Posted on 02/27/2006 8:21:30 PM PST by FairOpinion
SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - California labor leaders announced a campaign on Monday to defeat Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's re-election bid, calling the former film star anti-worker and beholden to big business.
The announcement touches off what could be a fierce re-election fight for Schwarzenegger, who took office after toppling Gray Davis, a Democratic governor with close ties to union leaders.
Unions played an important role in the defeat of a series of initiatives last year that Schwarzenegger cast as reforms and workers groups saw as attempts to gut their power.
"We will find a suitable candidate and mobilize our people to replace this governor," said Art Pulaski, spokesman for the AFL-CIO's California Labor Federation. "We fear he will continue to engage in attacks on workers in his planned next term."
In particular, Schwarzenegger enraged big labor in November with a ballot measure that would have required public sector unions to ask members before spending their dues on political causes.
That initiative, known as Proposition 75, was defeated, along with three other measures championed by Schwarzenegger.
Pulaski said the organization will choose and endorse one of two Democratic candidates -- Steve Westly, the state controller, and State Treasurer Phil Angelides -- at its statewide pre-primary convention in March.
But keeping Schwarzenegger from a second term is already a top priority.
"We don't see a letup in terms of his hope to accomplish what the Chamber of Commerce, big business and big donors want," Pulaski said. "He has twice vetoed a minimum wage increase, he tried to get rid of meal breaks and overtime, and he cut workers compensation benefits for the most seriously injured workers in half."
Katie Levinson, communications director for the Join Arnold campaign, said that while the AFL-CIO announcement is no surprise, it is unfortunate that the union has chosen to attack the governor.
"Gov. Schwarzenegger has shown a strong, unwavering commitment to working families, including creating a half million new jobs and his ongoing commitment to rebuilding California," Levinson said.
No matter what people might think of Schwarzenegger's support for the $15 billion dollar bond proposal he pushed in 2003, his latest $225 billion dollar proposal should leave no doubt in anyone's mind that he is in fact out Davising Davis. I must agree with you.
Schwarzenegger got more of a chance than he deserved to prove his bonifides as they relate to conservatism. His proof was dismal at best, and heading south as I type.
When we consider what the unions will try to do to Schwarzenegger, it causes sort of a non-intentioned reaction comparable to a gag reflex, one that causes us to think in terms of support for Schwarzenegger. Despite that, I can't see myself supporting Schwarzenegger this fall. He's been a failure and I'm not going to support more of the same for four years. So while I can see a rataionalle for comments like the ones made by Willk, I cannot adopt them as my own.
This state is not on stable ground financially. Despite this Schwarzenegger's team supported $225 billion in new bonds. Not only was that grounds for fiscal ruin, it set the stage for the democrats to be able to propose bond plans of their own. If the Republicans could do it on reason, then the democrats could claim to be reasoned when presenting their plans. Schwarzenegger opened Pandora's box. Now the democrat challengers are going to take full advantage.
I will not support four more years of this.
Conservatism will sell in this state. When the CRP finds a decent sales person, I'll consider his prospectus. Until then, they can settle for the miniority status in the state, since they don't seem to desire my support or the support of other people who desire to see actual conservative values rule the day.
Conservaitsm is being treated as a dirty four letter word by our national as well as our state leaders. To hell with them. It's way past time for some course corrections. When they're ready they know where I am. There's a lot of out here. We'd like more reasons to support them, not less every damned election.
SW, Arnold is the one who will occupy the seat till hopefully the next more conservative person who is electable comes along in 2010.
Are you one of those who moved to Canada to protest Republicans?
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Please don't forget us conservatives. We were 15% of the electorate in 2003. We're also gearing up against Arnold if the gang won't confess, repent and turn.
certainly not, I moved to Canada to work on the MacKenzie Gas Pipeline Project.
"Please don't forget us conservatives. We were 15% of the electorate in 2003. We're also gearing up against Arnold "
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How sad, that you are doing it and proud of it. Joining the unions and Dems against Republicans. And you call yourself a conservative!
But REAL conservatives do NOT ally themselves with leftist Dems. YOU don't speak for conservatives.
DICCs never do.
Democrats in Conservative Clothing
You used to be a nice little "doodlelady" and not throw cheap shots and insults like that! What the heck happened to you that made you feel so bitter and poisonous that you are doing this distasteful thing now?
No one is slinging an insult in your direction, calling you and your fellow pragmatists elephants trying to fit in a donkey suit!!!
I'm still a nice little doodlelady to nice little doods.
It's called politics. Partisans are familiar with the term.
Right now the CPR can't elect the gang without conservatives. Which begs the question:
What concessions is the CRP willing to make to gain the support of conservatives for the gang? Time is running out. By March 10, a conservative may enter the race for governor and then the CRP will be sunk.
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