Posted on 03/16/2006 2:26:37 PM PST by Amerigomag
With the bond deal dead for June and in danger of not happening at all, Schwarzenegger now risks looking like a hapless governor. If that image sticks and intensifies over the summer, he will find it difficult to win reelection in the fall. What went wrong?
He put a number on it too early. He would have been better off beginning with a description of the goals.
He took Republicans for granted negotiating with the Democrats and always figuring he would be able to get the Republican votes for anything he and the Dems agreed to.
He tried negotiating individually with the leaders instead of all of them at the same time. Each time he came close to a deal with one, the others began to dump on the deal.
He was too secretive. Keeping the details behind closed doors increased the suspicion among Republicans.
He sent mixed signals on the timing. Nobody knew whether he really wanted the plan on the June or November ballot.
He insisted on a huge, comprehensive package. He probably could have won approval for a slimmed down package as the first phase of his larger plan.
But the real problem is that Schwarzenegger got himself into an almost impossible negotiating position from the start. By making this his top policy priority he handed his fate to the Democrats. He could not really walk away from the table because he needed the infrastructure package to show the voters that he could govern, but the Democrats knew they could pull the plug at any time with no political fallout.
That dynamic allowed the Democrats to take control of the package and shape it largely to their liking, which made Schwarzenegger’s job of getting Republican votes that much harder. It became a downward spiral.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
--- SierraWasp's prediction of an Arnold pull out is looking more and more likely. ---
Pull out?? Doesn't sound manly to me!!!
{George Carlin on the subject of Vietnam}
I can picture some little newspaper liberal, grinning to the point of *drooling over this story as he keys it into the terminal in his cubicle.
* Liberals drooling is not considered abnormal and they are not entitled to file for "workman's comp." for it.
Revolt was the proper response.
If the Republicans in California go along with this fiasco, the party will be dead. When Arnold showed his true face and turned into Gray Davis II, it was time to pull the plug on him. Now he has little or no support among Republicans, and if he thinks the Democrats will vote for him in the next election, he's crazy.
George Carlin is one of my favorites.
I saw a lot of abdication from voting responsibilities by conservatives in 2005. There is a usual coalition of conservative, religious and business people that come out to vote and turn the liberal agenda around. It was not very strong in 2005 and we are seeing the price to be paid for that now.
Time to grow up, stop the self righteous hissy fits and to get to work.
We can not expect a place at the table of power as a gift if we don't all go out and vote wisely. We earn the power through our vote.
Don't forget to vote, or throw away your vote to some limited third party in the name of so called principles, because all you will do is get the communist democrat, their buddies, influence and politics elected.
Deal with it. Get over it. Grow up and move on.
We have to stop the conservative self sabotage and get every open seat in the state loaded with the Republicans. Democrats won't get you anywhere and I think you will see more conservative Republicans in the offices once they start to get a firm majority. Until then, they have to go where the market is.
I dunno, Fogger...
CA: Governor guarantees bond victory
What's up w/ Arnold's last & this week's prime time TV ads ?
Money to burn ?
I say build it
I say, Arnold, stop putzing & maneuvering & get something (necessary) done - w/o using new funds.
You've got all the money you need (& then some) to accomplish something meaningful prior to Nov.
I (double dog) dare you !
They are being paid for by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, an independent entity reportedly not affiliated with the Governor's campaign or collaborating in any way.
Here are two articles explaining more:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=uscoc
(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.")
A shiny little mailer to each household ?
I agree with your question marks. The whole campaign seems strange. I have no idea what they are trying to accomplish--maybe to keep Arnold's face out there in a positive manner while Westly and Angelides beat each other up?
Regarding the projects, I do not think unions should automatically get it, I think the private sector should be allowed to compete for contracts for a reasonably low bid without being then forced to placate to unions.
I guess we just have to let california fail. It can't be fixed until they see the consequenses of their irresponsibility.
Kind of like Dante. The only way out (of Hell) is down.
Fact: Not all elected Republicans are of the same ideology or even similar ideologies.
Fact: Electing a liberal, even a registered, Republican liberal, will ultimately get their buddies into positions of influence and power. Judicial appointments are a prime example.
Fact: Election of a liberal Republican, who has been more than willing to work with Democrats to emasculate principled, Republican objections, has serially proposed and approved liberal policies, and who's hallmark has been to exclude elected Republicans from the deliberative, legislative process, is simply advancing liberalism.
No, my loyal, Republican brother, blindly voting for for governor and every legislative position that is open for the Republican will not prevent the communist democrat, their buddies, influence and politics from being elected. It will simply stamp communist, democrat influence and politics with an (R).
I'd prefer we don't. That is simply and profoundly insane, don't ya think?
BTW, those who voted for the Austrian in 2003 only have themselves to blame. Pleading with conservatives to support a corrupted CRP isn't going to drown out the rising chorus of "I told you so!"
The 9 cents a gallon or what ever from each gallon that the drivers pay wouldn't be enough to build the state. That kind of stuff has always been a legitimate reason to raise bonds.
I guess if you want to add 15-20 more cents a gallon for the next ten years we could fund roads that way, sure.
So, what? Would you have had the Republican legislators support Wednesday night's pork-ridden, debt-filled monstrosity just because an (R) governor negotiated the deal?
Do you consider their opposition a "hissy fit"?
Personally, I consider them heroes.
And if something similar ever hits the ballot, be assured that I will be strongly opposing it and standing on Republican principles of fiscal responsibility, something that seems to be an endangered species of late.
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