Tim is not pleased.
Posted on 02/25/2006 8:39:27 AM PST by NormsRevenge
SAN JOSE - Gov. Schwarzenegger, heading into a tough re-election campaign, turned on the charm Friday to rally party activists upset in recent months by his administration's perceived tilting to the left.
In a dinner speech kicking off the state GOP's San Jose convention, Schwarzenegger did not mention his appointment of longtime Democratic operative Susan Kennedy as his chief of staff, nor other actions that have irritated the party faithful, such as his call to raise the minimum wage.
Instead, the governor touted past accomplishments, lavished praise on Republican idols such as Ronald Reagan and laid out his vision for a massive public-works drive his party should appreciate.
"My fellow Republicans, we can't be infrastructure isolationists. I say let us renew our party by renewing our state," Schwarzenegger said.
The sold-out dinner's audience of 650 responded enthusiastically, evoking the receptions Schwarzenegger drew at GOP conventions before the 2003 recall and in 2004 and 2005.
"I thought it was fantastic," said state Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga. He watched the body language of some Schwarzenegger critics in the room, he said.
"They seemed to open up. He's got a plan and we should help him," Dutton said.
This weekend's convention comes at a challenging time for Schwarzenegger.
It has been almost four months since voters rejected all of the initiatives in the November special election called by the governor, including four he endorsed.
The ballot outcome partly stemmed from less-than-expected turnout in Republican-leaning areas, such as Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Ambivalence by GOP voters, however, turned to threats of open rebellion by party activists when Schwarzenegger chose Kennedy as his top aide.
In early December, the Inland area's representative to the state GOP's board of directors, Ed Laning, of Oak Hills, quit in protest. Some GOP activists began crafting a resolution to pull the state party's endorsement of Schwarzenegger.
In recent weeks, party leaders and the governor's supporters moved to quash any open convention dissent. The question in San Jose is how much resentment still lingers among the GOP grass roots.
"You know what the problem is? They can't tell this man what to do," said Acquanetta Warren, of Fontana, who replaced Laning on the party board.
Schwarzenegger's once-robust job-performance ratings still haven't recovered from the hammering he took during the special-election campaign.
A poll by the Public Policy Institute of California released Thursday found that the governor's approval ratings have fallen to 35 percent, down from 40 percent last month, and a far cry from the 2004 ratings that approached all-time highs.
Two-thirds of Schwarzenegger's fellow Republicans think he's doing a good job, according to the survey.
That could spell trouble in mobilizing GOP volunteers during the upcoming re-election campaign, as well as for Republican candidates in down-ticket races for controller, treasurer and other statewide offices.
Schwarzenegger's troubles go well beyond Republicans. Only one-fifth of Democrats support him, as do about 40 percent of independent voters, according to the poll.
Trying too hard to mollify conservatives would hurt Schwarzenegger's efforts to win back independent and Democratic voters -- many of whom backed him in 2003 -- in the months ahead, political analysts say.
Schwarzenegger successfully threaded the needle Friday, said Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, who represents part of Riverside County.
"There was no red meat," Issa said. "He proved he could give an Arnold speech and get lots of applause. That was the best of both worlds."
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He basically is blowing the grassroots off. Good luck, Gub. you're gonna need it.
Arnold has lost the foot soldiers. The people like me, who walk precincts, make calls and stuff envelopes. NO MAS
Words are cheap, Arnold. What have you DONE?
In recent weeks, party leaders and the governor's supporters moved to quash any open convention dissent. The question in San Jose is how much resentment still lingers among the GOP grass roots.
"You know what the problem is? They can't tell this man what to do," said Acquanetta Warren, of Fontana, who replaced Laning on the party board.
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Sunday should be a real hoot with this kind of stuff going on.
I've got that stupid song going through my head -- Do you know the way to San Jose...
Some new lyrics about the convention could be amusing...
Help the gub in San Jose...
Duf says don't dismay...
Arnold there to save the day...
Needs your vote on election day...
Grass roots--no way.
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