Posted on 12/03/2005 11:25:15 AM PST by Kenny Bunk
Top California Republicans are wondering if Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is moving left politically following his appointment to chief of staff of Susan Kennedy – a leading liberal activist and former aide to Democrat Gov. Gray Davis.
"We're not moving anywhere," Schwarzenegger says, insisting that he is continuing to go "in the same direction."
Some of his Republican colleagues wonder what direction that may be.
"I'm getting more e-mails off of this [the Kennedy appointment] than I do for Viagra," said Mike Spence, president of the California Republican Assembly, in an interview with the L.A. Times newspaper.
"Since the special election, where we were very loyal [to Schwarzenegger], all we've heard about was a $50 billion bond and looking at clemency for [convicted murderer and gang leader Stanley] Tookie Williams." Asking if there isn't "even one Republican in the state to be qualified as chief of staff?" Spence said. "I think the Kennedy thing was just the last straw."
What especially irks GOP leaders is Kennedy’s popular standing among California liberals. She is a former executive director of the state's ultra-left-wing Democratic Party, a former top member of former Gov. Gray Davis’ staff and - to the chagrin of advocates of traditional values - an abortion supporter and admitted lesbian who recently "married” her lover in a Hawaiian civil union ceremony.
GOP officials aren't alone in their criticism of the appointment, as Schwarzenegger discovered during a radio talk-show appearance with conservative host Roger Hedgecock on San Diego's KOGO radio station.
Said Hedgecock "You have once again stirred up everyone in the whole state with this announcement. This woman seems completely incompatible with any Republican principles."
Not so, said the governor, who described Kennedy as a pro-business moderate who had supported him on all of his doomed special-election ballot initiatives, including one which was fiercely opposed by Democrats because it would have put a limit on spending.
"All of the things that I have done in the last two years she believes in and actually said many times to me during the last two years that she has become a big fan of mine because of the things that I do," he told Hedgecock.
While admitting that some Republicans will be "up in arms about" the Kennedy appointment, Schwarzenegger told his host "but I have to pick someone that I feel comfortable with. And I talked to a lot of people for this job, and she was the one who I felt most comfortable with." Not every Republican is appalled at the Governor's choice. Pat Dando, president and chief executive officer of the San Jose-Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce told the San Jose Mercury News:
"I would hope that they would look at her as an individual with qualifications that are important to do the job of chief of staff." He added that Schwarzenegger "appears to be more interested in finding well-qualified individuals to work with him on both sides of the aisle than sticking to a party line, and I think that's healthy."
>>...I'm not convinced 77 was a bad thing. What concerned you with regard to it?
To avoid giving you a two page post, I'll give you a couple links to prior posts.
There were many things that I found flawed. I listed most of them in this post
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1500090/posts?page=29#29.
As I said then, I'm not sure any one of these, alone, would have made me
oppose Prop 77, but collectively I could only conclude that it was bad law.
The voter approval provision allowed new districts *without* approval. See explanation here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1510407/posts?page=68#68
and follow-up with excerpts here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1510407/posts?page=86#86.
Shhh. Don't try to explain how elections work to Arnoldbots. It's all the fault of the eeeeeeeeeevil "purist" conservatives for not worshiping EVERY proposition Arnold endorses. It's certainly not Arnold's fault for HAVING the vote take place during a taxpayer funded "special election" where nobody votes, instead of WAITING a few monthes for a REGULAR election (which would have saved millions and automatically ensured a much higher turnout)
Oh, and according to FairOpinion, it's unforgiveable that some Republican voters would "side with the Democrats" on prop. 76 & 77. But when ARNOLD wants to "side with the Democrats" on Prop 54 and Prop 71, that's just fine and dandy!
Tim Pawlenty, Mike Pence, Haley Barbour, Sam Brownback, Mike Huckabee, and Tommy Thompson for starters.
Here's my challenge: Since the Arnoldbots clearly don't mind voting for a Gray Davis clone as long as he has an "R" next to his name and "can win", would you mind importing the following useless RINOs to your state: George Ryan, Judy Baar Topinka, Don Sundquist, Christie Todd Whitman, John Rowland, Paul Cerculli, Connie Morella, Amo Houghton, William Weld, Mark Kirk, Jim Kolbe, Joe Schwarz, Chris Shays, and probably a dozen others I can't think of offhand.
All of them have totally wreaked the areas they "represent", but not to worry, they DO have a history of repeatedly "winning" with an "R" next to their name!
Illinois would especially like you to have George "blanket amnesty for all the murderers on death row" Ryan. He has an "R" next to his name and he WON statewide five times, after all! (of course that was before he pardoned the murderers)
He paused and then added "Leftward."
Are you suggesting that this latest move left is in response to the special election?If so, how do you justify all of his prior leftist appointments and actions? Leftist judges. Record borrowing and record spending. Global warming. Stem-cell research support. Promotion of the Sierra Nevada conservancy. Appointments of Tamminen (treehugger), Reiss (leftist activist), Henning (red-diaper boy), etc. These actions were taken at his height of popularity.
Just making the point that Schwarzenegger has turned out to be at least as bad as many of us feared.
Hannity is on our side and, like me, Cheney is far right rudder and I like him. A lot. The other three pretty much deserve what they have gotten here.
We still have awhile to go before locking in on 2008. At this early juncture, speaking only for myself, the ones you named are all unacceptable except Allen about whom I know very little. If he's a serious candidate, I'll soon know everything I need to know about him.
If you like these guys, the moonbats will be branding you a rino and a traitor to boot. Have you seen Huckabee's stance on immigration ? PS. I like these guys too.
from post 27 "Has Sean Hannity turned in his kneepads yet?"
If you like Hannity, the moonbats will be coming after you too. Did I mention Hannity likes Arnold ?
No news yet on whether or not she's a pedophile or meth user.
Hannity has seldom struck a sour note, and has generally been a reliable guy for the conservative cause. I don't catch him on a regular basis, so it is possible I could have missed a few hiccups here and there. I like his enthusiasm.
" Did I mention Hannity likes Arnold ?"
I know that was the case in the past. I doubt that he is still enthused.
I'll add it to the list.
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