This post has been added to the… California In Transition- Must read Threads! 
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Posted on 11/17/2003 4:33:43 AM PST by Happy2BMe
Nov 17, 1:32 am ET SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) - Arnold Schwarzenegger was upbeat and in a joking mood as he met friends and supporters late on Sunday on the eve of becoming California governor after a remarkable career change. "I want to laugh it up and say thank you and I will see all of you tomorrow," the former bodybuilder and actor told his high-powered transition team at a night meeting in Sacramento. "The serious work will begin from tomorrow on." In a ceremony before about 7,500 invited guests, four past California governors and some Hollywood celebrities and foreign dignitaries, Schwarzenegger takes the oath of office at 11 a.m. PST (1900 GMT) on Monday. For the Sunday meeting with about 70 advisers, Republican Schwarzenegger brought his wife, Maria Shriver, and his mother in law, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of President John F. Kennedy, and joked about his ties to the legendary Democratic family. He thanked the Kennedy matriarch for backing him in the October 7 recall that cast a Democrat, Gov. Gray Davis, out of office in only the second recall in U.S. history.
By Adam Tanner
"Campaigning with me, driving with the bus and being out there talking and speaking, and 'my brother Jack, he would have voted for Arnold' -- I'm just making that up," Schwarzenegger said to laughter.
He said Eunice and her husband, Sargent Shriver, a former presidential and vice presidential candidate, helped inspire him to enter the political arena.
"They were very much responsible for me getting involved in public affairs," he said. "Even though we talk about here die-hard Democrats -- I mean no one is perfect."
He ribbed San Francisco's famously liberal Democratic Mayor Willie Brown, who warned Schwarzenegger not to run but later agreed to serve as a transition adviser.
"Even though Willie said before this whole thing started, 'if Arnold gets in there, he will be terminated,' thank you very much for the threats, Willie."
PRESSURE IS ON
A political neophyte, Schwarzenegger attracted many big names to support his campaign and Sunday night was about tipping his hat to them. He also joked about a tense moment when asking former Secretary of State George Shultz, who was also present on Sunday, for his support.
"In the end, Secretary Shultz says to me, 'Arnold, I'm a bottom-line guy, give me one sentence, why I should help you?"' Schwarzenegger recounted. "One sentence. I mean, I tell you the pressure was on. I said to him that I will be a governor that will not spend more money than the state takes in."
California's budget is the greatest challenge the star of the "Terminator" movies faces once in office. Schwarzenegger has called an emergency session of the legislature to convene from Tuesday and has promised immediate political action.
His finance director, Donna Arduin, warned on Saturday that the new administration would face a staggering deficit that will grow to $62 billion by 2006-07 if left unchecked.
State Treasurer Phil Angelides, a Democrat already running for governor in 2006, immediately criticized her finding.
"The audit's projection of continued deficits over the next four years makes no sense, particularly given Governor-elect Schwarzenegger's campaign pledge to solve our budget problems," he said.
Hmmm, who to trust. One of the 'insiders' or one of the 'outsiders'?
What a responsibility.
Let us watch and discuss.
Arnold to California: Hello! I am Your Daddy - And my name is Arhnuld!
(But, that's just the healthy skeptic in me).... ;-)
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