Posted on 01/25/2006 9:20:24 AM PST by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said yesterday he wouldn't fire his top staffer, Democrat Susan Kennedy, to appease Republican activists worried about his move toward the middle.
"I will hire the people I want to hire because they are the best," he said. "I will keep Susan Kennedy exactly where she is."
Schwarzenegger discussed a wide range of issues during his appearance at the Sacramento Press Club, saying voters should decide whether California enacts a physician-assisted suicide law and pledging to release his tax returns for the past 10 years.
During his career before he became governor, Schwarzenegger said, "90 to 100 percent of the people" who worked for him were Democrats.
Schwarzenegger said that even when he was campaigning for Ronald Reagan for president, he had Democrats around his office.
"Later on I married a Democrat," he said, referring to Maria Shriver. "No one revolted. No one ran away and said, 'He's a traitor.' "
Some Republicans want to rescind the GOP's endorsement of Schwarzenegger at the party convention next month because he hired Kennedy, who was deputy chief of staff to former Gov. Gray Davis, a Democrat. Kennedy once served as the head of the California Abortion Rights Action League and executive director of the California Democratic Party.
Mike Schroeder, a former chairman of the California Republican Party, said conservatives plan to introduce a resolution taking away the Republican Party's endorsement unless Schwarzenegger fires Kennedy by March 15.
He said the resolution was largely a symbolic move, but it would give a voice to conservatives' disappointment.
"They are just frustrated with him. They've had it," he said.
Besides the hiring of Kennedy, Schroeder said, conservatives dislike the governor's call for an increase in the minimum wage and bipartisan approach to appointing judges.
Conservatives also disapprove of his spending policies, saying his proposed budget doesn't erase the deficit and his bond program is too costly.
Schwarzenegger hired Kennedy as his chief of staff after getting to know her while she was a commissioner on the California Public Utilities Commission, where she carved out a pro-business reputation. "After working with her for six weeks, she's spectacular," he said. "She's much better than I thought."
But Schwarzenegger also said discontent among conservatives puts him in a "tough situation" because they aided him so much last year.
Republican activists tried to help him pass measures that would have helped cut state spending, reduce the clout of public employee unions, make teachers wait longer to get tenure and change redistricting. All of them lost.
Still, Schwarzenegger said he wanted to "thank them."
He has just proved he is not a trustworthy Republican.
You do not invite the enemy into your inner circle if you truly want to achieve the conservative goals. Does he ever consider what her beliefs, goals are? No, yet she still has those same goals even though she accepted a job close to the power head of the opposition.
We are not quite as dumb as he thinks we are. And, we are not willing to overlook the beliefs and goals of the opposition because someone handles administrative matters well.
Since when has anyone thought Arnold cares about Conservatism? He's interested in one thing--political power and celebrity. He panders to the notion of fiscal responsibiltiy while running up huge debt; he is a strong supporter of gay rights and abortion, believes in the legalization of marijuana, etc.
Yes, he kicked tail in Conan the Barbarian, but those days are long gone.
Is this woman in a position to enact policy? No. So this is all just a bunch of smoke and mirrors. Arnold is doing the right thing by sticking to his guns.
He may as well just change parties.
Instead of cutting debt he is adding to it, which means bigger tax hikes in the future.
My word! Was nobody listening when so many warned that Ahnuld was not a conservative? I remember lots of posts to that effect back when he was running for Governator of Calipornia.
Yes. She's in charge of hiring and firing policymakers.
So this is all just a bunch of smoke and mirrors. Arnold is doing the right thing by sticking to his guns.
RINO shill alert.
He may as well just change parties.
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Tell that to his syncophants and groupies here.
All you slaves sit down and shut up. Your Masters know what's best for you /sarc
Are you kidding? Do you know how many important decisions a day cross the desk of the governor of a state as large as California? Do you think he sits there signing off on all the mid-level stuff? That is EXACTLY what staff are for and why the character and ideology of staff is so important -- especially the CHIEF of staff.
She's the former Executive Director of the Democrat Party for Pete's sake!
"This woman" doesn't make policy, but she is a top adviser to Dims, and she sits in the room while Arnold S. plots GOP strategy!
Does that sound like a bright idea to you?
Really??
A small sign that a 'Pubby is growing a pair.
Obviously, most Kalifornian's enjoy the Euro-socialist state of mind.
You need to learn more about Susan Kennedy. She's not just "a Democrat".
Why is everybody surprised by this.
He's married to a Kennedy.
It's him or a Dem to reign over the state's future bankrupcy.
I don't live in Callyfornia so which ever captain you chose for the Titanic doesn't matter much to me.
Those "political opponents" indoctrinate children, breeding a lifestyle of depravity, crime, and poverty.
Those "political opponents" enact regulations that strangle the economy, drive families off their land, and force entire demographics into a status of borderline indenture.
Those "political opponents" empower our enemies that breed terrorism.
The only difference between you and us is that we KNOW liberals are mortal enemies. You clearly don't.
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