Analysis: 'Post-partisan' vision of state taken to task (Ka-leee-for-nee-jaaaa)

Sac Bee ^ | 3/3/07 | Clea Benson

[NormsRevenge]

In the script Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recited this week during his trip to Washington, D.C., California is a nirvana where political parties have put aside their differences for the good of the people.

"We reformed prescription drug costs, passed the world's most comprehensive plan to reduce greenhouse gases and began rebuilding the state's infrastructure," the Republican governor told a rapt audience of jaded political reporters at the National Press Club while he was in town for the National Governors Association Conference. "We did this working together."

By following California's "post-partisan" model, Schwarzenegger said, President Bush and Congress could stop bickering and figure out what to do about the war in Iraq and illegal immigration. It also would help, he said, if all sides started puffing stogies together in a smoking tent at the White House.

But back at home, some Democrats and Republicans say they are living in a different reality from the one Schwarzenegger described. In their reality, policymaking occurs only in areas where the governor and Democratic lawmakers agree. And there are plenty of partisan divisions.

Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, an Oakland Democrat, was distancing himself from the governor on global warming this week. He has introduced legislation that would impose new regulations on industry rather than relying on the voluntary compliance with emissions caps that the governor favors.

Democratic Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez of Los Angeles, in an interview with the Associated Press, criticized the governor's lecturing tone. Núñez, who was in Washington this week, too, dismissed the governor's talk of post-partisanship as "just semantics."

Meanwhile, Republican bloggers and conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh attacked Schwarzenegger for embracing Democratic ideas on the environment and health care.

Indeed, the significant legislation that the Legislature passed last year and that the governor signed was Democratic.

[NormsRevenge]

"On AB 32, the global warming bill, there wasn't a single Republican vote," said Assembly Republican leader Mike Villines of Clovis. "I don't think that was post-partisan. That was the governor and the Democrats getting together."

[flashbunny]

The guy has an (R) by his name. He must be a conservative.

[NormsRevenge]

ouch

[Condor 63]

I'm not fooled. This is nothing new fangled. It is the oldest trick in the political handbook.

You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.

And he probably had to do it, because he was going down the tubes there for a while.

[calcowgirl]

"We reformed prescription drug costs..."

No you didn't, Arnold. You just imposed State government into yet another area where they don't belong.

But Uncle Teddy is pleased.

[Mr J]

'Post-partisan ˈpōst pär-tə-zən, -sən,'

Setting aside one's political party affiliation in order to behave exactly like a Democrat

[NormsRevenge]

"We reformed prescription drug costs..."

No you didn't, Arnold. You just imposed State government into yet another area where they don't belong.


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Perception is everything, grasshopper,, (TWirP,, TwirP) .. ;-)

[goldstategop]

Disagreement over philosophy and policy is built into the fabric of a free society. The only way to end partisan differences is to establish a dictatorship or to abolish life itself. As long as there are human beings living in free societies, differences of opinion come with the territory.

"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 Palelologus

[SierraWasp]

Hey! Just because he's undergone a political sex-change... No big deal, right?

[calcowgirl]

I think goldstategop has it right. I'm sure Arnie has no problem with the former: The only way to end partisan differences is to establish a dictatorship or to abolish life itself.