[Carry_Okie]

Arduin will be as effective as her boss lets her be. In other words, with Engler and Jeb (I can't speak for Pataki), she was able to make cuts because she had the governor backing her up every step of the way (she was a deputy in Engler's admin, but her boss was similar to her).

Only if Arnold is willing to back her up when she makes the difficult decisions, especially the pork barrel cuts, will she be effective.

It would seem that we now have the confirmation of that prediction, NG. Donna Arduin has quit her job after only eleven months... after a smoke and mirrors budget from Arnold that increases spending at a faster pace than Gray Davis ever did (and with less reason to do so). Now Arnold appoints a BURTON staffer to replace Arduin.

FairOpinion, Southack, et al., you might want review the cheerleading you did on this thread and start reconsidering your groundless faith in Schwarzenegger. As time goes on, there will be more of this kind of news.

No, Arnold is not Bustamante; in terms of what he will actually accomplish and what it does to conservative causes, he may be worse.

[calcowgirl]

Today's Mercury News on Arduin resignation:

The governor said conservatives should not fret about [Arduin's] departure: "No matter who is in there, I will call the shots. I decide which programs we cut. I will decide to which extent we will keep our discipline with spending. And I promise to the people of California I will not spend more money than the state takes in."