As I watched Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger speaking to the legislature during the “2009 California State of the State” address, I was reminded of that old BB King song The Thrill is Gone.
This aging Hollywood actor turned politician is at the end of the line politically. The sizzle is gone from the frying pan and all that is left is cold fat waiting to be scooped out during the house cleaning of the capitol horse shoe in 2010.
Governor Schwarzenegger rode in on a white horse during the recall in 2003 and has led California over a cliff. Rather than attempt any form of meaningful fiscal restraint, The Terminator has continued expanding state spending ten percent per year. Not to mention all of the bonds he has backed.
I am ashamed that I ever voted for or supported him. Like an abusive parent to to a misguided stepchild he has done nothing to make the California State Republican Party a viable political entity. His attainment of the governorship in 2003 actually gave the California GOP a lifeline from the death spiral it was taking. Instead he used them and abused them in 2005 with his massive ballot initiatives and did nothing to help campaign for Republicans in key races in 2006.
Now he stands alone a leader without a party or public support to lead the state of California.
With California on the verge of financial collapse this was Governor Schwarzenegger’s opportunity to galvanize public opinion to pressure lawmakers try to get a deal worked out; to give poor tax payers some hope that we will get our fiscal house in order. Instead we were treated to an economy and budget swirling down the drain.
He said he would “blow up the box.” But he said nothing after elected. And does nothing (up to recently he was only in Sacramento two days a week). He patted the legislature on the head and said “you are gude boys and ghurls. Now I vant you do your homevork and get gude glades for the people of Caleefornya.”
How Pathetic!!
In 2010 there will be a chance to elect a new governor. As far as I am concerned, I will be looking for hard political experience as my guideline for electing a governor. I am not interested in the current crop of billionaires who are running as Republicans. That is exactly the same mistake we made with Governor Schwarzenegger.
Republican voters need to understand that government is not a business. It cannot be run that way. But neither should Republican politics run like a white glove tea party, because, as we know, Democratic Legislatures in Sacramento eat California businesses for breakfast.
I say give me a hard core, deal-cutting fiscally responsible politician to run this state. How about a Republican version of Ed Rendell. Or as I have said before Governor Blago will be shortly looking for a job!
Tell us who you think fits the bill!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
what do you expect from a man who married a kennedy?
Schwarzenegger is not a Republican. First off, he opposed Prop 8. Second, he maintainted the status quo under Gray Davis: favors go in, money goes out, the people lose. Third, taxes are out of control. We need to raise tobacco and alcohol taxes and lower taxes on everything else. Fourth, the economy here sucks. States that adopt more Republican economic policies see economic growth. California has the opposite.
Are there any political “tea parties” scheduled in or near the Concord, CA. area? I’d be interested in attending or even help to organize. Please advise.
Thank you
~ EDITOR AGREES — I heard about the Tea Party down in San Diego and think it’s a great idea and would help promote. Green Tea or Black?
Too bad they caved to putting the tea bags in a bag so as not to “pollute” the ocean.
SHeesh
Total agreeance! I’m a Libertarian aqnd may have different politcal views than you, but the actions that he has pushed to the public is abhorrent. The bills that he supported for Indian gaming, I know they were popularly elected initiatives, but I cringe at them and that Arnie supported them (props 94-97). He also championed for Prop 56 in 2004 which would also have lowered the threshold required pass a budget and enact new budget-related taxes to 55% from the 2/3 vote currently required. Thank God that didn’t pass.
The act that Arnie is actually giving State Dems to discuss the notion of changing “taxes” to “fees”, is abhorrent. Fiscal responsibilty must be priority #1, not just lip service or sound bites, though that’s as innane as “equal protection under the law”.
Though a Libertarian, I can appreciate politicians (ack) from across aisles. I voted for G. Davis in ‘98, because I hated Lungren and his incessant and wasteful raids on MJ clubs. I campaigned, and pamphletted the streets of Richmond, against G. Davis’ recall in 2003 because I felt there was no constitutional crisis. I read an article about a year ago that demonstrates the reason why Davis was recalled (not many people remember), being all monied up by special interests, is the same condition that our current governor has; his pockets are now heavy too. If Davis was to be recalled, I voted for Tom McClintock. There’s your hero. Either that or Tom Cambell, though Campbell did spend time on Arnie’s economic board. I remember when Cambell ran against DiFi for senate, watching the debates, his arguments were so sound, so sane, it was unbelievable. Those two men, if the State party can get its own act together to court them, not they court the party, is the Repub’s and the state’s saving grace.
Current State of State affairs, going to hell in a hand basket. Gav. Newsom might run, apparently he didn’t learn from his political slap down ( betted all his ‘political capitol’ on prop 8 defeat – voted against myself, but i wouldn’t bank my career). He, in tow with Kamala Harris and Heather Fong, J. Brown. I understand government may and possibly should be slow, but ineffective on the other hand leads to ineptitude.
And before you tell me to go run back to my party; I don’t have a party. East Bay Libertarian has been silent since the beginning of this decade. Our national candidate, Bob Barr, is a disgrace. A republican that got re-districted out, so, in seeking to continue his do nothing political job, he switched from Repub to Lib, HAD TO REWRITE ALL OF HIS POLITICAL VIEWS, and the Lib party loved it and bought it up. We could’ve had Steve Kubby, a man who actually practiced what he preached, risking life and limb for growing Independence MJ.
I’d be a Repub if it wasn’t for the treatment of Barry Goldwater. Government stave away religion. That’s the whole point. Not invite it into the white house.
I tease my father, listener of Repub silly pundits that claim Arnie is a “Rino”, Republican in name only. I say the assholes in Sac. are Californians in Name only.
Thank you