Posted on 01/05/2006 9:03:12 AM PST by NormsRevenge
AS AT THE PREMIERE of one of his films, there is an air of excitement and drama surrounding Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's State of the State address tonight. Pundits, Democrats and even Republicans are anxiously waiting to see which Schwarzenegger shows up. Will it be last year's conservative firebrand — the Schwarzenegger who boasted of kicking nurses' butts and who threatened to "blow up" state government to reorganize it — or the kinder and gentler new Arnold who says he wants to work cooperatively with the Legislature to solve California's problems?
Whichever Schwarzenegger it is, he needs to address a growing perception that he has no strong convictions and is dangerously disengaged from the realities of governing a state with the fifth-largest economy in the world. He's got to make it clear to voters why, since the stunning rejection of his reform package in November's special election, he has embraced much of the political agenda he spent the previous year railing against.
Consider the following:
• After vetoing legislation in October to raise the minimum wage, he now supports an increase.
• After breaking a promise last year to repay billions of dollars he borrowed from the schools and attacking teachers, he's now trying to befriend public education and promising to "begin repaying" that money with a $1.7-billion down payment.
• Particularly surprising to me is that he is now calling for prescription drug importation — after twice vetoing legislation I wrote to give Californians access to cheaper prescription drugs from Canada.
• After a year spent in partisan politics, campaigning for a conservative, anti-union agenda, he's now turned around and hired Susan Kennedy, one of former Gov. Gray Davis' top lieutenants and a respected Democrat, as his chief of staff.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Arnold has jumped the shark.
Since he tells us he does not understand the language enought to properly tell us his position, I am sure this will not matter.
--I'll be pleasantly surprised if he doesn't call for a state-wide handgun ban---
I am so glad I got out of CA last year. Thank God for Texas.
Watch the Live Webcast of the Governor's 2006 State of the State Address here Thursday, January 5 at 5:00pm.
Live Stream will be made available shortly before the webcast begins.
Great comment, Carry_Okie!!! Gee, I can hardly wait! I'ma standin on one foot, then the other, just waitin to hear his strong, borrow and spend, overmodulated voice beating on my desensitized eardrums!!!
Heck, let one of the (M)ilk post it. :-D
I think someone's been on here tryin ta milk the ilk!!! (wide chessycat grin)
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