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Posted on 08/13/2003 8:10:29 PM PDT by socal_parrot
By Adam Tanner
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Seeking to add muscle to his team, Arnold Schwarzenegger named financial heavyweight Warren Buffett (news - web sites) his senior economic adviser on Wednesday as the actor prepared a high-profile run for California governor.
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Late in the day, state election officials certified a final list of 135 candidates after rejecting more than 100 applications as incomplete. In its final form, the roster becomes the longest list of candidates to run for governor in state history.
Schwarzenegger was assured a place in the crowded field that ranged from serious politicians to pornographers. Schwarzenegger received a boost with Buffett on board, pairing a movie star completely untested in politics with a Wall Street sage who is the world's second richest man.
"Warren is helping me bring together a world-class team to assist me in addressing the problems and challenges facing businesses, investors and job creators in California," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "Warren has a common sense approach to business issues and an integrity that is unmatched. That's the same way I want to approach governing."
Democrat Gray Davis, unpopular because of the state's fiscal crisis, on Oct 7. faces the first recall vote against a California governor in the state's history. Should voters recall Davis, Schwarzenegger, who is ahead in polls among alternate candidates, could take over the richest U.S. state.
After a blast of publicity since first joining the race a week ago, the former bodybuilder and top box office draw, Schwarzenegger has in recent days concentrated on putting together his campaign team.
Naming Berkshire Hathaway chairman Buffett, whose father served in Congress, could add gravitas to a campaign that has shown more Hollywood glitter than policy heft so far.
"I have known Arnold for years and know he'll be a great governor," said Buffett, one of America's best-known and most respected investors. "It is critical to the rest of the nation that California's economic crisis be solved, and I think Arnold will get that job done."
SOLO STAR BUILDS TEAM
Davis' spokesman appeared surprised by the news. "I don't think people are voting on advisers," Peter Ragone said.
Schwarzenegger started his career in the most solitary of sports, body building, and then received star billing in Hollywood as an action hero who could bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in movie ticket sales.
But he must now build a team to help him capture the statehouse, and then perform job of governor if he wins.
The Los Angeles Times reported on Wednesday that Schwarzenegger had "shaken up" his campaign staff, but his spokesman Sean Walsh denied that characterization.
"There is no staff shake up, there is just the addition of people to make sure this campaign is world class," he said.
Among the candidates on the final list were Hustler publisher Larry Flynt and a porn actress who is pledging to wire every room of the governor's mansion with live Web cams.
Disqualified was Don Novello, aka Father Guido Sarducci on Saturday Night Live (news - Y! TV), for not submitting enough valid signatures. "I really did not want to live in Sacramento anyway," he told Reuters.
Longtime Sacramento resident Davis has adopted a "rose garden" strategy, trying to stay above the wacky political fray.
"There's a lot of people who want to be governor, but I am the governor and I am going to continue to do the work of the people of this state," Davis said in San Francisco.
An aide said Davis has also frequently sought advice in recent days from Bill Clinton (news - web sites), one of only two U.S. presidents impeached by the House of Representatives. Clinton was later acquitted by the Senate over the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal.
"Warren is helping me bring together a world-class team to assist me in addressing the problems and challenges facing businesses, investors and job creators in California," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "Warren has a common sense approach to business issues and an integrity that is unmatched.
The dems are GOING NUTS RIGHT NOW...
Just when they were going to unload on Arnie for 157/immigrants/nude pics/pot smoking/etc...etc...
Arnie drops an economic nuclear bomb on them....
Now all the discussion for next week will be on Buffetts contribution to saving the CA bonds and the MASSIVE INTEREST payments etc etc....and guess who is responsible....rats and greyout.....
Who would have thought the basis for "Parrot-Heads" across the world could raise this much of a fuss!
I don't like Buffet. He's not the brilliant man all say he is. When you have his dough, you have inside info. He is an extreme Leftist who would prefer this country be completely socialist. If such was the case, it wouldn't make a difference to him or his lifestyle. It would to us little guys though. He can't understand that. AS aside, I am certain that Buffet has an agenda, and he isn't stupid.
Now, I'm hoping an praying you "McClinbots" are successful in your efforts, although I still think it is a long shot. Good luck, and please heed my advice in other threads where I actually did battle with some of you - go easy on folks. Win them over. Don't push 'em away!
At this point, I'm not commenting on any more CA Gov race threads.
He is not the world's richest man, but he is certainly the world's richest hypocrite. He has been quite vocal in opposition to the Bush tax cuts and elimination of the estate tax. Buffett is definitely one of those "capitalism for me and socialism for the rest of you peasants" guy. He is not our friend.
Sorry, but that's ridiculous.
You have a candidate, Tom McClintock, who has the experience, the knowledge and the ability to bring real solutions to this spending crisis the Leftists have created in the state.
It is silly to think that the solution is to elect more liberals, regardless of the letter behind their name.
If all of the real Republicans would just wake up and get behind Tom, he would win.
More Democrats are going to vote for Schwarzenegger than are going to vote for Cruz...they're dumb starstruck sheep. They will be splitting the vote.
This is a prime opportunity that is being missed simply because of defeatism and compromise in the GOP.
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