Posted on 04/29/2006 9:00:08 PM PDT by FairOpinion
Good morning delegates!
I have a few questions for you this morning.
Do you believe that in the Governor’s office, we have the wrong man with the wrong plan?
Do you believe that we have to take this state back from the special interests?
Do you believe that every student deserves a good education? That every person deserves affordable health care? That every Californian deserves clean air and clean water?
Finally, do you believe it’s time for Arnold get to work on his next movie: the One Terminator?
If we’re going to make that happen, we have to remember one thing: Whatever happens on June 6th, we are still one party, we are still Democrats, and we still need to beat the Governor this November.
That’s why I’ve signed a positive campaign pledge. I want to focus on beating Arnold, not beating up each other.
Like all of you, I’ve been a Democratic activist most of my life. In fact, I got my start when you elected me Party Treasurer in this very hall 25 years ago. I’ve been working with you ever since to strengthen this party, and it’s good to be home.
Let me say a word about values.
As many of you know, a few years ago I helped build a company called eBay. Let me tell you what was different about eBay. We believed the little guy deserved a chance to compete on a level playing field.
Today, 700,000 people make a living trading on eBay.
We created a place where everyone has a chance to be successful -- wherever you come from, whatever you look like. Those are the values I bring to this race for Governor.
Let me say some more about my values.
I’m proud to have worked for Jimmy Carter on solar energy in 1979.
Proud to have run for party chairman in 1989.
Proud that you elected me Controller in 2002 -- because someone needed to beat Tom McClintock.
I’m proud to have sued the Bush administration for diverting money from our schools to oil companies.
Proud to be the only Democrat in this race who supported the Million Solar Homes bill.
Proud to say that in the first 30 days as Governor, I’ll sign the Chan/Escutia Healthy Families bill to give health insurance to every single child in California.
Proud to have fought to increase and index the minimum wage.
Proud to say I’ve got a plan to reduce the dropout rate for African Americans and Latinos, which is the civil rights issue of our times.
Proud to say I’ve always supported affirmative action. As a rule, if Ward Connerly is against it, I’m for it.
Proud to have helped LGBT couples get tax equality from the Board of Equalization.
Proud to have clamped down on tax cheats, bringing in $4.5 billion to keep our roads, schools, and hospitals open. Because I know when we stand up for our values, we win every election.
Now, some people have attacked me for supporting Prop 57 and working across party lines to get it passed.
Let me tell you why I did it. Because I’m a Democrat. I supported Prop 57 because it was the Democratic fiscal recovery plan, written by Democratic Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza.
Our schools were 155 days from shutting down. The people Democrats care about -- working Californians, seniors, students, and the poor -- were about to get hurt. As a Democrat, I would never let that happen.
That’s why Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein, Nancy Pelosi, John Burton, Fabian Nunez, the AFL-CIO, the CTA and almost every Democrat in the Legislature joined me.
They know -- as I do -- that you don’t stand up to the Governor by standing on the backs of schoolkids.
Unfortunately, the Governor stopped working with Democrats after that. He waged a war against teachers, nurses, and firefighters.
You know, the Governor thinks the way to fix education is to fire teachers. The way to fix healthcare is to fire nurses. If that’s the case, maybe the way to fix Sacramento is to fire him.
Now we get his infrastructure plan. After all his failures, the Governor wants to borrow $66 billion to buy a record to run on. He’s claming to be the next Pat Brown. Governor, I knew Pat Brown. And you’re no Pat Brown.
We know how to beat Republicans in this state. Make no mistake though, this will be a tough race.
We have to compete in every part of the state. Not just the cities on the coast, but in Chico and San Bernardino and Salinas and Bakersfield. This year, we’re going to win with a 58-county strategy for California.
Let me tell you about my vision to get us there.
I believe in a California where every child gets a world-class education.
There’s a teacher named Dan Meyer here today. He teaches at Florin, just across town. He developed an online game to teach math to struggling kids. We need to empower teachers like Dan.
That’s why I announced a plan to invest in teachers, expand training programs, and give teachers more control over the classroom. George Bush’s No Child Left Behind is the wrong way, but where Washington has failed, California must lead.
I believe in a California where community college is free for everyone, so our students can compete and win in the global economy.
James Unger is a community college student here today. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do in high school. His family didn’t have a lot of money. But he found a spot at Cabrillo College, studied hard, and now he’s headed to a UC next fall. We need to give every student the same shot at success that James had.
I believe in a California where we say no to any new offshore drilling.
And while Bush pretends global warming doesn’t exist, in California, we’re leading the way to the next generation of alternative energy. Because where Washington has failed, California must lead.
I believe in a California that protects a woman’s right to choose -- and keeps the government out of our bedrooms.
I believe that any two people who want to get married should be celebrated -- not treated as second-class citizens.
I believe we should respect immigrants, and give every immigrant a path to earn citizenship.
I believe in a California that invests in its people.
Every dollar we spend on preschool saves us two on prisons. Every dollar for stem cell research saves lives. Every dollar for lower college tuition helps turn out another young engineer or teacher or nurse who can help rebuild California.
Let me close with a story that illustrates what I mean.
As some of you know, my wife Anita is an immigrant from China. She came here as a child. Two years later her father died. She grew up on public assistance.
But the state of California was smart enough to invest in “English-as-a-second-language” classes and good public schools like San Diego High. She didn’t get a hand-out, but she got a hand up.
Eight years ago, she helped launch a company of her own. Let me tell you, California is one of the few places in the world where you can go from public assistance to going public.
I'm running for Governor to make sure every person, whatever the color of their skin, whatever language they speak, wherever they come from, will have the same opportunities to be successful that we all had.
Together, we can take back this great state. Thank you….Gracias….y juntos podemos.
Since you don't understand the legislative process or how a bill becomes a law,(based on your silly statement above) it would be a waste of time then for me to explain what Pete Wilson and George Deukmejian did when faced with similarly overwhelmingly Democrat legislatures.
Does it guide him in how he drives his car? or raises his kids? or orders at a restaurant? Because it sure doesn't guide him in how he governs, which is what we elected him to do. Wouldn't it be great if he would step aside and then travel the state giving conservative speeches, and let someone run who would actually GOVERN as a conservative?
Attempting to carry on in the tradition of Gray Dufas.
Have a good weekend.
Anyone who admires the acumen of Jimmy Carter is highly suspect.
Isn't he involved in George Soros money too somewhere? Or am I mistaken?
"Isn't he involved in George Soros money too somewhere? Or am I mistaken?"
I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised.
Probably the same way its been done for decades.
Give people something to vote FOR and you'll have a better chance.Year Elected Vote % Repub Regis % 1966 Ronald Reagan 57.6% 40.2% 1970 Ronald Reagan 52.8% 39.8% 1982 George Deukmejian 50.6% 34.9% 1986 George Deukmejian 61.0% 38.3% 1990 Pete Wilson 48.7% 39.3% 1994 Pete Wilson 55.3% 37.2% 2003 Arnold Schwarzenegger 48.6% 35.2%
You left out John Kerry. ;)
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True! And that is an egregious oversight!!! My bad!!
PPIC seems to be basing this "fact" on what people say, not how they vote. Statistics do not support this "fact" in gubernatorial races.
Year Elected Party % of Vote | Registration Percent
| Repub Democ All Other
1966 Reagan Rep 57.6% | 40.2% 56.6% 3.2%
1970 Reagan Rep 52.8% | 39.8% 54.9% 5.2%
1974 Brown Dem 50.1% | 36.0% 56.6% 7.4%
1978 Brown Dem 56.0% | 34.2% 56.6% 9.2%
1982 Deukmejian Rep 50.6% | 34.9% 53.2% 11.9%
1986 Deukmejian Rep 61.0% | 38.3% 50.8% 10.9%
1990 Wilson Rep 48.7% | 39.3% 49.5% 11.2%
1994 Wilson Rep 55.3% | 37.2% 49.0% 13.8%
1998 Davis Dem 58.0% | 35.5% 46.7% 17.8%
2002 Davis Dem 47.3% | 35.2% 44.6% 20.2%
2003 Schwarzenegger Rep 48.6% | 35.2% 44.6% 20.2%
Nice straw man, will you be putting a hat on him too?
Arnold is seeking the nomination of a party. It is his responsibility to ACT like a member fo that Party. It's not too much to ask.
Gosh I missed that part. Do you have any names? I made a lot of noise and I have a loud voice. I voted and so did everyone I know.
The people who stayed home were the busy average people who were never given any sense of urgency to go vote for some pretty arcane concepts in an unscheduled election. Blame the bearer of the message, not the citizens minding their own business.
You just made my point for me: the ONLY way a candidate can get elected in CA statewide, if he appeals to OTHER voters ( Dems and Independents), IN ADDITION TO Republicans.
The discussion was about the Republicans nominating someone so conservative, who wouldn't even get all the Republican votes, and would get NO Dem or Independent votes -- hence he is clearly UNELECTABLE.
The kind of Republicans, such as Wilson and Schwarzenegger, who actually can get elected in CA, because they can get some independent and Dem votes, are being constantly bashed by people claiming to be conservatives.
WRONG! Schwarzenegger campaigned and gained popularity on a CONSERVATIVE platform of CUTTING SPENDING, getting Special Interests out of Sacramento, cutting the size of Government (blowing up boxes), etc.
Instead of actually doing this, he has morphed into a liberal to the point it is hard to distinguish him from his supposed opponents. Deukmejian and Reagan did not do this and they won by bigger percentages than either Wilson or Schwarzenegger.
Again: Give people something to vote FOR and you'll have a better chance. Abandoning the Republican platform for the big-spend, big-borrow, pro-gun-control, pro-GLBT, pro-abort, liberal judicial appointments, big-green agenda is NOT the way to reform California. He may win, but conservatives and Republicans gain little.
"the big-spend, big-borrow, pro-gun-control, pro-GLBT, pro-abort, liberal judicial appointments, big-green agenda "
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There you go again, MISREPRESENTING Arnold's positions.
Arnold VETOED the homosexual marriage bill, he vetoed the drivers licenses for illegals bill, he promoted Prop. 76, to reign in spending (which YOU voted AGAINST), he appointed over 50% Republican judges, his environmental agenda is based on voluntary cooperation, instead of mandatory one, as that of the Democrats, Arnold also prevented the Dems from raising taxes.
Both Angelides and Westly are on record saying that they WILL SIGN a bill giving drivers licenses to illegals, WILL SIGN a bill for homosexual marriage, WILL sign a bill to make environmental compliance mandatory, both are FOR raising taxes, and increasing spending "for the children".
So let's see, which is more in line with conservative principles, Arnold or the Dems.
It's pretty clear.
So why are you still advocating voting AGAINST Arnold, which WILL RESULT in a DEM getting elected with the above platform?
ROFL! Your blind allegiance is predictable, but you fail to acknowledge the facts.
Arnold VETOED the homosexual marriage bill, he vetoed the drivers licenses for illegals bill,
He passed the most progressive GLBT legislation this state has seen with special rights for gays in property taxes, pensions and other--and of course the Unruh Civil Rights Bill. Who needs marriage when they get all the special rights anyway?
he promoted Prop. 76, to reign in spending (which YOU voted AGAINST),
It did not reign in spending -- it authorized even MORE borrowing.
he appointed over 50% Republican judges
When 80-90% is the normal expectation, I wouldn't tout this as a plus, FO. More GLBTers on the bench, along with Villaraigosa's sister, personal injury lawyers, defense attorneys, etc.
his environmental agenda is based on voluntary cooperation, instead of mandatory one, as that of the Democrats, Arnold also prevented the Dems from raising taxes.
That is laughable! His $3 Billion dollar solar roofs plan is voluntary? How about those hydrogen highways? You mean I won't have to pay taxes or fees on my power bill to subsidize this cr@p? His program for global warming is not voluntary--it is moving to a cap and trade program with his "voluntary" guidelines being a basis for new legislation.
So why are you still advocating voting AGAINST Arnold...
I am not advocating against Arnold. I am advocating FOR the Republican platform and Conservatism. I believe that elected representatives should be held accountable to the platform on which they ran and the party to which they chose to associate themselves with. When they act like a liberal and govern like a democrat, I will speak out. If Republicans don't hold their politicians accountable, who will, the Democrats? I think not.
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