Big man, big money and a big state bond

SFGate.com ^ | 3/3/04 | Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross - SF Chronicle

[NormsRevenge]

It took a blitz of big money, bipartisan politics and Hollywood star power, but in the end Arnold Schwarzenegger's come-from-behind win on the state budget bailout has made him the biggest force California politics has seen in years.

He got elected largely on the strength of his personality -- now, Arnold has shown that he can translate his personality into effective governing.

[NormsRevenge]

.

[Amerigomag]

Why would folks contribute millions of dollars to convince the electorate to further indebt the state?

Follow the money.

That trail leads directly to the stabilization of California property values, its biggest asset and strongest investment appeal.

[freekitty]

I say this is more pr work.

[freekitty]

Spend money to make money: only in the case there is no money. It's all been stolen. However, I will say this, Reagan did have to raise taxes in California.

[calcowgirl]

Indeed, from the backrooms where he cut the Proposition 58 spending cap deal with Democrats, to the campaign trail where he all but silenced conservative opposition in his own party, Schwarzenegger kept the ball moving.

"It's a form of governance that we haven't seen since Ronald Reagan, who first started this governance through TV -- only Arnold's is much more advanced,'' UC Berkeley political science Professor Bruce Cain said.

Ummmm.... Did Reagan make a pact with Republican legislators, and then enter into backroom deals with Dems that completely violated that pact? Did Reagan silence those in his own party, as he joined Democratic forces?

This "form of governance" is certainly not consistent with my impression of Ronald Reagan!