramento work. ...

--snip--

Although Schwarzenegger's popularity has not - at least not yet - plummeted to the abysmal levels that drove Davis out of office, it's just half of where it was a year ago, ... The best the governor could hope to achieve now on Nov. 8 is a mixed result that won't go down in the books as a Davis-like wipeout, and leave him with enough stature to win re-election next year.

--snip--

Spending political capital - i.e., popularity - to achieve something lasting is commendable, but Schwarzenegger squandered much of it by tactical errors. He fumbled the drafting and qualifying of his reform measures, most of which were aimed at breaking public employees unions' stranglehold on the Legislature, and then allowed the unions to attack him unmercifully in television ads without responding.

--snip--

It's evident, too, that Schwarzenegger overestimated the depth of his public support. While voters were eager to dump an ineffectual and risk-averse Davis, their acceptance of Schwarzenegger was conditional, dependent on his establishing himself as a credible agent of positive political change, and he didn't perform well on that level. He came across as an actor promoting a movie - overhyping his successes, avoiding the knottiest issues - rather than a leader tackling the state's problems. And by failing to solidify his stature and enlist Californians in the gritty work of reforming dysfunctional government, he left himself vulnerable to the personal attacks that the unions have mounted so unrelentingly.

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


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; full; politics; popularity; rollercoaster; schwarzenegger; turns; twists; twoyears

1 posted on 10/07/2005 9:09:22 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge

Arnold's reply:

"Rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated."


2 posted on 10/07/2005 10:41:31 AM PDT by fifedom
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To: fifedom; Carry_Okie; NormsRevenge; calcowgirl; FOG724; Czar; ElkGroveDan; GVgirl; Hildy

Not his political death! He's already as dead politically as Jesse Ventura!! He just can't admit it just yet!!!


3 posted on 10/07/2005 3:43:31 PM PDT by SierraWasp (The only thing that can save CA is making eastern CA the 51st state called Sierra Republic!!!)
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To: SierraWasp
Nothing mysterious about any of this. Arnold has simply failed to deliver on his pre-recall promises. There has been no "blowing up the boxes" and no real cuts in state expenditures.

Evidently, he can't tell the difference between a movie and reality.

He is going to have a very, very hard time getting himself re-elected.

4 posted on 10/07/2005 3:58:30 PM PDT by Czar (StillFedUptotheTeeth@Washington)
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To: Czar

I said:"Stick a fork in 'em!!! He's DONE!!! (GRIN)


5 posted on 10/07/2005 4:17:50 PM PDT by SierraWasp (The only thing that can save CA is making eastern CA the 51st state called Sierra Republic!!!)
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To: SierraWasp; Czar; NormsRevenge; Carry_Okie; tubebender
Lookie what he just signed today--Reparations!

SB 670 by Senator Joe Dunn (D-Santa Ana) - Mexican repatriation program of the 1930s.

6 posted on 10/07/2005 4:25:41 PM PDT by calcowgirl
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To: calcowgirl
Correction--SB 645 is the Joe Dunn bill calling for reparations. It is still sitting on Arnie's desk, I guess. This is the one that calls for an "apology"
LegInfo: SB 645
SB 645 - Dunn * Mexican repatriation: commission.
BILL NUMBER: SB 645 - AMENDED
INTRODUCED BY   Senator Dunn

An act to add Section 354.9 to the Code of Civil Procedure, and to
add Chapter 3.2 (commencing with Section 8253) to Division 1 of
Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to Mexican repatriation.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 645, as amended, Dunn.  Mexican repatriation: commission.

(1) Existing law establishes various advisory boards and
commissions in state government with specified duties and
responsibilities.

This bill would, until January 1, 2008, create the commission 
on the Unconstitutional Deportation of American Citizens 
during the 1930's within state government. The bill would require the
commission to, among other things, gather facts regarding, and
conduct a study of, the unconstitutional removal and coerced
emigration of United States citizens and legal residents of Mexican
descent, between 1929 and 1944, to Mexico during the 1930's
"Repatriation" Program.

(snip)

LegInfo: SB 670
SB 670 - Dunn * Mexican repatriation program of the 1930s.

BILL NUMBER: SB 670 - INTRODUCED
INTRODUCED BY   Senator Dunn

An act relating to Mexican repatriation.

SB 670, as introduced, Dunn.   Mexican repatriation program of the 1930s.

This bill would enact the "Apology Act for the 1930s Mexican
Repatriation Program" and make findings and declarations regarding
the unconstitutional removal and coerced emigration of United States
citizens and legal residents of Mexican descent, between the years
1929 and 1944, to Mexico from the United States during the 1930s
"Mexican Repatriation" Program.

The bill would express the apology of the State of California to
those individuals who were illegally deported and coerced into
emigrating to Mexico and would require that a plaque be placed and
maintained in a public place to commemorate this event.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.

7 posted on 10/07/2005 4:34:21 PM PDT by calcowgirl
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To: calcowgirl
I'll give them an apology as soon as I receive an apology from the Mexican government for the mostly Mexican 20 million illegals in the United States.

Until then, screw SB 645 and screw that useless, hispandering POS, Joe Dunn.

Sure hope that doesn't sound "insensitive", "uncaring" or "harsh"...

8 posted on 10/07/2005 4:45:29 PM PDT by Czar (StillFedUptotheTeeth@Washington)
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To: calcowgirl
"This is the one that calls for an "apology""

Apology? Phhhhhht!!! (fergedeboutit)

9 posted on 10/07/2005 4:58:47 PM PDT by SierraWasp (The only thing that can save CA is making eastern CA the 51st state called Sierra Republic!!!)
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To: NormsRevenge
It's evident, too, that Schwarzenegger overestimated the depth of his public support. While voters were eager to dump an ineffectual and risk-averse Davis, their acceptance of Schwarzenegger was conditional, dependent on his establishing himself as a credible agent of positive political change, and he didn't perform well on that level. He came across as an actor promoting a movie - overhyping his successes, avoiding the knottiest issues - rather than a leader tackling the state's problems.

What a wasted opportunity. Where are the Arnie Bots now...

10 posted on 10/07/2005 5:25:36 PM PDT by tubebender (Humboldt County...Where the men are men and so are the women)
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To: tubebender

>>Where are the Arnie Bots now...

Same place they were two years ago. Cheering the termination of drivers licenses for illegals.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1498686/posts

Some progress, eh?


11 posted on 10/07/2005 5:28:16 PM PDT by calcowgirl
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To: tubebender

They're all over the place tonight..

It's FRiday Night moderate FRenzy at FR, yaknow.


12 posted on 10/07/2005 5:29:33 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Monthly Donor spoken Here. Go to ... https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: NormsRevenge; tubebender; calcowgirl; Carry_Okie
It's the modified FReeper moderates "Middle of the road" "steet party" called "The Friday Nite Follies!!!"

This place has really sprung a leak in conservatism... That's for certain!!!

13 posted on 10/07/2005 5:58:16 PM PDT by SierraWasp (The only thing that can save CA is making eastern CA the 51st state called Sierra Republic!!!)
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To: SierraWasp
Grin and Bear it!!


14 posted on 10/07/2005 6:11:52 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Monthly Donor spoken Here. Go to ... https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: NormsRevenge
Ok, but it seems that more and more are grinning and bareing it around here!!! (their ignorance of the basis of conservatism, that is...)

It's gittin kinda like churches these days... If the doctrine is a little uncomfortable... do what the damned Romans did!!! (whatever...)(different strokes and all that...)(if it feels good, do it...)

After a while... why even bother goin to church? I dropped any membership I had 44 years ago!!! I din't need to be lead around by some cleric to follow Jesus!

I likewise don't feel the need to be impressed by some self-centered delusional celebrity tryin to look good, to be a good thinking CA Citizen!!!

15 posted on 10/07/2005 6:39:01 PM PDT by SierraWasp (The only thing that can save CA is making eastern CA the 51st state called Sierra Republic!!!)
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To: NormsRevenge
Piña Colada? Well, I guess it is Friday night, lol.
16 posted on 10/07/2005 6:42:47 PM PDT by calcowgirl
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To: SierraWasp
Californians took a giant leap of faith and hope by throwing out the governor whom they had re-elected just a year earlier

And then the author goes on to defeat his own premise. Californian's do not willy-nilly call special elections and throw out governors.

To my mind, Schwarzenegger's PR mistake was in not doing exactly what George Bush did after 9/11. Bush asked for the country's patience. We were reminded by Rumsfeld that Iraq would be a "long hard slog". At every turn we've been told our task would entail painful sacrifice.

While Schwarzenegger's message has been a promise to work hard to reform California, we haven't had the level of consistent reinforcement of the message and public accounting on his agenda that we see from the federal administration. We're not used to seeing this from a governor, and perhaps some would say it's not warranted. But it would have kept the governor in front of his message and have helped to prevent the public from devining motives in tea leaves.

17 posted on 10/07/2005 7:11:03 PM PDT by GVnana
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To: GVgirl

I think your observations are quite astute!!!


18 posted on 10/07/2005 8:00:42 PM PDT by SierraWasp (The only thing that can save CA is making eastern CA the 51st state called Sierra Republic!!!)
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To: SierraWasp

The apology stands. But he did veto the one that called for a commission (leading to reparations).

10/07/2005 Vetoed SB 645
Dunn, Joe
Senator (D-Santa Ana)
Mexican repatriation: commission.

Of course, he didn't actually kill the effort, just the new legislation. His veto message said:

"The establishment of a new commission is not necessary. The Legislature and the
Administration can create commissions to advise them without the need for legislation.
As I stated last year, the Legislature and the Administration have many resources to
advise them on the issues that this commission is being created for."


19 posted on 10/07/2005 10:19:53 PM PDT by calcowgirl
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