Posted on 11/30/2005 7:25:33 PM PST by NormsRevenge
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's announcement Wednesday that he would name a prominent Democrat as his new chief of staff has been topic A among political insiders of both parties, who are still chewing over its meaning and significance.
Whether the move has any impact on the governor's standing among the state's 15.8 million voters - most of whom pay little heed to such Sacramento staff shuffles - remains the larger question.
Schwarzenegger's appointment of Susan Kennedy to replace outgoing chief of staff Pat Clarey is the first major shakeup after the disastrous Nov. 8 special election, when voters soundly rejected his "year of reform" ballot measures.
His campaign on behalf of the initiatives, which targeted public employee unions and Democratic lawmakers, cut his popularity in half, according to several statewide polls. The hemorrhaging of support has been most dramatic among Democrats and independents, who form the vast majority of California voters.
After the yearlong experiment as a partisan Republican left his political credibility in shambles, the Kennedy appointment appears to signal Schwarzenegger's determination to return to the political center.
But it's unlikely that staff changes alone can bring about such a transformation in a governorship so sharply defined by Schwarzenegger's own larger-than-life persona.
Kennedy, 45, is a longtime Democratic activist who served as cabinet secretary to Gov. Gray Davis, the man Schwarzenegger replaced during the 2003 recall election. She also is an abortion rights champion and is openly gay.
From the beginning, Schwarzenegger has sought counsel from a range of advisers, both Republican and Democrat. His administration has been populated by a number of prominent Democrats, including senior adviser Bonnie Reiss and cabinet secretary Terry Tamminen.
The most influential Democratic member of his inner circle has been his wife, first lady Maria Shriver.
Still, the irony of recruiting a senior member of the Davis team were clearly not lost on Schwarzenegger.
As if to stem the grumbles of nervous Republicans, Schwarzenegger told reporters Wednesday that Kennedy had agreed to work for his political priorities. And he insisted the appointment did not mean he was "drifting" to the left.
"It's not about drifting anywhere," he said. "I have my agenda, and I know exactly where I'm going. It doesn't change my political philosophy, or my direction."
For her part, Kennedy bolstered Schwarzenegger's claim to be a nonpartisan agent of change. She framed her decision to join his team as a desire to be part of a greater legacy.
"I believe very strongly we have an historic opportunity to change the political dialogue in this state - to get past the party labels and get things done," she said.
Still, partisanship abounds.
Democrats generally were quick to praise the Kennedy selection while cautioning that it did not change Schwarzenegger's priorities or his record as governor.
"The issue is the governor's policies, not his payroll," said Dan Newman, a spokesman for state Treasurer Phil Angelides, who hopes to challenge Schwarzenegger in the governor's race next year.
Angelides, who chaired the state Democratic Party when Kennedy served as executive director, refused to comment on her selection.
Matthew Cunningham, an Orange County GOP consultant, questioned why any conservative Republican should work to re-elect Schwarzenegger next year.
"I believe he waged a valiant fight against the power of the public employee unions during the special election. That took moxie, and I had built up a huge reservoir of respect for him as a result," Cunningham wrote on FlashReport, a popular Republican Web site.
"The governor's actions in the immediate aftermath of his special election defeat began the process of draining that reservoir, and the appointment of Susan Kennedy as his chief of staff (opens) the flood gates. There's nothing left."
Political strategist Allan Hoffenblum acknowledged the Kennedy appointment came with "a lot of sticker shock" for many Republicans. He said it was important for Schwarzenegger to show that he was willing to shed the acrimony of the special election and work with Democrats to achieve results for the state.
"Arnold has to convince voters he's making a good-faith effort to work with Democratic legislators," Hoffenblum said.
For her part, Kennedy bolstered Schwarzenegger's claim to be a nonpartisan agent of change. She framed her decision to join his team as a desire to be part of a greater legacy.
"I believe very strongly we have an historic opportunity to change the political dialogue in this state - to get past the party labels and get things done," she said.
Still, partisanship abounds.
Democrats generally were quick to praise the Kennedy selection while cautioning that it did not change Schwarzenegger's priorities or his record as governor.
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nonpartisan? Which is why his initiatives failed and why he will lose next November if he doesn't step aside in the 06 general election.
I'd say he could step aside for the good of the party and frankly, he should take Parsky, Firestone and the rest of the New Majority with him.
Just thinking about this makes me sick!
This guy got the boot, and like herpes he's back.
I need a hot shower
Oh yeah, we hardly noticed.
Oh man! he's = she's
Yeah baby land of the mega-loan I mean mega-bond!
So Arnold appoints a far left pro-abortion political hack in order to . . . what, exactly? Get the left wing on his side? That will never happen.
Get the "moderate" Dems to play nice with him? They'll only do that if he governs like a Dem.
Solidify his base for next year's election? This appointment of a radical leftist destroys that base.
What an absolutely disastrous decision, both for Arnold's ability to govern and his political viability. Far fewer conservatives will support him next year, and if he tries to govern like a RINO, the Dems will figure they can just elect a real Democrat.
Think about the Republicans that failed to vote and gave a pass to the unions, abortion providers and other issues.
Had 3 or so of those passed, then Arnold could have been in a position of power instead of having to get along IMO.
I'm concerned about what this will do to Tom McClintock's bid.
I certainly don't want to see a rematch between him and Arnold.
I'm writing in Tom in the next election.
Appeasement.
I'm with you!!! Waste of a vote my donkey.
I agree.
Think of the out come if he would of tried to close the border.
Ahhhhhh....(Think of hot shower after a long day of work)
That would of been a nice win.
I'd love to see McClintock win. And I'm in Ohio...
Because-then he can run for President!!
That scumbag Democrat Parsky is still hanging around the California GOP??
That certainly explains a lot.
RIP, California GOP.
Terminator 4: Rise of the RINO
Terminator 5: McClintock disconnects the Terminator
I'm concerned about what this will do to Tom McClintock's bid.
I certainly don't want to see a rematch between him and Arnold.
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Tom's shot likely has come and gone, sad to say, tho Im not ruling him out either. btw, he was running against 130 plus candidates in the Recall, not just aRnie. If the blind endorsement of the GUb in '06 gets yanked, who knows?
There are a couple others in the GOP hopper that may be able to make a go of it down the road but their last name is not Campbell..
We can only hope!
Parsky is also President of the Board of Regents for the Ca University system too.
Don't you think Tom's bid for Lt. Gov was solid?
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