Arnold's deal: The insiders' story

Sac Bee ^ | 12/14/03 | Daniel Weintraub - Op/Ed

[NormsRevenge]

It was nearing midnight on Arnold Schwarzenegger's third Friday as governor when the former bodybuilder and actor faced his first legislative defeat, the rejection by Democrats of his plan to refinance the state's debt and place a new spending limit on the ballot next March. With a deadline for getting his measures on the ballot just minutes away and the outcome clear, Schwarzenegger left his office on the Capitol's first floor to visit Republican lawmakers who had stood by him through a disappointing round of negotiations.

[NormsRevenge]

.

[jraven]

I applaud Arnold. The fact is here in CA we can't afford to be stalled in the mess Gumbee left us in. If the Demmies dug in their heels and the Republicans dug in their heels the state remains un-well-heeled. This is a step in the right direction. The last thing CA would need at this point is more stalemate. If he gets this step he can take another one. No matter what, he ain't a Davis clone or a mutated-further-left Davis clone (like Bustayourtaxes was).

[Carry_Okie]

Looks like Mr. Weintraub's editors had a word with him since last night.

[vbmoneyspender]

exactly.

[Amerigomag]

"I'm a big believer in representative government," Richman said later. "I didn't want to see this go to an initiative."

When the republican system is broken, and Assemblyman Richman played a role in it's breakup, the mob will take it's revenge.

Assemblyman Richmond would better serve the interest of his district and the state had he concentrated on reforming the system, than to conjoin his fellow legislatures into a remarkably predictable compromise which preserved the integrity of the present, corrupted processes of electing representatives.

From my perspective the state would be better served to have forced a default in June and thereby have redirected the mob's interest to the core problem. Reform of the redistricting process. In it's place we have process that inches toward economic recovery but leaves the festering wound of Balkanization and the tyranny of an unrepresentative minority to continue to wreak it's damage.

[Keith]

You need to understand the significance of what this has done...this has given CA voters a hint of what pragmatic Republican leadership can do...this is going to give CA voters a reason to elect those Republican candidates that Schwarzenegger will be campaigning for in November...and only once we get a more even, or even Pubbie legislature, will the BIG changes get done...other Pubbies should watch Ahnuld...and see how it's done. This is good news...incrementalism...and public education.

[dalereed]

"other Pubbies should watch Ahnuld...and see how it's done"

Not for us but to us!

How to screw California!

[Amerigomag]

You need to understand

I respectfully note the failure to turn off the the sarcasm tag at the end of this compassionately conservative mantra. The tag "</S>"

[Print]

Pragmatic leadership is a good quality for governor.

[flamefront]

The big lesson here is that you cannot stick by your position without having any flexibility or willingness to compromise.

Watch out for the Mexican invasion getting its share of compromises.

[Amerigomag]

Pragmatic leadership is a good quality for governor.

By it's very definition, pragmatism is the antithesis of leadership. Pragmatism is the essence of moderation and capitulation to the status quo. Leadership is the constant voice of confidence and reassurance while guiding the mob along the path less traveled.

No better example exist than in our sitting president. A leader in many of his foreign policies decisions and a pragmatist, or worse, a pandering capitulator in his domestic policies.

Schwarzeneggr is neither. His victories were achieved because they were supported by the mob before he was elected and he hasn't compromised his core values since his election, values which were well defined before his election for those who cared to listen.

[Print]

Governor has only one front to fight on - domestic one.

President has two fronts: domestic and foreign. In order to be successful on one you have to be pragmatic (read: feel secure) on the other. Or you lose both.

[Print]

One more thing to clarify my earlier point:

The enormity of Iraq task (which is ultimately a modification of arab world) is such that it absolutely requires domestic popularity.

[calcowgirl]

The LA Times adds some perspective on Arnold's advisors after the impasse... Maria and Leon Panetta

Maria Shriver, Valley's Richman Bring Talks Back From the Dead

That weekend, she spoke to the governor's chief lobbyist in the Capitol, Richard Costigan. She also joined her husband at a conference in Palm Springs for the California congressional delegation. There, she spoke about the budget impasse with Leon Panetta, the former chief of staff to President Clinton.

Both saw the issue the same way.

"I had a chance to talk to Maria afterward, and I just stressed the importance of the governor having to make a deal with the Legislature," Panetta said in an interview Friday.

snip

On Sunday, Shriver took part in a conference call with the governor and his advisors in which they agreed to press for a resumption of talks.

snip

She attended meetings in advance of the agreement that was reached late Wednesday between the governor and Assembly Democrats. She and her husband stayed in phone contact with Panetta, who "kept encouraging them," saying a deal "would be a very important symbol to people in the state that maybe there is hope that we can govern ourselves."

[Amerigomag]

Governor has only one front to fight on - domestic one.

Please take a message to your handlers. Tell them that about 12% of the electorate in this past October wasn't persuaded by their mantra and that number is growing as their stocking horse is exposed.

Emphasize the obvious to your pragmatic sponsors. If they wish the support of that growing percentage of the increasingly cynical, non believer on the right, they had better be willing to compromise on domestic issues because they can't be competitive in California in 2004 without the cooperation of at least 50% of that group if they continue to send shills instead of making an honest effort.

[af_vet_1981]

"He was energized and very upbeat," said Assemblyman John Campbell, R-Irvine, who was among those pressing for the strictest possible spending limit. "It would have been very easy to come in at that point and say, 'Well, we lost.' But he was extremely positive. Extremely upbeat. Everybody came out of that room inspired."

Crush the Dems. Terminate their hold on power.

[Print]

I hear you. Reality of being in office, however, inevitably dilutes ideology, and pragmatic approach emerges as a result.

[Amerigomag]

Reality of being in office, however, inevitably dilutes ideology, and pragmatic approach emerges as a result.

That didn't seem to apply to Franklin Roosevelt </S>

[concentric circles]

Keith Richman believes that any bipartisan agreement is better than any alternative. Remember that last spring when the party was hanging tough, under severe criticism, refusing to bend to Davis' insistence on new taxes in the '03-'04 budget, it was Richman who led a bipartisan effort to come up with a budget that would get a few Republican votes, a budget that included new taxes. The leadership held his feet to the fire and the bipartisan budget disappeared, new taxes and all.

The solidarity of Republicans in the legislature, in refusing new taxes, was a major step in bringing the irresponsible, free spending, Democrats to a dead halt. It was also the first big step in recalling Davis. That budget forced the press to cover the the financial disaster that they had previously papered over and for the first time the public realized that the emperor had no clothes.

Now, Richman's brand of bipartisanship has carried the day. He has helped the leftist extremists avoid a real spending cap and meaningful reform. When you bargain with extremists you risk becoming an enabler and ally instead of a reformer and visionary.