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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.
This is MASTER STRATEGERY in action.... The dems are GOING NUTS RIGHT NOW...
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LOL!
Ahhh geez, this again? Didn't I already totally debunk your liberal-with-a-good-letter talking points earlier this very day?;
In any case the Buffett anouncement was a stroke of genius...STRATEGERY even.
Wow, you're getting really desperate to put a happy face on this clear indication of a total busting of the "fiscal conservative" mythology.
It diverts the dems who were just about to dump on Arnie....throws them off focus.
Just like when Bush runs to the middle, we see the press appreciate that and ease off the gas. That's because they respect when their issues are finally implemented by a Republican. /sarcasm off.
Now it's all about how Buffett will save CA millions in bond fees.....and who was resposnsible for this mess...dems in general and davis in particular.
Wow are you going to be surprised when the media absolulely PLASTERS Ahnuld Buffet's name when those loans come due. I mean, how many times on the news do you hear that the reason for the recall is that "Davis turned a $12 surplus into a -$38.2 deficit, increasing spending from $67 to $100 billion, and lied during the campaign that the deficit was around $10 bil." I mean, that is the CENTRAL issue right now, but all you hear about is the "circus" timepoint. Take off your rose colored glasses!
You see, they are loans-we aren't the Fed-THEY MUST BE PAID. Therefore, this slight of hand in the budget, similar to Clinton's given to Bush, will eventually collapse, and they will be due. Unless the next Gov quickly and significantly cuts spending, which won't happen with Buffet, we will either be bankrupt...or we will have Reasonable Tax Increases.
Those by the way will push herds of businesses out of Coliforniya. I don't wanna be in the room when you finally figure this out after its too late.
The Dems AND so many Republicans I THOUGHT were conservatives.
Personally, I haven't decided whether to go McClintock or Simon ... whoever is ahead closer to the election. They are both good conservative men with a solid foundation and I like them both. It's wishful thinking that one would drop out closer in order to send support to the other, but remember that anything can happen in the next eight weeks.
The fact remains that Arnold has NO foundation. He hasn't said one thing that is marginally conservative or even Republican. He wants to get our fiscal house in order and bring back business to the state ... in order to fund government programs.
Sorry, any Republican who falls for him are simply blinded by his celebrity and the win-at-all-costs mentality that will end up killing our party, increasing taxes, and giving us more social engineering of our children.
No, my devoted Republican kemosabe, its is actually you who is going nuts right now.
This election isn't about social issues-its economic R-E-M-E-M-B-E-R?
How exactly does having a economic liberal who made all his money in a bull market-and fearing tech stocks-openly admits to hating "the rich" POSSIBLY going to cut state spending to stop our economy from its incoming collapse. I know you Out Of Staters keep forgetting, but we are having this Recall for reasons other than Gray has a D in front of his name. We are on the edge of a cliff, and Warren Buffet is possibly the last person you want in a position of Governmental power right now.
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