Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

CA: Schwarzenegger star dims after latest act falls flat with voters
ap on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 11/09/05 | Beth Fouhy - ap

Posted on 11/09/2005 4:18:22 PM PST by NormsRevenge

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Arnold Schwarzenegger's rise to governor of the nation's most populous state two years ago made him so popular that some Republicans even hinted at a constitutional amendment that would allow him to run for president.

On Wednesday, a remarkable reversal of fortune left the former action hero fighting for his political life in a Democratic-leaning state and struggling to regain his footing before a 2006 re-election bid.

Voters a day earlier rejected all four of the government reform initiatives he had placed on a special election ballot, a resounding defeat for a governor who cast the election as a continuation of the 2003 recall election that swept him into office.

"It doesn't mean that Arnold Schwarzenegger's political career is over," said Darry Sragow, a Democratic consultant who worked with Schwarzenegger last year. "But he had a mandate to reform state government, and he no longer has that mandate. It's tragic."

Schwarzenegger stayed out of sight Wednesday as voters and analysts chewed over the election results. He first public appearance after the election debacle will be a meeting Thursday with Democratic and Republican legislative leaders in Sacramento, the first step in an effort to rehabilitate his former image as a bipartisan governor.

"There is much work to be done," Schwarzenegger told supporters Tuesday night, vowing to collaborate with lawmakers in the months ahead. "We've got to rebuild our infrastructure. We need more schools. We need more firefighters, more teachers ... Californians are sick and tired of all the fighting and all those negative TV ads."

Schwarzenegger had asked voters to approve a state spending cap and give him authority to make midyear budget cuts, change the way legislative districts are drawn, restrict the money unions could raise for political campaigns and make teachers work longer to gain tenure. None of the four prevailed, as voters appeared puzzled by the special election and angry at its price tag, estimated to be at least $50 million.

Elizabeth Garrett, an expert on California's initiative process at the University of Southern California, said Schwarzenegger had learned an important lesson about the limitations of initiatives in enacting the kind of changes he sought.

"He needs to re-establish his connection with the people and push real reform through the traditional governing process," she said. "This is the really important moment - the pivotal moment of his political career."

The governor's drubbing at the polls has left his political reputation in tatters, weakening his hand with the largely Democratic state Legislature and opening him to a competitive race for re-election in 2006.

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez said that while Democrats were willing to work with Schwarzenegger, the two sides hadn't reached the "kumbaya stage" quite yet.

"We just spent $55 million of taxpayers money that didn't prove a dang thing. I'm deeply disappointed in our governor," Nunez said.

So far, two Democrats - state Treasurer Phil Angelides and Controller Steve Westly - have announced plans to challenge Schwarzenegger next year. Both campaigned actively against Schwarzenegger's initiatives but have failed to ignite passion among voters or fellow Democrats.

Despite Schwarzenegger's weakened state, analysts say he enters the race with some important advantages on his side.

"His base is still united and firmly behind him," said Bill Whalen, a Republican consultant and scholar at Stanford University's Hoover Institution.

"And if you talk to smart Democrats, most will tell you they would love nothing more than to see another candidate in the primary who would excite the party."

Actor Warren Beatty and director Rob Reiner entered the fray in the campaign's final weeks to lobby against Schwarzenegger, raising hope among Democrats that one or the other would challenge him next year.

But Whalen, who was an aide to former Republican Gov. Pete Wilson, said he didn't think either could deliver what the Democrats need to beat the celebrity governor.

"The election was a referendum against Schwarzenegger and a referendum against the special election," he said. "But I don't see the public chanting 'We want Warren.'"

---

Associated Press Writers Tom Chorneau in Los Angeles and Jennifer Coleman in Sacramento contributed to this report.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; calinitiatives; dims; fallsflat; latestact; schwarzenegger; specialelection; star; voters
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-110 next last
To: NormsRevenge
""His base is still united and firmly behind him," said Bill Whalen... But Whalen, who was an aide to former Republican Gov. Pete Wilson, said he didn't think..."

Alright, Norm, or anyone else who cares to advise... Just who really is "His Base?"

I sincerely would like an answer to that!!!

21 posted on 11/09/2005 4:42:45 PM PST by SierraWasp (The only thing that can save CA is making eastern CA the 51st state called Sierra Republic!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BigSkyFreeper
Nothing in particular. California is just a different place. Its like the Twilight Zone here.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

22 posted on 11/09/2005 4:45:18 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

The hottest place in hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of moral crisis.


23 posted on 11/09/2005 4:45:18 PM PST by VU4G10 (Have You Forgotten?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SierraWasp
Yes... I'm dying to learn who the Wilson Gang thinks Arnold's base is. The question is, does he even have one worth writing home about?

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

24 posted on 11/09/2005 4:46:38 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Lizavetta

Since the mid nineties, abortion has been a winner for CA dems. No matter what else may be on the ballot, any abortion issue will help kill the others.

I left in 2000 and then, in any election, abortion is all you heard. That's how the democrats got into and keep the power.


25 posted on 11/09/2005 4:48:02 PM PST by phatoldphart (One of the 1000s on the ground during Apollo and Skylab)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop
Its like the Twilight Zone here.

Don't bore me with the obvious.

26 posted on 11/09/2005 4:48:46 PM PST by BigSkyFreeper ("Tucker Carlson could reveal himself as a castrated, lesbian, rodeo clown ...wouldn't surprise me")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop; Amerigomag; tubebender; NormsRevenge; ElkGroveDan
Well how in heck could it be the CAGOP who he openly boasts he has no responsibility to help in any way??? (as he appoints more Dem burearcrats in 2 years than Davis did in 5)

Then we get all these Party hacks on here, trying to hack off all those who choose to think, rather than march lock-step with non-thinking, Party somnambulistas... Geeze!!!

27 posted on 11/09/2005 4:58:16 PM PST by SierraWasp (The only thing that can save CA is making eastern CA the 51st state called Sierra Republic!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop
Arnold's mistake was believing people wanted to fix Sacramento. They don't.

That's where you nailed it.

28 posted on 11/09/2005 4:58:46 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer (It's no coincidence that the Democrat mascot is a jackass.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop
"Arnold's mistake was believing people wanted to fix Sacramento. They don't."

Of course they want it fixed. Why do you think Davis was recalled?

The problem was Arnold. He failed to inspire the base, while the Rats went crazy getting everyone possible to the polls (wonder how many illegals were included). Arnold could have inspired the base if he had mounted an aggressive program of cost reductions and cuts shortly after taking office. Instead, he did nothing to fulfill any part of his campaign rhetoric. Finally, he got together his four initiatives which turned out to be confusing (76 & 77), and were too little/too late. By then, the base questioned Arnold's reform seriousness beause his two years in office mostly revealed him to be long on talk but short on action when it came to cost cutting (his interview statements about "we never want to cut anything" certainly didn't help). The fact is, the base simply didn't trust Arnold, so many didn't bother to go to the polls. That, combined with the Rat's nuclear spending anti-Arnold program, made the difference.

29 posted on 11/09/2005 5:21:45 PM PST by Czar (StillFedUptotheTeeth@Washington)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: calcowgirl; NormsRevenge; Amerigomag; Carry_Okie; SierraWasp

* ping *


30 posted on 11/09/2005 5:36:22 PM PST by Czar (StillFedUptotheTeeth@Washington)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Czar

You guys can argue about the strategy all you want, but it all boils down to one thing only: passion.

Who had the passion in this election? It was the unions and the Dems in a fight for their lives - versus - the semi-conservative "base" who apparently couldn't be bothered to put their Ink-A-Tron where their mouth is.

Yeah, yeah-- maybe AS should have got CA to vote on the props earlier, maybe he should have made them easier to understand, maybe he should have campaigned harder, better and faster-- blah, blah, blah.

But if just half a million more of the "base" got off their fat, stupid, lazy, pathetic asses, we'd be praising Shwartzenegger as a HERO right now.

For shame.


31 posted on 11/09/2005 5:38:06 PM PST by agooga (Got Boomstick?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop

What to say about a state that votes against the right of parents to know when their kids are about to abort their grandchildren? To me that is the saddest thing of all.


32 posted on 11/09/2005 5:43:31 PM PST by Zack Nguyen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: A CA Guy
"Let's financially bleed the government employees unions to death!"

Works for me. Sounds a bit Patton-like. Make the other sonuvabitch die for HIS country.

The left has political AIDS, it just hasn't died yet.

33 posted on 11/09/2005 5:43:34 PM PST by stboz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: stboz
The left in California is a cancer that is attached to the state by unions of government employees and needs to be brought under control.

They vote people in who pay them off and they grow their job when we know dam well if we got rid of illegals in schools they could be cut in half.

If illegals are required to be in schools by law, get a big tent, put all the illegals under it with ONE teacher to learn English.

For too long our kids are being brought down by illegals.

The unions only have the monopoly if the government to survive on, they can NOT compete in the private sector anymore.

Yep, bleed them to death financially, then put a stake through their political heart and end them.
34 posted on 11/09/2005 5:56:40 PM PST by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: agooga
It doesn't boil down to passion, the financial numbers also make a difference.
The left has to spend massive monies on lying ads to win because they can't run on who they are.
They borrowed their future on this election and more propositions are going to bury them within the next two elections.

That IMO is a good strategy and a cheap one on our part.
35 posted on 11/09/2005 5:58:43 PM PST by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: NordP
Why the heck did we recall the Governor FOR, if we vote down all ARNOLD's attempts to fix anything?

Because Arnold isn't fixing anything, he is making it worse. Or hadn't you noticed?

36 posted on 11/09/2005 6:02:08 PM PST by FOG724 (http://gravenimagemusic.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: SierraWasp; NormsRevenge
Alright, Norm, or anyone else who cares to advise... Just who really is "His Base?"

That is what I was wondering. It sure isn't conservatives.

37 posted on 11/09/2005 6:04:56 PM PST by FOG724 (http://gravenimagemusic.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: agooga
But if just half a million more of the "base" got off their fat, stupid, lazy, pathetic asses, we'd be praising Shwartzenegger as a HERO right now.

No we wouldn't. I voted against his crap.

38 posted on 11/09/2005 6:08:18 PM PST by FOG724 (http://gravenimagemusic.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: SierraWasp
Alright, Norm, or anyone else who cares to advise... Just who really is "His Base?" I sincerely would like an answer to that!!!

That caught my eye too. Once "his base" is identified, maybe they can add what they stand for (other than just "winning")? We know it isn't 2nd amendment rights, or smaller government, or property rights, or traditional family values.

39 posted on 11/09/2005 6:09:37 PM PST by calcowgirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: FOG724; SierraWasp; calcowgirl; Carry_Okie

All aRnold's base are belong to dems. :-)

They voted him in in the Recall and now p'd all over him yesterday and likely will again in both rounds of elections next year.

Maybe he wasn't necessarily a Trojan Horse, more like a Crazy Horse thinking he could pull off an end run around those who elected him by running in the middle and then veering hard right.

All we know now is he is no Sea Biscuit


40 posted on 11/09/2005 6:21:55 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Monthly Donor spoken Here. Go to ... https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-110 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson