Posted on 12/28/2005 5:59:57 PM PST by calcowgirl
The enemies were on high alert and the blogosphere had a juicy news flash: Susan P. Kennedy, a prominent Democrat who will soon take over as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's chief of staff, was spotted having lunch with the chairman of the California Republican Party at a popular steakhouse here called Chops.
"You should know our sellout Susan Kennedy is having lunch at Chops right now with your party chairman - probably re-registering," the blog, Flashreport, reported recently, quoting a Democrat as one of two informants about the lunch.
(snip)
But Ms. Kennedy said she had decided to join the Schwarzenegger administration because she believed in the governor's agenda.
(snip)
Both Ms. Kennedy and the governor also say they support the death penalty and abortion rights. They are both pro-business, and they both insist that the time has come for the state, entrenched in a vicious partisan divide, to set aside party labels and create what Ms. Kennedy described as "a new kind of politics."
Still, Ms. Kennedy struggled with the decision after the governor approached her about the post. "It was a test of my beliefs," she said.
But, she said, "If I agree with where he's going, why would I not support him just because he has an R next to his name?"
Even so, Mr. Schwarzenegger has seen the need to explain his decision, praising Ms. Kennedy at recent news conferences and agreeing to be interviewed on the subject.
(snip)
Ms. Kennedy, he said, "wants to go and make this the perfect administration and to implement my vision and to implement my philosophy."
"And I'm not stuck on my philosophy in a groove, like some people are - like the Republican or right-wing philosophy," he said.
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Hmmm... Some at FR suggest that we should support him solely because he has an R next to his name.
This is just too rich.
Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante, Bustamante...
Well, before withholding support one ought to consider the alternatives [the others are still worse]; the scope of action he has [not that much - it is CA]; and what he has been doing. On death penalty he's been doing right. Thus qualified support could be given.
The LA slimes ran an article over the weekend, pointing out the Dems. as the controllers of the entire government, except the Govs office, plan on tripping up the Gov. and not co-operate with him in any way that might help him get re-elected.
The plan is to wait him out until they can get their own man in. Then, watch out. Expect a serious proposal for single payor health, incredible environmental regs., massive tax restructuring and redistricting to lock in their power indefinitely.
This is all being taken very seriously in Sacramento. Republicans I encounter blow all this off, and assume that the legislative log-jam will continue.
I would advise them not to count on it. Many forces want California to be the great Socialist Experiment, in the hopes the power will spread east.
The rumblings I've seen say that we will see universal healthcare for children, more environmental regs and subsidized programs, and a minimum wage hike--all proposed and/or supported by our very own (R) Governor.
He's already proven to be an anti-gun, land-grabbing, big-spending, big-borrowing, pro-GLBT socialist. All the (R) next to his name has done is silence much of the needed opposition (i.e. from the right).
I give him credit for the few things he's done right. Tookie, drivers licenses, gay marriage. Unfortunately, there is a long list of negatives that gets longer every day. This is NOT the best California can do and it is not the platform on which he ran.
Remember CUT CUT CUT? Instead we got BORROW, BORROW BORROW, an RF Kennedy Jr. environmental platform, groundbreaking pro-GLBT legislation, more gun control, fewer than 50% Republican judicial appointees, etc. etc. etc.
I'll support him when he is right on the issues, which is far to rare an occasion.
One wonders what will finish off California first, the Big One or its suicide pact with Socialism.
ping...
After the disgusting show the State Republicans gave to Arnold on the propositions, they have alot of nerve criticizing him now. CA republicans are all talk, no action. They deserve EVERYTHING they get. Sorry...that's why I moved.
Well couldn't hire someone from Austria, so I guess he looked to the family
What a crock! 3.6 million voters showed up to vote for most of his initiatives. Republicans supported the petitioning process and voted for most of his initiatives.
In the meantime, Arnold seemed to do everything within his power to alienate every individual voter by attacking teachers, women, nurses, firefighters, etc. I got more phone calls and mailers from the CAGOP trying to push socialized medicine lite (Prop 78) than any of the others.
They ran a totally inept campaign and then tried to blame A) the businesses by saying that $50 million wasn't enough money -- they should have given more and B) the voters for not outnumbering the union members, family of union members, etc., all highly motivated by Arnold's campaign approach.
Tell me... when you go fishing and go home empty handed, will you blame the fish or try a different technique or bait next time?
Hildy, the CSS has not yet published those stats. When they're published I'll ping you. Many are interested in the breakdowns.
At the moment the results could simply be interpreted as a straight party line vote on Props 74, 75 & 77 since the cumulative results match party registration ratios. It's pretty hard to fault the Republicans if that proves to be the case.
Prop 76, which contained multiple, politically diverse subsections wasn't popular with either the right or the left which was probably a deciding factor in the unforecast depth of its rejection rather than its partisan appeal. The governor simply didn't have the horse power to overcome the wealth of political shenanigans buried in the legislation.
So if Republicans voted for these propositions, and they still went down in flames, what on Earth makes you all believe you could ever get a Conservative elected in that State? Hmm?
With folks(R) like you apparently working constantly against the possibility, it is more challenging than I once thought.
By the way, most of the propositions had little to do with conservatism other than the anti-union platform that prevailed. Keep on blaming those fish!
I escaped that horrible State...you can go blame someone else. Republicans sat on their hands and gave this Governor NO support. You live with the results...
Looks like Arnold is ready to move decidedly to the left.
You left the state yet you come on to this thread and continue to say that "Republicans sat on their hands" and that "they deserve EVERYTHING they get"? And from where exactly do you divine this great knowledge? As Amerigomag pointed out, the California Secretary of State has issued exactly ZERO statistics on the party make-up of the votes.
You say he got NO support. Who signed petitions? Where did 3.6 million votes come from? Was he supposed to get support in pushing socialized medicine? Was he supposed to get support in pushing more bonds and hidden borrowing? He got support in the measures that deserved support yet those still lost thanks to an antagonistic campaign run by his own campaign managers. Since you don't live here, are glad yo are gone, seem to relish in the demise of the state, and have no good things to offer, I will look forward to your absence from future threads.
Are you kiddin'? That's the last thing in the world she wants! She wants everything conservative neutralized.
Exactly!
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