Posted on 10/13/2006 2:01:31 PM PDT by calcowgirl
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger promoted bipartisan dealmaking Friday at a breakfast hosted by Democratic political icon Willie Brown, who then gave his Republican guest a parting gift: a declaration that Schwarzenegger will win re-election "no matter what."
Democratic gubernatorial challenger Phil Angelides was noticeably absent from the Moscone Center fundraiser for Brown's nonprofit public service institute, considering the audience of several hundred was heavily Democratic. Schwarzenegger, meanwhile, landed a prime speaking spot between two of the state's most powerful Democrats, U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer and State Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata.
Angelides trails Schwarzenegger by double-digit percentage points, according to polls released two weeks ago. In a discouraging sign for the Democrat, the California Correctional Peace Officers Association on Thursday released $1.3 million in airtime it had reserved for the final two weeks of the campaign that it likely would have used on behalf of Angelides.
Brown, the former Assembly speaker and San Francisco mayor, emceed the breakfast Friday and closed the session by giving his take on several races in the upcoming Nov. 7 election.
"I think Arnold Schwarzenegger will be re-elected governor," Brown said. "And that's, no matter what, I think he'll be re-elected governor."
Angelides spokeswoman Amanda Crumley said Angelides received an invitation to Brown's breakfast at his state treasurer's office that was addressed to no one in particular. She said Angelides was never personally informed of the event, and that his office declined the invitation.
(snip)
Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, a lieutenant governor hopeful, and Attorney General Bill Lockyer, a state treasurer candidate, were recognized at the breakfast event but did not speak.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Willie Brown?
Any relation to former FReeper Willie Green? (Willie Green's job of posting doom-and-gloom about outsourcing was outsourced to a Bangalore body shop.)
I bet ya that Brown is making a profit!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Say what you will, but Arnold is pragmatic.
"OLD MAN WILLIE!!!"
hehe...A "Bill King-ism". Man, I miss that guy. Thanks for the smile.
Bismarck once said that politics is the art of the possible.
I know we all would love for the Governor of California to be a staunch conservative, but I think Arnold is about as good as you're going to get realistically given the demographics of that state.
A pragmatic liberal, maybe.
I'd settle for someone that embraces at least 75% of the Republican platform.
I think Arnold is about as good as you're going to get realistically given the demographics of that state.
Hogwash. The demographics are no worse than they were when Reagan, Deukmejian, or Wilson were elected.
California - Voter Registration for Gubernatorial races: Year Democrat Republican Other Total 1966 56.6% 40.2% 3.2% 100.0% Reagan (R) 1970 54.9% 39.8% 5.2% 100.0% Reagan (R) 1974 56.6% 36.0% 7.4% 100.0% Brown (D) 1978 56.6% 34.2% 9.2% 100.0% Brown (D) 1982 53.2% 34.9% 11.9% 100.0% Deukmejian (R) 1986 50.8% 38.3% 10.9% 100.0% Deukmejian (R) 1990 49.5% 39.3% 11.2% 100.0% Wilson (R) 1994 49.0% 37.2% 13.8% 100.0% Wilson (R) 1998 46.7% 35.5% 17.8% 100.0% Davis (D) 2002 44.6% 35.2% 20.2% 100.0% Davis (D) 2003 43.7% 35.3% 21.0% 100.0% Schwarzenegger (R) 2006 42.7% 34.4% 22.9% 100.0% Schwarzenegger (R)
I think that's a bit deceptive, the Rats have gone so far to the left, that it's driven a lot of Democrats to be Republicans, the GOP in California is much different than it was in Reagan's time.
Willie Brown is still the smartest guy in California politics
He IS great at that game. A Texan too.
Brown actually made this prediction back at the beginning of the year when Arnold looked like a sure loser from his initiatives going down. Also, Brown and Arnold have been friends for years so he's only given token support to Angelides.
I have to wonder how things would have turned out if Angelides had taken advice from Willie Brown instead of Gray Davis.
I agree. He is pragmatic. I have no problem with that.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
I love the smell of Democrats self destructing in the morning.
When both Democrats and Republicans are engaged in a bipartisan circle jerk group-grope love fest, it means the taxpayers are getting doubly bent over.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.