Posted on 02/12/2005 3:54:58 PM PST by FairOpinion
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb 12 (Reuters) - California's Republican loyalists said on Saturday they are ready to rally behind Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's ambitious political agenda that includes ballot measures Democrats vow to defeat.
Republicans meeting at the party's state convention in Sacramento said they will eagerly fight by Schwarzenegger's side if he asks voters to support this year's agenda through ballot measures, a sharp contrast to a September convention when party officials feared key conservative members would not embrace the socially moderate Hollywood icon.
But Schwarzenegger has in recent public appearances rarely missed an opportunity to stress he stands with conservatives on fiscal matters and that he has ruled out tax increases to balance the state's budget. California faces a $9.1 billion shortfall in the next fiscal year starting in July.
"When he first came onto the scene, I was skeptical ... but I think he's proven himself," said R.Q. Williams of Napa County's Republican Central Committee. "He hit the nail on the head, pointing out that what we need to do is rein in spending, not worry about how to figure out taxes and new fees."
At a dinner on Friday night, Schwarzenegger launched into a blistering attack on California's Democrat-led legislature to get rank-and-file Republicans to support potential ballot measures to overhaul the state government.
Democrats, he said, are "spending addicts" who are standing in the way of his agenda, which includes a plan to partially privatize the state's public pension funds. The largest and third-largest U.S. pensions funds are in the state.
PUT IT TO VOTERS
His plan mirrors White House aims for the Social Security system.
Democrats, public employee unions and pension fund officials oppose the plan, which Schwarzenegger says is needed so the state can rid itself of costly financial obligations to the funds. Schwarzenegger has threatened to put the plan to voters if lawmakers do not seriously consider it.
The plan would strike at the heart of one of the state Democratic Party's most significant sources of support.
"The train has left the station and there's three things they can do," Schwarzenegger said. "One is they can join and jump on the train. Number two, they can go and stay behind and just wave and be left behind, or number three, they get in front of the train and you know what happens then."
Republicans gave Schwarzenegger raucous cheers, reflecting a new confidence after years of being shut out in California's political wilderness.
"There's a euphoria that we're relevant again," said U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa. "The Republican party was doing very well in Washington, and was irrelevant in California for a number of years. It was also divided and leaderless. Now they are united with a tremendous leader."
Stating facts, that McC is running as "anti-Arnold" is being vicious?
Yeah right, your group is so virtuos.
Gee, on a smoggy day , is the sky still blue for you in LA.
For the country club elite Republicans who live with their heads in the clouds, probably so.
>>Could it be because truth and facts are on my side?
Not a chance, from what I've seen.
LOL.. And please source your comment that Tom is "anti-Arnold".
He's pro-california and for all of its residents except the illegals ones.
"There's a euphoria that we're relevant again," said U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa. "The Republican party was doing very well in Washington, and was irrelevant in California for a number of years. It was also divided and leaderless. Now they are united with a tremendous leader."
I didn't know the existing CA GOP leadership is retiring ..lol... the burden of such a slugger batting average must be wearing them out. ;)
ROFL!! What's Darrell smokin' these days? United?
btw, He uses that term "irrelevant" like Pete Wilson did.
I didn't flame you for that when I responded on another thread. You did, however, fail to respond. One more time:
And what do you consider "progress"? Putting 1/5 of the state land under the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, run by unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats? Putting the state $25 billion in debt, while continuing to increase spending for more social programs? Diverting expense to the local level (with no matching revenue) to force local tax increases?Please note, these are not "single issues" nor do they have much to do with "social views," unless of course you consider communism a social view that should be accepted in the interest of "moderation".
put it this way without arguing the minutia.....Davis was bad, McClintock was good, Bustamante was bad, Arnold was in the middle and the most likely to win......I won't argue the finer points with you now......I'm having too much fun conversing with tolerant FR's here....I note your displeasure with Arnold......carry on
In an article posted by an ardent McC fan:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1310463/posts
"Lest we forget the senator's bent to be the Republican Party's "Arnold Antagonist" at ever turn... "
Almost? Norm, you're slippling. Grin...
Like I said , you're pretty much turning into a lost cause and irrelevant in my book. ;-)
Riddle me this, FO. If the reforms all go down to defeat, will the Gub run again?
His movie career timer is ticking, can't waste too many more years politicking and frittering others money and support away.
T'wouldn't be prudent. ;-)
You seem to want to quickly label those whose opinions you do not share as being intolerant and to avoid giving support for your contentions. If state spending, property rights, and borrowing are minutia, what do you find to be relevant?
You said Arnold has made progress. I asked how. It's a simple question. I'm not reliving the election; Bustamante, Davis, and McClintock are not relevant to my question. I'm talking about from November 2003 forward.
In contrast, I cited examples that have pushed us further to the left, negative progress.
Why do you participate in a "discussion" forum, if you aren't willing to engage in discussion?
well you are intolerant........I did not dismiss your opinions at any point......at all...you are entitled to them...but following me around the posts and to keep hitting me on it seems to show me that you are not willing to let sleeping dogs lie.....why is this so important that you feel compelled to foist your opinions on me. I've moved on to other posts and blogs.....just let it go calcowgirl......what is your aim and what is your insecurity???
I have to disagree......if Arnold was propping up the Dems, than why are they out to get him and circumvent him...I too think the initiative system can be bad at times since people voted to have a % or revenue be obligated towards certain programs......I think most people in Calif don't follow the issues as well as others from other states because they are preoccupied and thus vote for what sounds right instead of learning about the issue
Vote ? Think, mind numbed robots ...
"I'm having too much fun conversing with tolerant FR's here...."
We are also "pragmatic, sensible conservatives, who are grounded in reality", in addition to being tolerant towards the vicious little "all or nothing" promoters, who vastly prefer nothing to something, and they never learned, that "It's better to light one candle, than curse the darkness". They keep trying to put out the candle, to return us to full darkness and Democrat dominance.
well they do "vote"......whatever you call it...I've argued many a moon about Boxer for instance.....you being a Californian would admit that most people here may be Dem but not activist liberals like her but blindly "vote" the party line thus keeping her around
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