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.

[EternalVigilance]

The 'Anything-Liberal-Arnie-Does-Now-is-Justified-Because-Conservatives-Didn't-Show-Up-at-the-Polls' schtick is already wearing thin.

Don't blame conservatives for the pathetic way the GOP, led by Schwarzeneggar, ran the initiative campaign.

Blaming the voters is juvenile.

[A CA Guy]

Has absolutely nothing to do with being behind HIM, but the fact his propositions were great for making change in California and we were all just too damn special to vote in numbers.
If you are saying the reason people did not vote was not due to content, but Arnold, well those aren't conservatives, just a waste of good air.

The Union proposition and abortion consent issues were alone were being PRESENT!

[lainie]

I don't see any proof of your claims, but what I'm suggesting is that every conservative in the state could have voted for those props and there simply aren't enough of us.

[ElkGroveDan]

You don't understand voters.

Everyone is not a calculating, scheming political hack like you and me.

No one made a "decision" to screw Arnold.

Most people know little about politics and don't care very much. When pushed they tend to be relatively conservative. To get people like that to the polls in a non-election year you need a sense of URGENCY or a HUGE issue, like the recall when people really thought the state was going to hell in a hand basket. Frankly, no one gave them that sense of urgency this time. They didn't stay home out of spite, they just had other things to do that day.

When Republican strategists quit thinking of voters as calculating political animals like themselves we will start winning elections again. It's all about motivation, not this or that or up or down or left or right. Our votes are there, we just need to light a fire under them like we did in 1994.

[Stew Padasso]

This that and the other thing. What a political whore.

[EternalVigilance]

Very well said.

[EternalVigilance]

So, let's be clear:

Your assertion is that the appointment of a top Gray Davis Democrat political hack to run the Governor's Administration is to be blamed on conservatives.

Do I have that right?

[Brad’s Gramma]

Tookie as attorney general?




(shhhhhhhh....!!!!!!) Someone will think you're SERIOUS!!!

[calcowgirl]

He wasn't? ;-)

[EternalVigilance]

The death knell for the props was when the strategic decision was made to make them 'Arnold's propositions'.

After that, there was no hope that the average citizen was going to make them their own.

Typical shortsighted thinking by political hacks.

[BillyBoy]

Didn't you mention Baghdad Bob the other day?

ARNOLDBOT SPINMEISTERS:

"There is NO truth to the rumors that the Democrats have total control of California and Arnold has surrendered in a spider hole. It is all fifthy lies spread by the villainous conservatives who hate Arnold. I will prove to you that is a LIE! The Democrats are committing suicide outside the gates of Sacramento right now thanks to master Arnold leadership!! We will encourage them to committ suicide more quickly. Our great leader Arnold will soon have a balanced budget, cut taxes, bring the businesses back, DELIVER California to Bush, Jones, the Assembly Republicans, the Senate Republicans, and anyone else with a "R" next to their name! ALL THE PEOPLE ARE STANDING BEHIND OUR GREAT RINO LEADER!!!!! ARNOLD IS COMPLETELY DESTROYING THE CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATS AS I SPEAK!!!!!!! I will take you to San Francisco to see their remains in ONE HOUR!! WE HAVE SLAUGHTERED THEM ALL!!!!!!

[lainie]

Exactly what I was thinking. Directly against the pleas of conservatives, the GOP and "republicans" backed Arnold (and the conservatives took it in the shorts for their traitorous behavior). When what he tries doesn't have conservatives' support (allegedly), his so-called failure is conservatives' fault? That's pretty tricky ..er, slick.

[lainie]

Published online at Capitol Weekly one hour ago:


http://www.capitolweekly.net/news/article.html?article_id=340

By John Howard

(published November 29th, 2005)

Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has hired Susan Kennedy, a top aide to former Gov. Gray Davis, as his new chief of staff, Capitol sources in both major parties said. The chief of staff's position is considered the most powerful administrative position in state government, with broad authority over policy-making and the sprawling bureaucracy.

The decision was made following two days of intense, closed-door meetings that included negotiating sessions across the street from the Capitol in the Hyatt Regency Hotel, where Schwarzenegger stays while in Sacramento. Kennedy's hiring was the culmination of a five-hour meeting, sources said, at which Kennedy demanded--and got--sole authority over hiring and firing the executive staff. That provision spread anger among Republican insiders, who said they feared a major purge of GOP staffers among the governor's inner circle.

Republicans said Kennedy's hiring had been pushed by Democrats close to the governor--including his wife, Maria Shriver, and advisers Bonnie Reiss and Daniel Zingale. Democrats, meanwhile, said Schwarzenegger's decision was based more on his personal nonpartisan nature, rather than from succumbing to persuasive Democrats.

Whatever the reason, the governor's choice is the most dramatic in the Capitol since former Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, chose the late B.T. Collins, a maimed Republican Vietnam war veteran, as his chief of staff.

Kennedy's hiring signals a dramatic shakeup in the inner circle around Gov. Schwarzenegger, who suffered a major political defeat on Nov. 8, when his attempts to overhaul government--including spending limits and the creation of a retired judges' panel to supervise reapportionment--were rejected by voters.

Kennedy decided to accept the chief of staff's position following lengthy meetings at the Hyatt, but she had been approached earlier by the governor recently in Los Angeles to take the job--but turned it down.

She changed her mind after Schwarzenegger, who approached her anew to accept the post, agreed to give her broad authority over the staff. Schwarzenegger also had approached others to take the post, including former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg, who turned him down.

The current chief of staff, Patricia Clarey, who joined Schwarzenegger early in his administration, was scheduled to leave by the end of year. Also leaving was Rob Stutzman, the governor's communications director, who was leaving to handle the governor's re-election campaign next year. Stutzman's departure was not officially announced, nor was his replacement. But one Capitol source familiar with Stutzman's situation said flatly: "He left to join the campaign. He left voluntarily."

The selection of Kennedy angered many Republicans--and some Democrats. Both sides noted that she had served Davis--who Schwarzenegger booted from office in the 2003 historic recall--as Cabinet Secretary. How could Schwarzenegger, who publicly criticized Davis as an incompetent governor, hire one of Davis' key players?

"It's unreal. She served the governor that voters kicked out. She was executive director of the Democratic Party. She's a Democrat through and through. What is he (Schwarzenegger) thinking?" one Republican said.

"Republicans spent years battling Susan Kennedy when she worked for the recalled Gov. Davis. It's unfathomable that one of the central figures of the Davis administration and Oracle scandal would be put back in charge of the governor's office," said another Republican, referring to the state's signing of a flawed, $95 million software contract that roiled Davis' tenure.

Democrats were equally nonplussed.

"She negotiated workers' comp. She was the executive director of the Democratic Party. She is everything he (Schwarzenegger) isn't. What's going on here?" a Democrat said.

John Howard is the Managing Editor of Capitol Weekly.

[SoCalPol]

It's all about motivation, not this or that or up or down or left or right. Our votes are there, we just need to light a fire under them like we did in 1994.

Thank You. I have tried to tell some of the wine & cheese
crowd this. .....wingtips and high heels need to go and
Rebox & Nikies to be used going door to door or reg. in
front of stores.

[Hank Rearden]

Yeah...that's some "Republican" we got there...

Don't act so shocked - anybody can be a Republican, because the Republican Party has no principles other than getting reelected.

Name me something, anything, ONE thing, that is a core, non-negotiable principle of the Republican Party.

Anybody can take any position on anything and still call themselves a Republican, even get party support if it means winning an office. Doesn't matter what you believe.

That's why so many of us had the GOP's number many years ago; we're tired of the lies and the scams.

[Just A Nobody]

Yes ... although they "allegedly" returned his $50,000.

Did you note the 10 SINators and 45 CONgresscritters?

[SierraWasp]

Well... The dumb bastard has finally come right out and pulled his own covers!!!

Wooosh!!! That's the sound of all the swooners sucking in their breath from getting bich-slapped right across their sucker faces for ever believing in this big ham fisted punk!!!

Republicans (of which I am not one, currently) should completely repudiate this abject failure as a Governor. He's actually redeeming and rehabing Gray Davis after all is said and done and that's a crime!!!

[B Knotts]

Is anyone really surprised?

[EternalVigilance]

With or without Soros, it's a 'who's who' of who is destroying America.

One hundred RINOs do more damage than a thousand Democrats.

[Carry_Okie]

Meanhwile, for the first time in my life, I am speechless.

It's really very simple. The same folks who gave us Bray Davis backed Arnold to the hilt. They really don't care which party is in power. Arnold knows that he has to please them. He doesn't care through which Party he needs to work; in fact, the less time he spends building channels among "centrists" of either side the better.