Kennedy will join a Schwarzenegger inner circle that already contains Democrats in key positions. Among them are senior aide Bonnie Reiss, Cabinet Secretary Terry Tamminen and Daniel Zingale, another former Davis aide who now serves as chief of staff to first lady Maria Shriver.
same Tom Chorneau article also posted on wire as
Schwarzenegger names Democrat chief of staff amid broader shakeup
and
Schwarzenegger replaces chief of staff with Democratic activist
I am going to admit my ignorance here: how important is a governor's chief of staff?
Arnie, Arnie, Arnie... What are you doing?
Think how crazy this is? This is like Karl Rove being replaced by Hillary.
What is it with Republicans that make them want to court their enemies? Dems are never going to "accept" Republicans no matter how nice they are to them.
To think I voted for this clown in the recall! Never again!
Don't blame me ... I voted for McClintock
Kalifornia - FUBAR
Is Ah-nold truly that anxious to lose reelection ? He continues to embrace those that opposed his recent reforms and spit in the face of his supporters. Can he even make an argument FOR reelection ? We're better off with a 'Rat and cut this dead weight loose.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzengger and California Public Utilities Commissioner Susan Kennedy, walk to a news conference where he named her to be his new chief of staff in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 30. 2005. Kennedy, a Democrat and cabinet secretary to former Gov. Gray Davis, will replace Schwarzenegger's former chief of staff Patricia Clarey. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
Here's my roundup on Mr. Kennedy
1972: At age 12, was inspired by actress Jane Fonda's support of American Indian and free-speech causes and opposition to the Vietnam War.
1977: Lived in Lancaster, Pa., within the evacuation zone of Three Mile Island. Developed a distrust of the establishment
1979: Enrolls and subsequently drops out of Millersville State College in Pennsylvania "because she was partying too much."
1980: Moved cross country to join Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden's "Campaign for Economic Democracy," a breeding ground for political training in campaigning, fundraising and field organizing, leading to a series of jobs and becoming one of the state Democratic Party's top field organizers.
198x-1991: Executive director of the California Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League
1991-1994: Executive director of the California Democratic Party, selected by then party chairman, Phil Angelides
1992: Helped lead one of the biggest get-out-the-vote campaigns which put Feinstein in the Senate and helped put Bill Clinton in the presidency.
1993: Political director for Kathleen Brown seeking office of California Governor.
1995 to 1998: Worked as communications director to Democratic U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
1995: Begins program of recovery from alcohol addiction
1998: Director of the California Democratic Party's Coordinated Campaign, a grass-roots campaign effort for 1998 election.
1998: Appointed Cabinet secretary by Governor Gray Davis. She was credited with managing the Democratic governor's initiatives on child support enforcement, energy conservation and health care, among other issues. Reportedly, she promoted Gray Davis' energy plans in 2001, and issuance of $12 billion in bonds to purchase more power, warning legislators of "Armageddon." She also acted as chief negotiator in budget discussions with legislators in 2001, angering many that the Governor did not participate more. (We all know how those energy and budget matters turned out).
1999: "Married" in a Maui commitment ceremony to lesbian partner Vicki Marti, a psychotherapist. Democratic lobbyist and party operative Darius Anderson, her best friend, served as her "best man"
2001: Had an active role in approving a $96-million contract with Oracle Corp. to provide software that state managers did not want or need, an issue raised by state Sen. Tom McClintock during confirmation hearings for her 2003 PUC appointment.
2003: Appointed to a six-year term on the Public Utilities Commission by Gray Davis, with an annual salary of $114,191. Meanwhile, Gray Davis also appoints her domestic partner, Vicki Marti, to the California Medical Assistance Commission whose function it is to set hospital Medical rates--a plum job paying an annual salary of $99,000 and requiring only 2 meetings per month.
2005: Reaches her senior year in college after 13 years of part time study.
I see the hand of Maria in this move.
He's trying to court cross-over Democrat voters who supported him last time.
A fatal mistake. Wait until she quits a starts declaiming to the media that Arnold is an idiot. Or maybe she'll say she was sexually harassed.
Next move is to appoint Harriet Myers to the California Supreme Court...
"She embodies everything I have spent my life opposing. It obviously raises more problems and concerns about where he is headed next year," said Mike Spence, president of the California Republican Assembly. "There is a list of things now where it appears we would have been better off if Gray Davis were governor."
Arnold doesn't have a base - he is essentially outside of the party process.
Nothing like bringing the fox into the henhouse..
If Steve Maviglio likes this move, it has to be bad for the Kalif taxpayers and the GOP.