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Gov. Jerry Brown: Country Hasn't Been This Divided Since Civil War
CBS News ^ | 04/11/2011 | staff

Posted on 04/11/2011 4:51:46 PM PDT by safetysign

While Washington averted a government shutdown this week, California Governor Jerry Brown continues with his budget battles.

The governor may feel like he’s in a recurring nightmare these days. Everywhere he turns with a proposed budget fix it gets shot down.

“If we don’t get taxes, if we don’t get cuts, we’re gonna have a hard time balancing the budget,” Brown said. “Many of the Republicans told me, ‘We’re not taxing and we’re not cutting. It’s your job — you’re the governor.’”

But Republicans who show up to protest at many of the governor’s events these days say it’s Brown who’s not living up to his words.

“Fix it, Governor Brown, and I’ll be the first person that would be more than happy to give you money,” said Robert Ledbetter, who was protesting outside one of Brown’s events.

California Republican Party Vice Chair Steven Baric says Brown is not showing he’s much of a leader.

“He promised he would show true leadership and he’s failing to do that. And if he wants to show true leadership let’s have true pension reform,” Baric said.

In a wide-ranging interview at the Reagan State Office Building in downtown L.A. this weekend, CBS 2/KCAL 9 political reporter Dave Bryan asked Governor Brown about the criticisms:

DB: Many of the Republicans I talk to say that they’re not convinced that you’re serious about pension reform and about cutting the slack in government, cutting the bureaucracy down. They feel that you haven’t put forward, for example, a meaningful pension reform plan because of your connection to the unions.

JB: They have to say that to give cover to their position, which is ‘No’. Their position is ‘No, we’re not going to help you. We’re not going to do anything. Well, that’s unacceptable. I did propose 12 points of pension reform.

The governor tells Dave he believes the country hasn’t been this divided since the Civil War.

This week Brown has been using Civil War metaphors at his public events to describe the deep divisions in California, and the entire country for that matter, preaching with the passion of a born-again that the country is dangerously polarized.

“We are at a point of civil discord, and I would not minimize the risk to our country and to our state. It is not trivial. I’ve been around a long time, I’m a student of history, I’m a student of contemporary politics. We are facing what I would call a ‘regime crisis.’ The legitimacy of our very democratic institutions are in question,” he said.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: budget; cw2; cwiiping; hippy; lindarondstadt; moonbeam; prepping
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Even Governor Moonbeam can see what is going on. Obama is on another agenda.
1 posted on 04/11/2011 4:51:50 PM PDT by safetysign
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To: safetysign

First rule of first aid. Stop the bleeding. With a politician like brown maybe it should be “Stop the Bleating “ and lead like you said you would do when campaigning.


2 posted on 04/11/2011 4:56:06 PM PDT by sitkaspruce
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To: safetysign

When one segment of society wants to turn another into their financial indentured slaves, you pretty much have the same ingredients that started the first Civil War.


3 posted on 04/11/2011 4:58:04 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (When and why did Steve Dunham change his name to Barack Hussein Obama? When he converted to Islam?)
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To: safetysign
We lived in California for 19 years. Only left a year and a half ago. One of my Leftist friends there posted this comment after Brown was declared the winner: ‘Gov Brown, please don't raise my taxes’. I guarantee you she voted for him. Isn't the definition of stupidity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result each time???
4 posted on 04/11/2011 4:58:08 PM PDT by originalbuckeye
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To: safetysign

Jerry is at least right about the one thing: the country is acutely divided. All of the hate and vitriol the Dems hurled at Palin and the Tea Party the past couple years have got things to where plenty of conservatives and Republicans see no reason to parley with the Democrats over budgets. Because no matter what we do those rat bastards will make us look like we’re wrong...so let them do it on their own and they can’t blame us.


5 posted on 04/11/2011 4:58:26 PM PDT by MeganC (NO WAR FOR OIL! ........except when a Democrat's in charge.)
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To: safetysign

You know, it’s taken The State of Wisconsin a REALLY long time to get Her sh!t together...and the screaming and wailing and gnashing of teeth by the LefTards is NEARLY unbearable already! And Wisconsin, aside for four COUNTIES is filled to the BRIM with NORMAL PEOPLE.

I just can’t see CA pulling it off, no matter WHO is at the helm...

And I absolutely HATE those posts from people that say, “Your State is DOOMED!” because MINE has proven them wrong on many levels.

But, California? I think the fruits and nuts totally outnumber the normal folk, so it’s REALLY going to be an uphill battle to get ANYTHING accomplished in that state.

Sorry. Some things is what they is. :)


6 posted on 04/11/2011 4:58:48 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
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To: originalbuckeye
Isn't the definition of stupidity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result each time???

No, that would be the definition of "insanity."

7 posted on 04/11/2011 5:00:15 PM PDT by fwdude (The world is sleeping in the dark that the Church just can't fight, 'cause it's asleep in the light.)
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To: safetysign

“I’ve been around a long time, I’m a student of history”

You’re right, - you have been around a long time and, obviously, you aren’t much of a “student” or you would realize the only fix is real reform. Never thought it might be left up to you to fix the problems you worked so hard to create, did you? I bet you’re looking for a scapegoat Republican to blame but Bush is no longer in office so he won’t work (not that Obama hasn’t been pounding that drum for over two years now).


8 posted on 04/11/2011 5:01:58 PM PDT by onevoter
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To: safetysign

I can’t understand his problem. Isn’t dividing the nation part of the liberal game plan?


9 posted on 04/11/2011 5:04:21 PM PDT by Baynative (Truth is treason in an empire of lies)
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To: safetysign

No Shite Jerry. Ya think? Divided is not the word. How about torn asunder you progressive nitwit.


10 posted on 04/11/2011 5:05:25 PM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: FReepers

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11 posted on 04/11/2011 5:07:39 PM PDT by DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis (Want to make $$$? It's easy! Use FR as a platform to pimp your blog for hits!!!)
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To: fwdude

Hmmmm. Probably a good definition for both words.


12 posted on 04/11/2011 5:09:09 PM PDT by originalbuckeye
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To: safetysign

Right now, Republicans in California are like the Texians at the Alamo, but the Mexicans win the battle and the longer war.

California would be all right if it weren’t for all the Mexicans drinking from the trough, and the traitorous liberals who feed them.


13 posted on 04/11/2011 5:11:49 PM PDT by radpolis (Liberals: You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy)
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To: onevoter

What’s the problem MoonBeam? Your dear ‘Rats own the state in a lock plus Repubs in Sacto are but a ‘few fleas’ on your back. You should be riding the bulldozer instead of letting a few flea mound bumps obstruct your budget plans.


14 posted on 04/11/2011 5:12:01 PM PDT by tflabo
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To: safetysign

Re the Civil War, he should know, he was there.

Old as dirt and just as stupid.


15 posted on 04/11/2011 5:12:59 PM PDT by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
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To: safetysign
“We are at a point of civil discord, and I would not minimize the risk to our country and to our state. It is not trivial. I’ve been around a long time, I’m a student of history, I’m a student of contemporary politics. We are facing what I would call a ‘regime crisis.’ The legitimacy of our very democratic institutions are in question,” he said.

And I agree 100%.

When the real cuts come, and they will due to no increase in revenue, the parasite class will burn the cities.

When they try to take from others the shooting will start.

It won't be pretty and I believe it will happen this summer.

16 posted on 04/11/2011 5:28:46 PM PDT by Mariner (USS Tarawa, VQ3, USS Benjamin Stoddert, NAVCAMS WestPac, 7th Fleet, Navcommsta Puget Sound)
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To: safetysign
This week Brown has been using Civil War metaphors at his public events to describe the deep divisions in California, and the entire country for that matter, preaching with the passion of a born-again that the country is dangerously polarized.

This might be one of the few times I've ever agreed with Jerry "moonbeam" Brown. He's right about the country being divided. I doubt if he can understand the divisions. We are divided between "makers" and "takers". The "takers" are the types who voted for Brown, more or less. These people have a fantastic sense of entitlement. The new immigrants, whether illegal or legal have a fantastic sense of entitlement. After all that's why most of them moved to the US. Unfortunately these people are increasing their numbers faster than the "makers". That's why California just might be a lost cause and will most likely need to be severed from the US. I'm one of the first to come to this conclusion but others are starting to suggest the same thing. The productive people are leaving the state and guys like Brown simply cannot understand this. He still thinks of California being the "golden state" but now it's the welfare state. Margaret Thatcher nailed it when the said the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money. It's become one of my favorite quotes.

The problem in California is Californians.
17 posted on 04/11/2011 5:30:22 PM PDT by truthguy (Good intentions are not enough.)
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To: Baynative

“The legitimacy of our very democratic institutions are in question,”

Blame Algore — it started when Gore retracted his concession.


18 posted on 04/11/2011 5:32:34 PM PDT by BenLurkin (This post is not a statement of fact. It is merely a personal opinion -- or humor -- or both)
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To: safetysign

We are the slaves and or pushing for a stop to the FED.


19 posted on 04/11/2011 5:51:06 PM PDT by NoLibZone (Impeach Obama & try him for treason / Homosexuals reject diversity / Unions finally caught for theft)
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To: MadMax, the Grinning Reaper

Dirt ain’t as stupid as moombeam.


20 posted on 04/11/2011 5:55:08 PM PDT by sasquatch
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