Free Republic

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's decision to appoint an influential Democratic operative as his top staffer is the first step as he negotiates a tricky path to re-election. Now he must hold onto the conservative Republican right, furious with the appointment, while winning back independents and Democrats, many furious with his agenda in the recent special election. Schwarzenegger's hiring Wednesday of Susan Kennedy -- Cabinet secretary for his Democratic predecessor Gov. Gray Davis, a leader in the state's abortion rights movement and a lesbian who has married her longtime partner -- has already set off alarms among conservatives, whose leaders suggest they...

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger insisted Wednesday that the direction of his administration won't change with the appointment of Democrat Susan Kennedy, a top aide to former Gov. Gray Davis, as his new chief of staff. Introducing Kennedy at a 2 p.m. Capitol news conference, Schwarzenegger said he got to know Kennedy over the last two years through her job as a Davis appointee to the Public Utilities Commission. After considering various candidates, the Republican governor said, he concluded she's willing to put her "Democratic philosophy aside" and "implement my vision." "The one I came back to over and over again...

Arnold to tap major Democrat to be his Chief of Staff by Jon Fleischman - Publisher 11-29-2005 6:02 pm The rule of six (if I hear at least six credible people tell me something, then as a confirmed rumor, I run with it) has struck again. I previously reported on rumors that Pat Clarey, the Governor's Chief of Staff (and a loyal Republican) would be stepping aside after the special election. Read that story here. Well, apparently the Governor has decided to name Susan Kennedy as his Chief of Staff. I am sure that if this plays out, Kennedy will...

Voters in some of California's most reliably Republican counties deserted Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in droves Tuesday, either sitting out the special election or working actively against the governor's political agenda. While Schwarzenegger's supporters argue that the landslide defeat was a one-time reaction to an unpopular special election, it's a result that threatens the chances of Schwarzenegger -- and other Republican candidates -- in next November's statewide elections. In addition to independents like Anderson rejecting the governor's agenda, Schwarzenegger suffered from low turnout in Republican strongholds around the state. The people who did turn out, Republicans as well as Democrats, consistently...

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The across-the-board collapse of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's ballot propositions came down to this: They were ideas with narrow appeal, further damaged by a flat-footed campaign and an unpopular messenger, the governor himself. And that's just what Schwarzenegger's fellow Republicans said. California's celebrity governor was elected in 2003 as a centrist Republican - an essential pedigree in a state that votes reliably Democratic. But by the end of his initiative campaign Tuesday, Schwarzenegger had alienated Democrats and independents and allowed his opponents to paint him as an extremist. "What was defeated yesterday was a caricature of Arnold...

Dear Governor: November 9, 2005 06:19 AM EST There is no such thing as a fusion candidate, no such thing as a bipartisan campaign or a non-partisan issue, and come election night, there are just two parties, one at the GOP HQ and one at the Dem HQ. There's a winners' party and a losers' party. Last night you were speaking to the losers' party. I didn't go. Why bother? The polls had shown for a few days that only Prop 75 had a chance (the measure to stop public employee unions from deducting political dues from their members' paychecks...

TODAY, Californians are heading to the polls to vote on several major propositions that shall dramatically affect both the political and economic future of our state. We are following the activity and will report the results. California Propositions 2.8% of precincts reporting as of Nov 08 08:13 PM PST Results: http://www.sfgate.com/election/

SACRAMENTO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Wednesday that he will veto a bill seeking to allow gay marriages in California. Schwarzenegger said the legislation, given final approval Tuesday by lawmakers, would conflict with the intent of voters when they approved Proposition 22. That measure was put on the ballot in 2000 to prevent California from recognizing same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. "We cannot have a system where the people vote and the Legislature derails that vote," the governor's press secretary, Margita Thompson, said in a statement. "Out of respect for the will of the people, the governor will veto (the bill)."...

Poll: Most Voters Not Inclined to Re-Elect SchwarzeneggerBy Beth Fouhy Associated Press Writer Published: Sep 7, 2005 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A majority of California voters say they aren't inclined to re-elect Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, according to a poll released Wednesday. If the election were held today, the celebrity governor would face a close contest with two little-known Democrats hoping to challenge him in 2006. The nonpartisan Field Poll found that just 36 percent of voters would support Schwarzenegger, while 56 percent would not. In February, those numbers were almost reversed, with 56 percent saying they were in favor of...

A landmark bill to legalize gay marriage passed the Assembly by a single vote Tuesday and now goes to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has not said whether he will sign it. The measure passed on a 41-to-35 votes, with no support from Republicans. The author of the bill, Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, worked desperately throughout the day to find the votes needed for passage. The Senate approved AB849 last week, marking the first time a legislative body in the country to approve a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. But supporters had a harder time mustering support in the Assembly, where...

The Assembly just passed gay marriage 41-35. The bill now goes to the Governor. Updates, and who voted how to follow on this thread

SACRAMENTO – One week after accepting a $50,000 donation from a partner in a tribal casino project, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's political committee said Wednesday it would return the money after questions were raised about the donation by The Associated Press. Schwarzenegger made a promise during the 2003 recall campaign not to accept campaign contributions from groups that negotiate directly with his office – specifically identifying tribal gambling as one of those special interests. Last week at a birthday celebration fundraising event in Yuba City, the governor received a $50,000 contribution from Yuba County Entertainment LLC, a partner in a proposed...

SACRAMENTO -- On July 11 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger scored his biggest victory of the year, signing a budget in which the Democratic-controlled legislature gave him almost everything he wanted in his effort to cure this debt-plagued state government. But hard on the heels of that triumph, one of Schwarzenegger's aides told me last week, "Ka-chunk, ka-chunk. It was like getting run over by the front and rear wheels of a truck." On July 13 news reports revealed that just before taking office in 2003, the governor had signed a multimillion-dollar contract with the publisher of two muscle magazines that rely...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a $117.5 billion California spending plan Monday, avoiding a summer-long showdown with Democrats over the state budget. The governor's signature on the state budget bill had been expected since the Legislature last week approved a negotiated plan that largely reflected his priorities. Democrats and Republicans will now focus on this fall's special election. The Republican governor is pushing ballot measures to cap state spending, change how legislative districts are drawn and extend the time it takes teachers to get tenure. The budget for the 2005-06 fiscal year avoids the borrowing that has plagued...

Mr. President: I am sorry to interrupt the chorus of self-congratulations, but I feel compelled to state an obvious fact – that this budget is $6 billion out of balance; that the state’s chronic deficit spending is getting worse, not better; and that the growth of general fund spending is growing and not shrinking. Nor can I join applauding the “painstaking negotiations” that have produced this document. The fact is, in May the Governor proposed spending $88 billion (General Fund), the Democrats countered at $89 billion, and they have now compromised at $90 billion. I suppose it is a blessing...

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is taking heat on the Internet for endorsing San Diego's "gay pride" celebration slated for later this month, with critics pointing out two of the men helping to stage the event are convicted pedophiles. In his letter of greeting to all who will gather July 29 for the homosexual-themed parade and festival, Schwarzenegger writes, "I am pleased to extend warm greetings to all who have gathered for this year's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Celebrations. "California is proud to host events that celebrate diversity and support active civic participation. I applaud your efforts to foster...

LONDON - In a British newspaper editorial, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger urged governments - including that of President George W. Bush - to face up the reality of global warming. "The debate is over," he wrote in Britain's Independent on Sunday newspaper. "We know the science. We see the threat posed by changes in our climate. And we know the time for action is now." Climate change is one of the major issues to be discussed at this week's summit of the G8 wealthy nations at Gleneagles in Scotland. But reports suggest that Bush is blocking a deal on action to...