Posted on 02/22/2009 12:53:36 PM PST by NormsRevenge
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) moved even closer toward President Obama on Sunday, calling on Republicans in Washington to try to work with the Democratic administration.
GOP leaders "should make an effort to work together and to find what is best for the people, because by derailing everything, it's not going to help anybody, and it creates instability and insecurity," Schwarzenegger said on ABC's "This Week."
The centrist governor had supported Obama's $787 billion stimulus package that nearly all Republicans in Congress opposed.
Schwarzenegger on Sunday heaped praise upon the new administration. He said that he has "total confidence" in Obama and his team and that the president is "very clear" in his message. He lauded Sheila Bair, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation chairwoman, for her push for government aid for struggling homeowners. And he urged Americans to give Obama time to govern.
"Now this administration is in for a month. You can't expect them all of a sudden to have all the answers and all of those things. They need still time to warm up and to get going," Schwarzenegger said.
Schwarzenegger is in Washington this weekend for the National Governors Association winter meeting. He and other centrist GOP governors, including Charlie Crist of Florida and M. Jodi Rell of Connecticut, have bucked most of their party to back the stimulus. More Republican governors have criticized the stimulus as excessive spending, and Govs. Haley Barbour (Miss.) and Bobby Jindal (La.) have pledged to send some of the federal aid back to Washington.
On Sunday, Schwarzenegger suggested that other GOP governors should also work with Obama.
"I look at it in a more optimistic way, and I feel very strongly that I think that President Obama right now needs team players. He -- this is why we're here in Washington right now. We have, you know, more than 40 governors coming together here in Washington, and our idea is to get together with the White House, with this administration, and to work together, to have Congress, the White House, and the governors, and everyone work together, because it's a very difficult time now, where we have to play together, rather than using politics and always attacking everything."
When asked why he was still a Republican if he broke from his party on social and fiscal issues, Schwarzenegger said that his GOP principles matter less than helping constituents. People care less about their leaders' party affiliations and more about having roads, rails and schools to use, he said.
"Is it a Republican idea or is it a Democratic idea? Which philosophy does it fall under? It doesn't matter," he said.
Schwarzenegger, who leaves office in January 2011, said that he has no idea whether he'll return to his previous movie career or stay in politics . He has been mentioned as possible candidate for Senate.
He said that he would spend the rest of his time in office pushing for reforms, including open primary elections and redistricting that would make the legislature less partisan.
"I want to go in there and reform and fix what is broken in California," he said. "And I will be relentless with that, and I never, ever give up."
RECALL! Terminate the girly man gubernator!
I’m really starting to think no foriegn born person should hold any elected office. Every last one of those who do are fiscal disasters.
The funds that flow to the states as a result of the stimilus package do nothing more than prop up states&houses built on shifting sands.
Those who take the money hope that the winds of change blow hard enough to stir up a sand storm so that no one will see the folly of all the programs that enslave a shrinking majority of taxpayers to serve a minority of the “needy” and allow them to keep their gentry in office and handing out goodies on our dime..
His wife has destroyed him,he’s useless now.
I hear ya .. but who does the media have on their talking head shows this morning,, Granholm, Gubby..
screw schwarzengger
I call her the Depressionator and they treat her like some kind of financial guru.
Arnold is like a kidney stone that we will have to wait a year to pass.
RECALL! Terminate the girly man gubernator!
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How much worse could it get if we did?
What might happen tho is we would likely end up with another liberal masquerading as a Pub as Gub. Unfortunately, the CaGoP is full of them, and rich ones as that.
He obtained office by acting. That is what he is an ACTOR! He will play a role that he believes will obtain audience approval. Recall him.
What’s next? Return of the Blue Eagle?
The RINO Gropinator supports obozo. Is anyone surprised by this? Not in the least. The Gropinator with his Kennedy wife repeatedly shows his true colors.
And, our FORMER State GOP Chair said in December he wanted to bring AARRRNOLD to Oregon .....why? To raise $$$. Luckily, he’s “former.”
sw
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