Arnold nixes Buffett advice over Prop. 13

Contra Costa Times ^ | Aug 16, 2003 | George Avalos

[FairOpinion]

The Oracle of Omaha may need a new crystal ball after Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday rejected comments by his adviser Warren Buffett that California property taxes should be increased.

Indeed, within hours of Costa's suggestion, top aides to Schwarzenegger moved to distance the actor from Buffett's comments.

Mr. Buffett doesn't speak for Mr. Schwarzenegger," said Rob Stutzman, spokesman for Schwarzenegger's campaign. "Arnold Schwarzenegger has supported Prop. 13 for 25 years. ... Arnold is an admirer of Howard Jarvis and has referred to him as the original tax terminator." Jarvis and Paul Gann were the prime movers behind Prop. 13, the tax-slashing initiative approved overwhelmingly in 1978.

Ironically, it was in June that Schwarzenegger was the keynote speaker at a 25th anniversary celebration of Prop. 13. Schwarzenegger praised the measure, which sharply curtails yearly increases in property taxes.

[scannell]

The role of an advisor is to advise the candidate, not to make policy statements for his own sake. I think Arnold is developing an alledged broad base of advisors to blunt the criticism he will get when he starts to slash and impound spending.

[EGPWS]

And he's a lock for the next governer of kali.

That is a disappointment in itself. He's a lock for being the next Governor and he as of yet hasn't given a platform as to what kind of Governor he will be!

[LibKill]

That is a disappointment in itself. He's a lock for being the next Governor and he as of yet hasn't given a platform as to what kind of Governor he will be!

Fair enough. We do know what kind of governer he won't be, the Grayout Davis kind.

I left kali many years ago. I wish the people there well, but I hope that they pull their heads out of the donkey's butt.

[EGPWS]

I think Arnold is developing an alledged broad base of advisors to blunt the criticism he will get when he starts to slash and impound spending.

There is a lot of "I think" going on with his campaign because he still hasn't shown a platform. The likes of T. McClintock will without reservation expound thier platform and stick to it. In T. McClintocks case it's a conservative flatform to say the least and an unwavering platform at the same time.

[EGPWS]

We do know what kind of governer he won't be, the Grayout Davis kind.

True, for Gray-out and the Clintons(they are on the same political level in my mind) are in a catagory of their own and to compare any politician running for office with the likes of them would be outright dillusional.

[Bob]

Arnold's a little bit more conservative than some people think. And he's a lock for the next governer of kali.

Well, I don't think he's conservative at all. Could you provide an example of any issue on which he's 'a bit more conservative' than I think he is?

I disagree on his being 'a lock' for the governorship but we'll have to wait and see how the campaign progresses.

[LibKill]

I guess I'll leave kali politics to the inhabitants of that strange state.

I wish you well, inhabitants of kali, and I wouldn't take money to go back there.

[RightOnline]

Two words, Arnold.

Cut..........spending.

[EGPWS]

...and I suspect it's more than merely having confidence in CA.

Ya' think so? /sarcasm

[Dane]

The Oracle of Omaha may need a new crystal ball after Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday rejected comments by his adviser Warren Buffett that California property taxes should be increased.

Indeed, within hours of Costa's suggestion, top aides to Schwarzenegger moved to distance the actor from Buffett's comments.

Mr. Buffett doesn't speak for Mr. Schwarzenegger," said Rob Stutzman, spokesman for Schwarzenegger's campaign. "Arnold Schwarzenegger has supported Prop. 13 for 25 years. ... Arnold is an admirer of Howard Jarvis and has referred to him as the original tax terminator." Jarvis and Paul Gann were the prime movers behind Prop. 13, the tax-slashing initiative approved overwhelmingly in 1978

A huzzah for Arnold. Good going.

[EGPWS]

I wish you well, inhabitants of kali, and I wouldn't take money to go back there.

A sensible policy, however since they are the 5th largest economy in the world, me thinks the final decision for it's governorship will affect you whether you live there or not.

[LibKill]

A sensible policy, however since they are the 5th largest economy in the world, me thinks the final decision for it's governorship will affect you whether you live there or not.

I guess I DO have a dog in this fight after all.

OK. McClintock is a real conservative.

He will be governer of kali about the time that I retire from that governership.

Arnold ain't all that conservative, but he's a step in the right direction.

That's all I have to say.

[Quix]

Sigh.

I didn't like a lot of what I saw before he got in the race.

I would have him do a list of things differently.

How many ways can I say it . . .

There are NOT a LOT of options that will fly ANYwhere.

But in terms of Arnie,

he may not be perfect in any respects.

BUT HE'S GOT A LONG LIST OF ASSETS IN HIS CHARACTER, PERSONALITY, PUBLIC PERSONNA, PUBLIC REPUTATION AND VICARIOUIS IDENTIFICATION AND BANK ACCOUNT

THAT THE NEXT 200 CONTENDERS COULD NOT MATCH COMBINED.

Just a fact, IMHO.

That fact is not going to go away. As he gets up to speed and communicates authentically his vision, goals, even more forcefully his personality that he's investing toward undoing corrupt Sacramento--the masses getting on his bandwagon will likely be more like a stampede, IMHO.

We shall see. I have been wrong before. I will be wrong again. I do not believe I'm wrong ESSENTIALLY about Arnie.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Can you say ``trial ballon?'' He can wait until after the election to bring this one out again.

BINGO. We have a winner!

[EGPWS]

A huzzah for Arnold. Good going.

I'll give him a "huzzah" when he comes out and says it himself.

Is he dead?

Why does he need someone else to convey his thoughts when he has a door to the national media darn near as big as Dubya's?

Something smells rotten with this whole Arnold thing.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Great observations. Thank you!

[Redcloak]

Davis also pilloried Buffett's comments. "I could not disagree more," the governor said. "I'm very proud that property-tax levels in California are lower than the rest of the country."

Never mind that Davis' party wants to do away with Prop. 13. Right now, the Dems are pushing for a referendum that would gut Prop. 13's 2/3 vote requirement. About 2 years ago, they got the 2/3 requirement lifted from public school boondoggles. Now they can more easily raise money "for the chirlins", kinda like Aaaahnold's initiative last year, and play a shell game with the money.

[Dane]

Why does he need someone else to convey his thoughts when he has a door to the national media darn near as big as Dubya's?

Something smells rotten with this whole Arnold thing.

Yep and it seems that Arnold has disinfected the smell of Warren Buffett's meglomania.

And you do not like that.

[EGPWS]

Arnold ain't all that conservative, but he's a step in the right direction.

That's all I have to say.

As it stands with Arnolds campaign, that's all he has to say too!!

I wish I had your trusting attitude, for it is a very noble asset to have.

[LS]

You make a good point. As much as we denigrated Clinton, he had enough sense to listen to Robert Rubin and the "f-ing bond traders."

If Buffett will help bail out CA bonds---without a tax increase, I say, more power to the old coot.