Arnold to tap major Democrat (Susan Kennedy ) to be his Chief of Staff: BREAKING!

FLASHREPORT ^ | 11-29-2005 6:02 pm | Jon Fleischman

[ElkGroveDan]

Arnold to tap major Democrat to be his Chief of Staff

by Jon Fleischman - Publisher

11-29-2005 6:02 pm

The rule of six (if I hear at least six credible people tell me something, then as a confirmed rumor, I run with it) has struck again. I previously reported on rumors that Pat Clarey, the Governor's Chief of Staff (and a loyal Republican) would be stepping aside after the special election. Read that story here.

Well, apparently the Governor has decided to name Susan Kennedy as his Chief of Staff.

I am sure that if this plays out, Kennedy will be vetted by many who know her well. I can only judge her political ideology based on her resume, which includes these highlights (seriously, I am NOT making this up):

Kennedy has spent nearly the last three years as Gray Davis' appointee to the State Public Utilities Commission. Before that, she was a Deputy Chief of Staff and Cabinet Secretary for the infamously recalled Governor. (Kennedy's resume on the PUC website boasts that she was responsible for 'development of $100 billion state budget)

Before working for Gray Davis, Kennedy served as Communications Director and a senior staff member to Democrat United States Senator Dianne Feinstein (where, according to her own resume, she assisted the Senator with the development of legislation and policy initiatives...).

This next paragraph is straight from her resume (how could I improve on this):

Kennedy previously served as Executive Director of the California Democratic Party and as Executive Director of the California Abortion Rights Action League. She managed two of the most successful Get-Out-The-Vote campaigns in recent California history, including the 1992 Coordinated Campaign for Clinton/Gore and the 1998 Coordinated Campaign that elected Governor Gray Davis.

Right now I am a little bit shocked by this 'confirmed rumor' - actually, I would call it a 'very confirmed rumor' at this point.

I am not sure how Governor Schwarzenegger expects Republicans to react to this appointment. This is not an appointment to some peripheral position in his administration. The Chief of Staff is the most central role on the Governor's entire staff.

I think it would be premature to comment on a rumor, even a 'very confirmed' one at this point. But you can be sure that there will be a lot of questions, frustrations, concern and anger from the base if this turns out to be true.

While Republicans are not a majority in California by a long shot, there are still many million of us out here. It doesn't seem plausible that there was not one person who could ably serve in this capacity who agrees with the Governor's general philosophy enough to register in the same political party as he does.

Well, let's see how this plays out...

Jon

PS: I will offer an open invitation to any and all, whether in the administration, or friends thereof, or friends of Susan Kennedy (or Ms. Kennedy herself if this reaches her) to reach out to me, and help me understand why this appointment should not be interpreted as the big kiss-off to the GOP base.

[CyberAnt]

What is Arnold thinking hiring this type of person.

If Arnold wants the conervative vote, this is NOT how to do it.

[Greg o the Navy]

If this is what it takes to move us toward a strong Tom McClintock candidacy next year, then so be it.

[goldstategop]

If this is true, the base will sit it out next November. Why vote for a stealth Democrat? Indeed. This is not what we voted for when we recalled Gray Davis in 2003. Speechlessness is the understatement of the year.

(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.")

[goldstategop]

He's a RINO who's trying to mend fences with the state's dominant Democrats. What can the GOP do for him? They couldn't even beat the public employee unions in the November election.

(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.")

[A CA Guy]

Proof of what claims lainie?

The lack of performance by conservatives to come out and vote in the special election is self evident by the results.

We are responsible for the results and we are responsible for making Arnold have to powwow with Democrats instead of taking names and kicking butt.

We are responsible.

[Killborn]

Shades of Harriet Miers' appointment.

Four points:

1) SK Makes Mrs. Miers look like Bork.
2) We may be jumping the gun here. Just because Arnold hired a liberal doesn't mean he's going to adopt her ideas. The relationship between a Governor and Chief of Staff is "I boss, you follow." She may have been selected for something else other than her odious socialism.
3) Even if this is "betrayal, crime, murder" bla bla bla, what choice is presented?

"On this corner, 200 pounds of pure muscular Rinosism: THE GOVERNATOR! ANd in this Corner..."
a)a conservative who'll make the Founding Fathers proud or a traitor who should not even be in the same hemisphere as America?
b)If in the other corner is a true blue guy/gal, what chance does s/he have of winning?

More often than not, when Conservatives want to "teach them a lesson" we barely survive class.

Let's hope for the sake of everyone SK will serve no other function than being Arnold's lacky. And if, God forbid, Arnold had turned for the worse, that we could replace him with someone better, not worse.

[A CA Guy]

I'm not saying the people here were out to screw Arnold (not counting Libertarians as usual).

The thing is, I do understand California voters and they are L*A*Z*Y, especially on the conservative side of the aisle.

There were great propositions to vote for and when we left Arnold holding the bag (as a state) we screwed ourselves first and Arnold in fact. Was Arnold a target? Outside of perhaps Libertarians, NO!

I think Arnold if being forced to get along from our lack of performance, and as I said, I bet they did NOT even on the Republican party bother to again launch similar propositions against the unions, budget and parental notification.
If we don't have similar propositions again gong in 2006, that again is a sign we as a party are dropping the ball.

Until we can all BOTHER to vote, we will be forced to breath down wind of Democrats.

I don't like it, want it, but nothing will change.

If to this point Arnold couldn't motivate people to come out and vote, you better believe Libertarian's god McClintock won't come anywhere close either.

If we don't vote on propositions with good turnouts, then we are going to all be screwed in this state for a long time.

[Bernard Marx]

The 'total cave' is underway. Meanwhile the telephone wires are singing between Sacramento and Hyannisport.

[mm201]

Who is George Soros and what is this Main Street Partnership?

[A CA Guy]

Our failure in the last election to come out and vote ABSOLUTELY caused Arnold hire people who can help him GET ALONG with Democrats rather than hire a conservative to take names and kick butt...ABSOLUTELY YES!

We were offered an opportunity to make a change in the last election with a low turn out and WE FAILED.

We so failed that we made him weaker as a Governor. We had our fate in our own hands last election and were pathetic as a state and state Republican party.

[California Patriot]

I am a member of the Los Angeles County Republican Central Committee, and as such, a proud GOP loyalist.

Arnold's appointment of Susan Kennedy is outrageous and unforgivable. I have never before been really angry at him. Now I am.

Word is he may not run again. If he does, he will lose.
Better we lose with bold colors flying, not pale pastels. McClintock for governor.

[LibertarianInExile]

"One hundred RINOs do more damage than a thousand Democrats."

Great quote. I'm gonna put it on my freeper homepage, crediting you.

[L.N. Smithee]

McClintock's crazy eyes are probably really going at this news.

Say what you want about McClintock's eyes -- unlike R-nold, at least Tom knows how to focus.

[EternalVigilance]

Excellent. Thanks.

[FreedomCalls]

[L.N. Smithee]

We were offered an opportunity to make a change in the last election with a low turn out and WE FAILED. We so failed that we made him weaker as a Governor. We had our fate in our own hands last election and were pathetic as a state and state Republican party.

Nonsense. Republicans can't win in California without giving moderates a maddog good reason not to reflexively poke the "D" hole, and R-nold and his crew of election-losing money-sucking wimps did what they do best -- duck and cover when unions, activists, and Democratic windbags attack.

Demos and GOPpers alike suffered under Gray Davis, and when given the opportunity to get rid of him, they did. Unfortunately, they chose a movie star over a seasoned veteran of California politics who isn't blowing smoke out of his younowut when he talks about fiscal responsibility.

I don't know if it was you, but the reason some gave why McClintock should have lost is because had McClintock been stonewalled by the overwhelming Demo legislature majority, he didn't have the charisma to go straight to an adoring public and get what he wanted.

OK...that didn't turn out the way it was supposed to, did it? So what's plan B for R-nold? Wagonnnns LEFT!

[A CA Guy]

There are over 6 million Republicans available to vote, not counting the independents and others.

This was a failure by the people, not the Gov.

McClintock is lacking.
I agree with lots of what he says, but the vessel for the message unfortunately sucks with the California voter.

In any case, Mc had nothing to do with the loss, if anything, I would blame the Republican party machine for being rusty and the California conservative voters who failed to vote for being the biggest dimwits of the century.

[Alia]

Where the hell were the conservative voters?

Fighting the McClintock/Schwarzenneger war...

[EllaMinnow]

Soros financed? Hardly.

http://www.opensecrets.org/527s/527indivsdetail.asp?ID=11001147458&Cycle=2004

George Soros
Contributions to 527 Committees
2004 Election Cycle

Recipient
Total Contributions

Joint Victory Campaign 2004
$12,050,000

America Coming Together
$7,500,000

MoveOn.org
$2,500,000

Young Democrats of America
$325,000

Democrats 2000
$325,000

The Real Economy Group
$300,000

Campaign for America's Future
$300,000

Safer Together 04
$150,000

Main Street Individual Fund
$0

[RoadTest]

Yeh. First Bush wimps out on us now Arnold! I'm seriously considering no longer calling myself a Republican, while certainly not coming remotely near the title of seditious, effeminate Democrat America-seller.