CA: 'Undaunted' Angelides set to launch campaign for governor

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 3/14/05 | Beth Fouhy - AP

[NormsRevenge]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Saying he had "no illusions" about the difficulty of unseating a popular celebrity governor, state Treasurer Phil Angelides said Monday he's confident he'll win the Democratic nomination for governor in 2006 and beat Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a head-to-head showdown.

"This isn't going to be a plain, vanilla election - we're not talking about potholes," Angelides said in an interview Monday before launching a five-day statewide campaign tour Tuesday morning. "Gov. Schwarzenegger and I have a different view of the world, two very different visions of what makes society strong."

A longtime fixture in California politics, the 51-year-old Angelides has made little secret of his intent to run for governor next year and has raised already raised about $12.5 million for the effort. But with the Democratic primary still a year away, Angelides' early campaign kickoff signaled his desire to quickly frame the race as a two-man contest between himself and Schwarzenegger.

"The reason I'm doing this early is that the threat this governor presents to California is enormous," Angelides said. "He's hurting teachers, he's hurting nurses - he's going after the very fabric of California's strengths."

Schwarzenegger has not yet announced whether he is running for re-election, but his campaign committee has raised $1 million so far with more fund-raising events planned. He spent Monday evening at a fund-raising dinner in Sacramento.

Angelides isn't the first Democrat in the race. Already, Attorney General Bill Lockyer has said he's running and has raised about $11 million for the race, although he hasn't made an official announcement. Actor-director Rob Reiner has also been mentioned as a possible candidate.

Since Schwarzenegger took office 16 months ago, Angelides has arguably been his loudest and most persistent Democratic critic. His role as state treasurer has given Angelides a platform from which to attack Schwarzenegger's fiscal policies, particularly his reliance on borrowing to balance the budget and pay off the state's debt.

In recent months, Angelides has been an outspoken critic of Schwarzenegger's proposals to change the state's government and politics, especially his plan to transform the state's public pension system into a system of 401(k) style accounts.

Responding to criticism that his cerebral style and approach to issues could prove a turnoff to voters, Angelides said he planned to use the next year of campaigning to project a more personable image.

"I hope to let Californians know that I am standing up and fighting for them," Angelides said. "My whole life has been standing up for hardworking Californians, and I'm going to expose this governor as someone who protects wealth and privilege."

Republican operatives have anticipated an Angelides announcement for months. Most say they are savoring the prospect of a matchup between the popular Schwarzenegger and a liberal Democratic Sacramento insider who has consistently favored raising taxes on the wealthy to balance the state's budget.

"Phil Angelides is a candidate who never met a tax increase he didn't like," said Karen Hanretty, a spokeswoman for the state Republican party. "Phil Angelides is setting himself up as the anti-Schwarzenegger of California, which means he's anti-reform and represents the status quo that created the problems California faces today."

[FairOpinion]

It shouldn't surprise you that some "co-called " conservatives want Arnold to lose to the Dems, some of the same "so-called" conservatives categorically stated, that they preferred Bustamante to become governor, instead of Arnold.

How conservative does THAT sound?

This is just more of the same.

[ClintonBeGone]

I thought it was strange that on a thread devoted to those challenging the Governor, some people chose to attack him, just as those challengers will try to do. Shameful.

[Dan from Michigan]

I can't stand Bill Lockyer.

[calcowgirl]

You two shills are too much.

Pointing out that the state has a huge debt problem IS conservative. It was not attacking Arnold, although it is critical of his actions. The man said he would CUT spending. Instead, he is trying to borrow more money.

I don't care what letter they have next to their name, if they're acting against MY interests, I'll speak out.

For the record, I can't stand Angelides. He is a tax-grabbing leftist who I will oppose aggressively.

[ClintonBeGone]

I don't care what letter they have next to their name, if they're acting against MY interests, I'll speak out.

That's just silly. Governor Schwarzenegger is doing what's in your best interest. Attacking him and helping the enemies defeat him will do worse for your interests. When will you understand that?

[Carry_Okie]

It shouldn't surprise you that some "co-called " conservatives want Arnold to lose to the Dems, some of the same "so-called" conservatives categorically stated, that they preferred Bustamante to become governor, instead of Arnold.

You have yet to substantiate this statement with references although you have been requested to supply them on numerous occasions. Until then, it stands as a categorical lie and an abuse of this forum.

I will now be catalogging these baldfaced assertions as abuse, and will present the case to the forum administration when I believe they have reached critical mass.

[Carry_Okie]

That's just silly. Governor Schwarzenegger is doing what's in your best interest.

Then prove it with citations and references, please. Increasing the debt service in the budget by forty percent isn't in ANYBODY'S interest, except for the coupon clippers and bond dealers who financed Arnold's recall campaign and continue to be his principal contributors today.

[goldstategop]

Yep. Phil's program is full bore socialism. Now if he were only honest about it, I'd have no problem respecting him. But how can you trust Democrats to be honest? They can't even tell people they want to run their lives in ways they haven't even dreamed of yet.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[ClintonBeGone]

except for the coupon clippers and bond dealers who financed Arnold's recall campaign and continue to be his principal contributors today.

That's a lie and you know it!! Governor Schwarzenegger is UNbought and UNbossed.

[calcowgirl]

>>That's just silly. Governor Schwarzenegger is doing what's in your best interest.

Wrong. Debt is not in our interest, nor are massive landgrabs. Arnie is helping the special interests, not mine, nor the states.

>>Attacking him and helping the enemies defeat him will do worse for your interests.

As I have told you in numerous posts, I didn't attack him. I criticized his policies. Get it?

>>When will you understand that?

ROFL! If you can't understand the most fundamental principles, I don't see myself following your lead. You are going LEFT, which is not where I want to go.

[calcowgirl]

>>Governor Schwarzenegger is UNbought and UNbossed.

ROFL! You really ought to read more.

[Lx]

Oh yeah, are you telling me I can't trust Hillary, say it isn't so!

[Carry_Okie]

That's a lie and you know it!! Governor Schwarzenegger is UNbought and UNbossed.

Well it looks like I was wrong about one thing, real estate investors have suddenly kicked in a rather large ante, now surpassing the finance guys since I last looked at this graph (updated 2/23/05).

ccg & SW, I would almost bet the farm that this change has to do with the passage of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. With power like that over land use control, it's going to be strictly play for pay, and for big boys only.

ClintonBeGone, I study environmental racketeering by political/regulatory quid-pro-quo for a living. You have no clue.

[FairOpinion]

They are not lies, they are true -- I just didn't make a collection of those posts, and in retrospect I should have, there were several.

I think the conservative credentials of the people who prefer Bustamante to a Republican governor are more open to question.

[SierraWasp]

OH HOGWASH!!!

[Carry_Okie]

They are not lies, they are true -- I just didn't make a collection of those posts, and in retrospect I should have, there were several.

You have failed again, and had better drop it unless you can prove it.

[calcowgirl]

With power like that over land use control, it's going to be strictly play for pay, and for big boys only.

If you look at the CEQA rules they are trying to change there are quite a few things that catches ones eye. One thing of note was possible exemptions for infill projects. Look further, and you find George Kieffer on the Advisory Board for CEQA changes. Kieffer heads the L.A. Chamber of Commerce and is with the Dem firm of Mannatt Phelps -- and is also Maria's lawyer. Who owns bunches of L.A. property salivating for infill projects? Eli Broad. Broad is part of the California Business Roundtable, supporting Arnold's reforms. Yep... the big boys are looking for their payback. And with the help of people like F.O. and CBG they just may get it.

By saying AS is UNbought and UNbossed, I wonder if CBG meant he was bossed and bought by the UN. That might be the plot, LOL.

[SierraWasp]

If you think putting my property along with millions of other Californian's under another layer of largely unelected government called the Sierra-Nevada CONservancy is in ANYONE's interest, you're getting so deep in denial it's dangerous!!!

That act alone, is so far-reaching and severe as to color every other act coming from his faltering administration. I hope and pray the four ballot initiatives are not so watered down that I cannot support them either!!!

No one is "attacking" him, as much as they are honestly criticising in as constructive a way possible, under the circumstances. No matter what tone we take, he keeps appointing leftists and supporting leftist lawmaking at a demoralizing pace! Can't you help us make him stop, rather than cheap shotting us all the time???

[ClintonBeGone]

ClintonBeGone, I study environmental racketeering by political/regulatory quid-pro-quo for a living. You have no clue.

Your perspective is completely out of balance. Like Ronald Reagan said, they contribute because they believe in HIS agenda, not the other way around. Of course, I'm sure you would attack Reagan too as being too liberal for your taste.

[ClintonBeGone]

If you think putting my property along with millions of other Californian's under another layer of largely unelected government called the Sierra-Nevada CONservancy is in ANYONE's interest, you're getting so deep in denial it's dangerous!!!

You have all the protection you need with the 5th amendment. There is no need for you to pick up arms because a group of folks want to help preserve the enviroment.