Posted on 12/02/2005 7:34:27 AM PST by ElkGroveDan
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s chief of staff appointment of career leftist and former Gray Davis staffer Susan Kennedy strongly indicates he has accepted the four myths of the Nov. Special Election presently being circulated by California’s liberal pundits.
Myth 1: Voters agree with Democrats
The voters didn’t hand Democrats any roses Nov. 8. On the contrary, the Donkey Party suffered two important losses. Prop. 79 would have forced price controls and discounts on pharmaceuticals in California. The so-called “Prescription Drug” issue is practically the Holy Grail of Democrat Party these days, with calls for more government intervention and mandatory price caps. The California Democrat Party platform mentions “prescription drugs” nine times and the party gave its hearty endorsement to Prop. 79. Sixty-one percent of those who voted that day said “no thanks” to this essential Democrat cause.
Prop. 80 would have restored burdensome regulation of California’s electric power industry while mandating additional “green power.” The California Democrat Party threw its considerable weight behind this measure too. Alas, Nov. 8 voters rejected Prop. 80, also by 61 percent.
Myth 2: The special election was a loss for Republicans
Certainly Republicans would have benefited from passage of the governor’s initiatives. However their loss has merely maintained the status quo Capitol power balance — disappointing, yes, but hardly a setback. Moreover, the California Teachers Association was driven to the brink of bankruptcy to fund its opposition to Prop.s 74 and 75. The CTA monster may not have been de-fanged this time but it will be going into the next battle bruised and limping. Any new edge, however temporary, over the mighty public employee unions is a victory for Republican campaigners.
Myth 3: The Special Election results reflect the mood of all Californians.
This election, indeed any election, reflects the mood of those who decided to go to the polls that day. On Nov. 8 the initiatives sponsored by the governor and Republicans lost because 4.1 to 4.6 million voters cast no votes, per recommendations from the Democrats and big labor. That’s about 18 percent of the state’s 22.4 million registered voters — less than one in five. 18 percent is hardly a mandate for anything, let alone the historically unpopular higher taxes and bigger government the unions are now telling their Democrat legislators to enact.
The election told us only that California is neither a politically liberal nor politically conservative state. It is a politically disconnected state. Under such conditions it behooves those who wish to change the status quo to make not just a message for change, but also a serious, immediate, and urgent call to action. Arnold’s campaign team failed to do that.
Big labor made an urgent case to their members that their very jobs were at risk. Their voters showed up and cast ballots.
The voters who recalled Gray Davis and elected Arnold governor make up a loose group that I call the Normality Base: Republicans, thinking independents, and conservative Democrats. They are busy soccer moms, harried commuters, and stressed out small business owners. They tend to agree with Republicans much of the time. The Normality Base never felt the sense of urgency about the Special Election they did about the recall. They simply didn’t vote.
Myth 4: Arnold should now lean left to win reelection.
The unmotivated Normality Base are still here and still don’t care much for big government and high taxes. They will vote in greater numbers in the next scheduled election. This base is poised to re-elect the governor if he sends the right message. Conversely, the Susan Kennedy appointment indicates likely electoral disaster for Schwarzenegger if it is the beginning of a hard left shift toward supporting higher taxes and bigger government, all because 18 percent of California voters chose no on everything in the Special.
If Schwarzenegger is in fact listening to fables, he should heed Aesop’s “A Dog and His Reflection.”: A dog, to whom the butcher had thrown a bone, was hurrying home with his prize. Crossing a narrow footbridge, he happened to see himself reflected in the quiet water, but thought he saw a real dog carrying a bone much bigger than his own. The greedy dog dropped his bone and sprang at the dog in the river, then found himself swimming for his life toward shore. As he scrambled out and stood sadly thinking about the good bone he had lost, he realized what a foolish dog he had been.
The people voted to recall Gray Davis and elect Schwarzenegger to rid the state of tax and spend irresponsibility. Out of so many self-serving myths, that is the one truth to be salvaged.
So it's OK for you to spew unsubstantiated BS and then get mad when you're called on it?
Oh. Welcome to the party! And what is your issue?
Looks like you made an issue with your conduct. It's not that hard to recover. Start by putting the shovel down. ;)
And where is MY ping? I'm there too.
Sure beats koolaid which seems to cause people to ignore facts, no matter how blatantly obvious.
Ping to good article... I'm a little late checking in today (sorry if you've already seen it).
Thanks for posting.
(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.")
(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.")
Anything else you want to contribute, or are you just from "THE LIST"?
He can't "abandon" something he never started. Two years in office and a big fat goose egg on fiscal reform. In fact, a net minus on fiscal reform. This, despite all of the pre-recall promises.
Excellent article that captures my own feelings about November 8.
Dan!
Have you seen the name change? You may have triggered the swiftest onslaught of menopause on record.
Name change? I missed it. Who?
I'm sooooo sad!
sob!
That's it. Lunchtime, coffee, and then back to the chainsaw. One more tree to climb today. Anybody need any madrone firewood?
GVnana=GVgirl
Ah, I see. Thanks.
Ah... quit your cryin'! (lol) There seem to be lot's of meltdowns lately. ;-)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1531672/posts?page=193#193
>>Anybody need any madrone firewood?
Do you deliver?
Not that far.
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.