Schwarzenegger shows he's a mortal in politics

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/07/11/SCHWARZENEGGER.TMP

For the first time, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger doesn't look like an unstoppable political force.

After scoring early successes that clearly established him as the dominant power in Sacramento, Schwarzenegger has stumbled in his effort to fix the state budget mess that helped propel him into office.

Government finance experts say his proposed budget borrows too much money, postpones difficult decisions and looks strikingly similar to Gov. Gray Davis' final budgets, which were derided by Senate President John Burton as "get-out-of-town-alive'' plans.

Some lawmakers and Capitol insiders say the political food fight that always accompanies budget season has shown the actor-turned-governor to be thin-skinned, and, after eight sure-footed months in office, exposed him as a beginner struggling to learn the ins and outs of statehouse deal-making.

[Sweetpea]

1. It's going to be State Karma

[Dr Fate]

2. I believe the word is "hack"

He has no experience- what did we expect?

[gorrister]

3. but like, it seemed so cool

having The Terminator as governor. :eyes:

[truthisfreedom]

4. "hey everybody! let's sandbag the newbie!"

8^)

[0rganism]

5. That's what happens when there aren't any "easy answers"

> (Gov. Schwarzenegger's) proposed budget ... looks strikingly similar
> to Gov. Gray Davis' final budgets ... derided ... as "get-out-of-town-alive'' plans.

Well, DUH.

The state has a problem. State income is lagging way behind outgo. This is the same problem faced by states, municipalities, families, hell, the whole damn nation. So the voters are inevitably faced with the same difficult choices: increase revenue (aka taxes) or cut programs. Predictably, since neither are popular, politicians avoid them like the plague, and focus instead on "reducing waste" during their campaigns.

Guess what? There's only so much waste and inefficiency that can reasonably be cut. At some point, the piper must be paid.

Anyone who speaks honestly about these things apparently has no place in elective office, or is effectively marginalized to the edge of the discussion.

Same as it ever was.

[mrdmk]

6. Here is the truth, Before Mr. Bush Jr., $15 Million in the Black

After Mr. Bush Jr., $15 Million in the Red. All one needs to do is turn off the power and no money is made anywhere, only spent. Where this money go to? To the rich people in Texas and now to the lawyers covering their asses! This is why California is so broke along with many other states.

[tinanator]

20. million?

you meant billion, right?

[vickie]

7. Well, well the Gropenfurher (who was billed as savior to us all )

has stumbled. Even a knuckle-draging goon like Ahnald can't fix everything, immediately... Whatever will we do?

Vickie Carter
Redondo Beach, CA

[NuttyFluffers]

8. he's being played... good.

didn't know what he stepped into, did he? those 8 months were the obvious honeymoon period to get him to wade into serious political waters and drown. good. we should snuff out his asperations early before they grow - he obviously thinks simple answers work all the time, but when it comes to politics it never is simple.

heh, loved how the indian tribes hedged their bet so well with him, legislature proposal, and proposition measure. left everyone else pointing fingers and trying to look good while they were assured to get what they want.

and now this. heh, not so simple now is it? wasted our time trying to convince us that the governor's leadership was the problem when california's problems were more tangible than that. such as outright price gouging. and bush won't take california's fat off the fire. heh, bad bargain. play the stooge for the republican fat cats, get burned. maybe he'll learn from this. but then he's been a mindless booster for the GOP for so long who knows if he can figure out he's been played.

[Zorra]

9. "I von't be bahck"

[Gin]

10. use his famous broom....and clean house...starting with him!

g

[SenatorBulworth]

24. Zorra!!

You maid me fall on my ass laughing!!!! that was classic!:yourock:

[devinsgram]

11. Gee, who woulda thought.

[monchie]

12. The root of the budget problem...

...is in the flaws of the referendum system.

IIRC, due to a referendum question that passed, the California budget has to be approved by a 3/4 margin of the state legislature. That's madness...but I can see how such a measure passed.

Such a measure sounds good at first glance--having a 75% threshold should make it a lot harder for the legislature to raise taxes, thus giving them an extra incentive to cut unnecessary spending. Nobody likes higher taxes, and everyone wants unnecessary spending cut. Yup, sounds good to me.

Trouble is, it's human nature to think that "unnecessary spending" is that which is spent on someone else. Spending on YOUR roads, YOUR schools, YOUR security--that's unnecessary spending. OTOH, spending on MY roads, MY schools, MY security--well, that's necessary spending. Now find me 75% of the California legislature who will agree on exactly what unnecessary spending is. Voila--the 75% percent requirement becomes nothing more than a quick recipe for government stalemate.

Much like the unbelievably flawed recall process that put the Gropenfuhrer into office in the first place, the 75% requirement is an uber-democratic "reform" that inevitably leads to results that damage democracy by making it unworkable.

[NV Whino]

13. Whatever happened to Arnie's plan

to kill all the puppies and kitties to save money?

[cthrumatrix]

14. just like AWOL ...no plans ...just theft

[Toots]

15. "exposed him as a beginner "

Ya Think????????

[SoCalDem]

16. So... who do we have for 2006?? THIS should be our NUMBER ONE

issue.. He will run again, folks..Power is an aphrodisiac...and our 'lil Ahhhnie is one horny dude..


Someone from our party should be being groomed, schmoozed, and prepared to run against him and WIN...or we will have Ahhhnold (actually Pete Wilson) until 2010...:(

Is our only hope another "celeb" gov?? I hope not.. I really wish that we could all get back to legislators and clean politicians..but running against Ahhnold (unless he really screws up) will be a formidible task..


edit..

I have heard that Feinstein wants to run, but she's getting up there inage, and I think she is not as popular as she once was...

Condi Rice has even been spoken of as a possible replacement for Ahhhnie when he's done..:(

I am afraid that if we get another R gov, we will be in deep doo doo.

[Barkley]

22. "Someone from our party should be being groomed..." how about Streisand?

I still thinks its too early to write Arnold's obituary.
His celebrity status will allow him to get away with almost everything.

After the Iraq, I'll never vote for "DiFi" again!

[happynewyear]

27. Feinstein = worse than Ahnuld

IMO.

Can't trust this woman - never could. Shame she managed to slip into the Senate. She is a liability to the Democratic party. In fact, she is a Republican wearing the clothes of a Democrat!

They all make me sick! :puke:

[cliss]

17. Didn't we all predict this would happen?

I remember reading thread after thread when 'Brainless' ousted Gov. Davis to clean house. The most pressing problem for the Awful Austrian was the state's financial condition. Standard & Poor's had just downgraded the state of California to practically junk status, and anyone selling to the state had better watch out.

So he promptly marched off to Washington to plead for bond measures and huge loans to bail him out. I think he partially succeeded because they didn't start bankruptcy proceedings. (wouldn't that be funny! The state has a bankruptcy auction + a garage sale to cover its debts) I know, I know it's not funny.

So while everyone was singing his praises, all the Gerrymandering German did was shift everything off for a while. Eventually, though, those bonds have to be paid, and they'll be right back in the soup like they were.

[KittyWampus]

18. Well, Arnold Could Have Tried To Recoup Some Energy $

that were stolen from the state.

[JackDragna]

19. Wait..wait..

..you mean a FUCKING ACTOR doesn't know how to run the government of the most populous state in the union? Gasp! Shocking! Who would've believed it!

Do I live in the Twilight Zone?

[tabasco]

21. Orrin Hatch wants a Constitutional amendment ...

so this idiot can become President. Somebody needs to explain to me just WTF is wrong with republicans. WERE THEY BORN WITHOUT BRAINS!!??

[Downtown Hound]

23. Hmmm... Well considering his whole plan to fix the budget was

to wait until he got into office and then develop a plan, I can't say this is really a surprise. He promised everyone that we could all get out of this without any sacrifices at all, and the smiled and said, "Ahm gunna terminate Guvernor Grahy Davis." And boy did the moronic electorate yuk it up. Well, the movie script is over Arnold, welcome to reality.

Downtown Hound
Eureka, CA

[SenatorBulworth]

25. i guess

he just didn't get any tips on how to fix a budget from reading MEIN KAMPF over and over :evilgrin:

[Neshanic]

26. Judging from the his naked shower pics from the 70's, he's mortal.