Democrats say Schwarzenegger's 'girlie men' comment sexist and homophobic

[Rose Siding]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — As Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wrapped up a weekend of rallies with renewed calls for a budget deal, a spokesman said the governor won't apologize for calling lawmakers "girlie men" despite criticism from Democrats that the remark was sexist and homophobic.

Democrats responded that Schwarzenegger's comments were insulting to women and gays and distracted from budget negotiations.

Sen. Sheila Kuehl, a Santa Monica Democrat, called it "troubling" that the governor used what she termed a "homophobic way of trying to put down legislative leadership."

"It uses an image that is associated with gay men in an insulting way, and it was supposed to be an insult," said Kuehl, one of five members of the Legislature's five-member Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Caucus.
...
Schwarzenegger didn't repeat the "girlie men" remark, which he dropped because he had already sent the message he wanted to send, not because he regretted the line, spokesman Rob Stutzman said.

"It's a forceful way of making the point to regular Californians that legislators are wimps when they let special interests push them around," Stutzman said. "If they complain too much about this, I guess they're making the governor's point."

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, said that while he wasn't upset by the remark, his 13-year-old daughter was.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/state/california/2004-07-19-schwarzenegger_x.htm

[Bertha Venation]

1. What an ass.

What a complete utter ass Schwarzenegger is.

[Richardo]

2. Oh puhleeze...idiotic, yes. Sexist and homophobic, no

To Sheila Kuehl: Lighten up, Francis.

This kind of frenzied, shrill over-reaction just plays into the hands of the RW.

[ant]

I agree

I can't imagine why women would get upset over this. It's just like them to get all shrill and hysterical. They're acting like a bunch of girls. Or gay men for that matter.

Why can't they all just be MEN?!

Whiny ass bunch of liberals....

{\sarcasm}

[Rose Siding]

9. It's the level of rhetoric by officials that's the issue

This is Arnold, the moderate.

"Go fuck yourself, Leahy" says the VP

"God speaks through me" says the pres

-while private citizens who are Democrats lose their jobs for what they say.

This is no time to be meek or let them slide.

[Richardo]

10. Right. Focus on the level of rhetoric, not the lame joke.

He's all one-liners from Hollywood, and has no plan except to spout more idiotic, unoriginal one-liners. THAT's the issue.

[RodneyCK2]

18. That was his whole campaign strategy...

one liners, poor Arianna Huffington. She at least stood up to him during the debates. I still can not believe he was elected. Many of us Californian's were just star-dazed by him. Feeeeey! I think his true colors are showing. The comments/one-liners are only going to further divide the two parties so he is stabbing himself in the foot. He is banking that Californians will vote against the democrats in office. I think he is way off base, at least I hope.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

21. Actually California isn't Texas

The remark played well in the goat roping areas of the state but wasn't received well in the major cities.

[Richardo]

24. 'California isn't Texas'

Thank God for that! One is enough. :eyes:

:hi: NSMA

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

28. YeeeeHaw

[TahitiNut]

55. Despite an abundance of 'two-step' cowboy bars.

Thank goddess! Schwantzengroper will be lucky to get 20% of the vote in the Bay Area next time -- mostly from Marin and Contra Costa, I guess.

[cally]

73. Please

Marin voted 65 percent for Gore. We may not be as liberal as SF but we are way more liberal than Contra Costa which still votes Dem.

[TahitiNut]

75. Uh-huh... and about 28.4% for Bush. (That's about 28% too many.)

More than Alameda's 24.2%. More than San Francisco's 16.2%. (Not as much as San Mateo's 31% or Santa Clara's 34.5% - but that'll change.) OK ... it was a bad rap. Sorry, Marin. :-( Contra Costa's got the most (37.1%) morans.

Sheesh ... can you imagine living in Modoc where Bush got 72.3%? :puke:

:silly: Gads! I sure miss having Mike Honda for my Congressman! He's the first one I've ever had where I couldn't find a vote he made that I had any serious disagreement with. He's a secret treasure in SillyCon Valley.

On Arnold ...
San Francisco County gave the Gropenfuhrer 19.0%
Alameda gave the Gropenfuhrer 25.6%
Marin gave the Gropenfuhrer 32.1%.
San Mateo County gave the Gropenfuhrer 35.0%
Santa Clara gave gave the Gropenfuhrer 39.2%
Contra Costa gave the Gropenfuhrer 39.6% (a plurality!). :puke:

[cally]

76. I walked precincts for Honda a few times

At the time, he said we were the farthest away campaigners he had. I like Honda. He's a great congressmember.

[JustCarbon]

83. ...

<-- From Contra Costa County
<-- Liberal
<-- Almost everyone she knows is liberal

That's right

[phantom power]

37. And, it misses the real problem behind the comment

Gropenfuhrer's comment is outrageous, not because it's sexist (it's actually sort of funny), but because it shows that he actually thought he was just going to roll into office and tell everyone what to do, and everything would be "solved." It's such a perfect example of the neo-Republican lack of respect (or understanding?) of what "democracy" actually means.

[SaveElmer]

3. Show's Democrats have no sense of humor

Time for them to lighten up...he was clearly spoofing the Dana Carvey - Kevin Nealon skits from Saturday Night Live. Jeez!!

[robertarctor]

5. Yeah, right

Governor Shitforbrainser shouldn't make dumbass comments like that.

If that's your sense of humor, my guess is that you're a registered Republican.

[hightime]

7. I agree, if you like Dana you are definitely a Rep.

All those SNL assholes have been racists and sexist and getting away with it for years.

"we're gonna pump you up" is obvious gay hate speech.

[SaveElmer]

11. Yes I'm a secret Republican operative

Sent here to infiltrate DU and defend Dana Carvey...and to make sure that my disguise is completely believable I have been voting Democratic since 1980...

[hightime]

12. "Oh, you are good.".....DAMN a Bill Murray quote. Those damn SNL Reps.

Once they get in your mind, you are a registered Rep for life...............SCHWIIINGGGG. (another obvios homophobe quote)

[ant]

15. please

A skit on SNL is one thing. A governor making a speech is another. The SNL skit was a joke, spoofing the over-testosteroned and those who would use language like this. Arnold is over-testosteroned.

Unless, of course, you're claiming he was kidding. Does he not believe the Democrats are being weak? That would have to be the case for your argument to work. It's all a joke, right? He meant absolutely nothing serious by it...except he did.

Almost makes my girlie little head spin.

[SaveElmer]

29. SNL Alum like ... Al Franken

What was Stuart Smalley a spoof of ?

[Pachamama]

41. Yeah, that's why Chevy Chase was attending the Kerry/Edwards fundraiser

...cause all those SNL folks are so rascist and sexist and all registered Republicans....

Al Franken is the worst Republican of them all....or maybe I meant to say Janenene Garofolo?

:think:

:kick:

[SaveElmer]

8. Nothing like proving my point...

Thank you!

[Momgonepostal]

13. So If I tell you to F* off,

am I just spoofing Dick Cheney? Lighten up! LOL

I wouldn't say I was offended by his remarks, but I think it was a stupid thing to say. His one liners like "ah'll be bahk" and use of the word terminate are getting really old. How does he expect to be taken like the serious politician he wants to be if he keeps spouting of lines from movies and TV shows?

[SaveElmer]

16. Good point...and a different issue

A politician who does nothing but spout one-liners like this cannot be taken seriously...but it is not offensive...

I found this kind of humerous. I always thought the SNL skit was funny.

[SaveElmer]

19. Also your analogy is incorrect

Cheney's term was a widely recognized curse word that is offensive to virtually everyone (except apparently Cheney).

[TriMetFan]

14. Yes, but...

Not everyone does watch or watched Saturday Night Live. To me the term "girlie men" is a put down on both gay men and women. I also never thought that when Mr. Carvey/Mr. Nealon did the skit was funny.

[Rose Siding]

17. I remembered it, most recently as being part of Ann Coulter's riff

It's a put-down meant to perpetuate the wimpy liberal myth by calling them sissies. Any official that uses such divisive rhetoric should be called roundly on it, whether that reflects a lack of humor or not.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

23. Doesn't matter...he's not on SNL, he's the governor..between

Riordan's remarks and his...he may have scored with white males, but that's it.

[FredScuttle]

38. Absolutely....

it's a question of appropriateness....bunch of guys hanging around the frat house doing old SNL routines is one thing. The Governor of California calling his political opponents an insulting name is quite another.

I pose a question to those who think we should lighten up because "hey! it's just a SNL skit!"...what would you think if Arnie pulled up the Chris Rock routine about "Love my black people/Hate the niggers" in reference to black members of the Legislature? Another laugh riot!

[chaumont58]

48. Screw swarzengroper, don't give him the time of day

I don't care if he was quoting Lincoln, he can't do any right in my book. Don't give this puke any slack. He's a front for Pete Wilson's third term.

[Kipepeo]

77. why should we "lighten up"

when they don't EVER back down or "lighten up?" I think we need to STOP letting things slide and try beating them at their own game.

case in point: how many Dems have been raising a ruckus over Dennis Miller appearing at a rally with Bush and making jokes about Kerry and Edwards being gay? Yet, how LONG did we have to hear them over and over and over repeating the talking points of the RNC about Whoopi's remarks at a Dem. fundraiser?

This is exactly the sort of thing we should call them on.

And yes, it is a childish way for him to handle himself and it should be pointed out. Right after he called democrats "girlie men" he told everyone in the audience he was making them a "terminator" and that Nov. 2nd is "judgment day" and they should vote the dems out of office. :eyes: He is an actor playing a politician and yet he can't even speak without relying on his old movie career. What a dumbass.

Just another loudmouth hollywood conservative.

[yellowcanine]

4. Did he "feel better afterward?" That is the Dick Chaney litmas test as

to what is morally acceptable.

[WI_DEM]

6. Can't the democrats come up with some big name liberal star

to take on this jackass. Calling Martin Sheen!!

[bobthedrummer]

20. He is his father's son. His dad is a Nazi.

A real Nazi.

[oly]

22. Come-on, let's start name calling. All in fun, of course.

Steroid created he-man has-been.
Hollywood Zoo attraction.
Steroid shortened little pecker boy.
Hollywood created he-man has-been.
PR generated movie boy.

[Rose Siding]

27. Sure takes the issues right off the table, doesn't it?

This smoke screen is a beard for union busting (school bus drivers with bennies and a living wage)- that's the 'special interest' arnie is accusing those feminine men (and women?) of being too vaginified to admit they protect.

[rumguy]

25. Just call it for what it is: stupid and a lazy attempt at humor

[Rose Siding]

30. Just call it for what it is: code for 'faggot'

and a newly governor approved school yard taunt.

[rumguy]

33. You could be a girly man and not be gay

right?

[Rose Siding]

35. Absolutely

And you could be called a bastard but have been born to parents who were married. It's the level of rhetoric that repubs are allowing themselves that is at issue. I guess that's where I take more offense than with muscle man's rank of choice.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

26. Someone Should Tell Arnold To Cheney Himself And Be Done With It

NT

[Frances]

31. What was the argument about?

Who was Arnie calling girlie men?

The Dems who want to pay school bus drivers union wages.

Arnie argues that he can save a few million by allowing Laidlaw to pay school bus drivers low wages.

Arnie is a union buster!

If Arnie can bust the union, then Laidlaw will fund his 2006 race for governor with BIG bucks, the Laidlaw execs will get huge salaries, and the bus drivers will work for peanuts, and move from possible middle class status to the lower class.

Arnold is out to terminate the middle class so he and his pals can buy more SUVs and smoke more expensive cigars.

[Cat Atomic]

32. I think they'd be better off calling it "moronic and buffoonish".

People will hear their complaints of sexism and homophobia and laugh it off. "That Schawarzeneggar sure is a rough and tumble political outsider", they'll say.

These Democratic politicians ought to mock the stupidity of those comments. Explain how it's embarrassing to many Californians to see an action movie buffoon making a mockery of the political process.

[AndyTiedye]

34. Arnie Should Talk About Special Interests!?

If pandering to "special interests" makes one a "girlie man"?
WHAT DOES THAT MAKE ARNIE?

The "interests" don't GET any more "special" than ENRON and KEN LAY!
Throw in Michael "junk bonds" Milken for good measure!


http://www.gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=283&row=1
It's not what Arnold Schwarzenegger did to the girls a decade back that should raise an eyebrow. According to a series of memoranda our office obtained today, it's his dalliance with the boys in a hotel room just two years ago that's the real scandal.

The wannabe governor has yet to deny that on May 17, 2001, at the Peninsula Hotel in Los Angeles, he had consensual political intercourse with Enron chieftain Kenneth Lay. Also frolicking with Arnold and Ken was convicted stock swindler Mike Milken.

Now, thirty-four pages of internal Enron memoranda have just come through this reporter's fax machine tell all about the tryst between Maria's husband and the corporate con men. It turns out that Schwarzenegger knowingly joined the hush-hush encounter as part of a campaign to sabotage a Davis-Bustamante plan to make Enron and other power pirates then ravaging California pay back the $9 billion in illicit profits they carried off.

Here's the story Arnold doesn't want you to hear. The biggest single threat to Ken Lay and the electricity lords is a private lawsuit filed last year under California's unique Civil Code provision 17200, the "Unfair Business Practices Act." This litigation, heading to trial now in Los Angeles, would make the power companies return the $9 billion they filched from California electricity and gas customers.

http://baltimorechronicle.com/060704Enron.shtml
http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2003/08/11/enron/

Are You Ready for "Total Recall II", Mr. Gropernator?

[joeunderdog]

62. Ding Ding Ding!!! We have a winner! This is the entire story here.

This is the story of the "Follow the Greenback Road" happy trail of Ahnold. The office of Governor is simply a tool for the Energy Theifs to keep the billions they stole from the citizens of CA, and the Govnah is the puppet. "We'll let you play Gov and all you have to do is save us a few $B."

This should have been THE story of the recall, shoud be THE story of this latest quip, and it should be THE latest story of the kind of pals the Chimp keeps. Why is Palast the only one with the stones to talk about it?

[Cocoa]

36. these democrats are so gay

[undergroundpanther]

39. Arnold

is a chicken shit bully.
He has a bullies heart and to me because he chooses to bully people,take from others,grope because he thinks he's entitled to, he is repugnant scum.
Bullies are entitled to nothing but social rejection and restrictions upon their sadistic cruel tendencies.
(at least put a short leash on 'em until they figure out to stop choosing to abuse people that are simply different than they are)
Bullies are begging for boundaries to be imposed upon them.
They will abuse others until someone else "tops" them and sets the new social atmosphere and demands and shames the bully until they treat people with respect .One way is to create a social climate that gives the bully no way to save face or excuse his bad behaviors..
A bully cannot do what he does unless he has a culture around him that tolerates abuses.

[oly]

40. Is this Arnold/Cheney crap just Rovian campaigning?

It would qualify as discourse for dittoheads and it aggravates dems. Sometimes it takes me a while to catch on. Amazing how long this sort of crap can stay in the news. Has too be a better way too fight this crap.

[rawstory]

42. Great LETTER to the editor on this

Hilarious -- a classic! From http://rawstory.com

By William Young
LETTER TO THE EDITOR

I will fight you, Mr. Schwarzenegger. On behalf of Democrats across the country, whom you have called “girlie men,” I will fight you. I offer to take it outside, as it were, Mr. Schwarzenegger, and we will see who the real “girlie man” is.

I have several things going for me, all of which suggest that I am, in fact, far more manly than you, and by that token, you are far more “girlie” than I am. The first is that I have a twenty-something blonde girlfriend. How long has it been since you’ve had a twenty-something blonde girlfriend?

The second is that I am far, far closer to my sexual prime. I imagine that you have long suffered a great deal of penile dysfunction as a result of your years and years of steroid abuse, and that, moreover, your obvious addiction to weightlifting comes from a rather blatant attempt to make up for some sort of inadequacy you long ago perceived in yourself. I am twenty-three years old, Mr. Schwarzenegger, and I rarely go to the gym, because I don’t see myself as so pitifully inadequate. I hold a regular, stable job, and I have a college degree, and I have years to go before I find myself in a situation where I embarrass myself in front of a sexual partner. When was the last time you weren’t able to get it up, Mr. Schwarzenegger? Last week? This afternoon?

http://www.rawstory.com/exclusives/letters/schwarzenegger_girlie_letter_719.htm

[americanwomanone]

43. At Least He Is An Equal Opportunity Offender

A stupid remark like that coming from him doesn't surprise me. At least he didn't grope anyone!

[bain_sidhe]

44. The proper response (IMHO)...

The proper response to being called a "girlie man" would be "Why, thank you! I know so many strong, intelligent girls that it's an honor to be compared to them."

Of course, that's just my ever-so-humble-girlie-woman opinion. :evilgrin:

[The_Casual_Observer]

45. Schwarzenegger is a muscle builder and a movie star

Why he is given any respect otherwise is beyond me. The nation is crowded with citizens who are dumb and very easily seduced by image people like this. It becomes very dangerous when a shit like that advocates wars and policies to the detriment of the same masses of stupid people who trust him.

[Aidoneus]

46. forget "sexist and homophobic"--it was fucking stupid

just like the speaker..

Nice for him to live up to Carvey & Nealon's idiot characters; didn't think he'd be a fan of theirs.

[DinahMoeHum]

47. Teenie-weenie problem with Arnold - he thinks with his cock. . .

just like too many other 'Pukes.

They shot their brains off let their penises do their thinking years ago.


:kick:

[dolstein]

49. Am I the only one who thinks the Democrats are acting like "girlie men"?

Frankly, resorting to charges of sexism and homophobia is probably the lamest response the Democrats could have come up with. I think that Dems have played the victim more than enough, and this kind of tactic only plays into the Republican efforts to brand the Democratic Party as a group of wimps and whiners.

[pale reflection]

50. Agreed. Own a pair, don't rent them.

Do we really need to hide behind charges of sexism and homophobia?

Don't we have enough that we can stand for, that we don't have to be afraid of a half-literate bodybuilder? As long as we keep looking like we're whining, he's winning.

And that sucks.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

54. We're whining now?

I see.

[barbaraann]

51. So calling a sexist and homophobic statement sexist and homophobic

is lame? Calling attention to a childish, divisive comment is "playing the victim?" Not allowing Republicans to get away with sick and twisted personal attacks is playing into their hands?

Yes, you are probably the only one who thinks Dems are acting like girlie men here on DU and I think I know why.

[Gingersnapsback]

52. If Californians don't

fight for their dignity, after his insults, he has a point.

[pale reflection]

56. Whatever happened..

Whatever happened to simply giving someone enough rope to hang themselves? If you get riled up over the stupid comment he made, and the way he delivered it (like a joke from what I saw on television), we, as Dems, end up coming across as shrill.

He was baiting us, and judging by the reactions of many, he was successful.

The smart thing to do would have been to just simply let it slide, so that he feels bold, and then says something that really gets him in trouble with California voters. I'm writing this from a NY perspective, but it just seems that getting hyperdefensive is just what he wants to provoke.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

57. "we, as Dems, end up coming across as shrill"

Apparently it only is ok for cons to complain that they are being smeared - remember when Kerry said repubs where dishonest?

I'm sure you'll say that we're sinking to their level.

[pale reflection]

64. well...

It's hard to claim the high ground if you're both below sea level. He's using a PC backlash againstus to score points if we respond, and we have to be cognizant of that. Instead, we do just what he wants.

Again, he loves to talk, let him. Sooner or later, 'riod brain is going to really step in it. Then, and only then, do you nail him, but good.

If you complain about every little comment --especially when he is baiting you -- then the constant drone of complaints goes unnoticed, even with the subject is valid.

On the other hand, if you wait until the right time to say something, it has more force.

I had a college prof who wrote a book once, that uttered a single, solitary "F--k" at a crucial moment. If he'd used that word throughout the book, or even as much as many of us here it in every day speech, it would have been anti-climatic. However, using it the one time, at absolutely the right time, gave that word power.

Waiting and saving our complaints for something worthwhile makes tactical sense.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

65. I don't believe that using a cheesy SNL joke is a subtle baiting tactic

I think he's a bullying dick. We keep taking shit from them as they freak out over the slightest dis. Sure he's baiting us - that's obvious to an infant - I say we take the bait and do like Cheney does - tell him to go fuck himself.

[Rose Siding]

67. And how has sitting down and shutting up been working for us so far?

Which branch of govt are we controlling again? ...oh wait.

[demoman123]

58. Meanwhile, Republicans such as Arnold and Dick show they are 'manly men'

by "standing by" their remarks. This is image-crafting.

[Kipepeo]

78. wow.

For some reason I've never considered calling sexism and homophobia out for what they are to be "playing the victim." Rather, keeping silent is the weak position. Sounds like someone's been listening to too much Limbaugh.

[oly]

53. OK, the correct response would have been or is

Take your steroid shriveled dick and go f**k yourself.

[happynewyear]

60. maybe herr Gropenfuhrer needs a new name

is he now a "man-woman" ... :evilgrin:

:dem: :kick:

[MODemocrat]

59. It's hard for me to understand a word he says anyway

It's just a distraction to get peoples' minds off the poor job he's doing. He'll take attention anyway he can get it. After all, he's a fading and aging "actor."
:crazy: :puke:

[delhurgo]

61. This makes me wanna vote for Ahnuld.

Not the 'girlie men' statement itself, but the politically correct: he's sexist, he's homphobic,... response by the democrats. LOL, what a joke. They really are girlie men. Arnold's right.

[Kipepeo]

79. Strange use of "they"

So you're not a Democrat yourself? No wonder you "wanna" vote for Arnold. I bet.

What exactly is Arnold "right" about? He's a sexist, childish ass.

[delhurgo]

82. If you don't realise how ridiculous it is to make a big deal out

of this dumb joke, and screaming homophobia, sexism, etc... then you are incredibly clueless. People are sick and tired of this oversensitive, politically correct nonsense of the far-left. This is causing damage to the democratic party. And thats something 'they' need to learn before they turn off more and more voters - especially younger ones. Thats what I'm trying to emphasize with my post; Im trying to help - believe it or not.

I assure you that the vast number of the american people are looking at this whining by democrats, rolling their eyes, and thinking what a buncha babies. I doubt you'll get that though, since it appears that you're one of 'em.

[theoceansnerves]

63. i can't believe the responses in this thread

arnold has a history of making sexist statements (comment to arianna in the debate for example) as well as a history of harassment, as well as his admitted love for nazis whom didn't particularly treat gays very well, and we have people saying they LIKE this sort of behavior and it makes them like arnold even more and they want to vote for him? what the fuck?!

[NuttyFluffers]

66. stupid, plays into political correctness argument...

the dems should have said it is a childish and pathetic comment from a pouty governor. completely unprofessional.

or something like that.

playing to the 'hypersensitivity' angle is just self-defeatist. dems need a *real* stratagist.

jeez, how in the world can i get involved with the DNC, they need to flush out the lame chaff there with an serious enema.

[Democat]

72. California dems needed a real strategist for a while

We have a huge advantage in voter registration, and seemingly a huge disadvantage in brainpower.

The California Democrats have been letting the Republicans kick their ass in the media for way too long. They just don't seem to be able to fight back effectively.

Something is wrong in the California Party.

[g5jamz]

68. Who is stereotyping who?

[CreekDog]

69. We have come full circle

In no movie did Arnold ever refer to or say "girlie-man", it was just the Kevin Nealon as Hans (or Franz I'm not really sure). I think McBain (Simpsons character and if you don't know --shame on you).

So while it's odd to hear Arnold mouth lines from his movies as political speech, it's even stranger to hear him mouth lines of cacatures that are making fun of him. I give him some ironic credit for that.

But his position is all wrong.

[chemenger]

70. I wonder how the Kennedy men

like being referred to by this meatheaded Austrian beefcake as girlie men. For that matter I wonder how Maria feels about her hubby referring to the men on her side of the family as girlie men. In fact, in light of Herr Gropinator's obsessive-compulsive disorder (the need to feel-up any woman within reach)I wonder what she sees in the big oaf.

[Digit]

71. I'm a woman

I'm a woman and I was offended by his message.
He is using my gender as a means to make an insult, and I don't appreciate it.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

74. Two points here.

First before Arnold was a champion body builder he appeared nude in a couple of gay porno mags. He didn't do any sex acts. He just posed nude.

Second, correct me if I'm wrong but isn't a 60% supermajority required for a budget to pass the California Legislature? That's a surefire guarantee for gridlock.

[NuttyFluffers]

80. yup, supermajority is needed.

we're like 1 of Nth states left with such an antiquated method of passing a budget. and when there was an appeal to change the constitution into a simple majority to pass a budget the republicans and conservatives spazzed and said no - spooked the populace that the "dems would tax 'em to death." stupid people fell for it.

the republicans love this; they can stall the budget, blame the democrats and then destroy "that evil commie state." they are a pox upon our state. and if it wasn't for our poisonous media and the buffoons in several conservative counties we'd actually be doing a lot better.

wanna know the consequences of having republican leadership? look at california. we've suffered in excess of 24 years of republican leadership. we went from #1 in just about everything around the 60s, handily becoming the preeminent force in the world, let alone in the nation, to becoming a crippled state facing complete ruin. let that be a lesson to everyone. republicans bring destruction and despair. the proof is in history.

[marlakay]

81. He said today that he want to Terminate the Dems Legislators

In the SF Chronicle it talked about the girlie comment then said he is going all over saying to everyone to vote out the dem legislators. He is the one who screwed up on the budget and now all of a sudden forget being nice to both sides...his true BUSHIE colors are OUT!!

By the way, in an earlier post on this someone said Contra Costa is bad because we have a lot of repubs. I just moved here and starting tomorrow I am working full time with the Kerry campaign here in town. There is a big effort going on here. I have been to 2 meetups here and lots of people showed up ready to volunteer. As far as repubs, I don't know area well enough to say why other than a lot of wealthy people live here and I guess they want their tax cuts.

[fujiyama]

84. Democrats should have replied

by saying that they aren't going to dignify such immature statements.

I suppose it can be considered sexist though. I'm not sure if it's exactly homophobic.

It's time for democrats (in that state and all over) to start showing some guts. Didn't democrats give Arnold what he wanted at first? Why weren't they giving him hell from the begining?

This is the difference with republicans and democrats. Look at all the major issues. Republicans can usually keep their caucus together, they don't take crap, and they act like complete and total ass holes. They never cooperated with Clinton. OTOH, several democrats gave Bush whatever he wanted right when he got to office.

Meanwhile, we have pansies like Daschle that roll over whenever Bush tells him to. I think Pelosi can do a better job too, but it's tougher in the house. Sure, it's not the same situation with the CA legislature, but it's a symptom of the same problem.

[truthisfreedom]

85. ahh-nold can't keep his imaginary acting life separate from his real life

as governor. reminds me a little of ronnie when he started to lose it. insulting people (or trying to) is a bushista tactic... and so is not apologizing. i guess ahh-nold is working on becoming prez, huh?

[The Zanti Regent]

86. Yeah, real men prance on stage in panties to the Village People...

...just like Arnold!

[moondust]

87. Goobernator just needs a big violence fix.

He misses the exploding cars, missiles, massive killing and mayhem of everyday life and he takes his pent-up aggressions out on those around him. He's hooked.

[noonwitch]

88. The only reason this is an issue is the GOP overreaction to Whoopi

Whoopi is a private citizen who got drunk at a fundraiser for her presidential candidate and made some comments about Bush's name and genitalia. She's not the first to do so.

Arnold is an elected official and made an inappropriate comment about the members of the other party. His comments might not have been as raunchy, but he has a higher standard to uphold as Governor of California.