Posted on 11/29/2005 7:31:53 PM PST by ElkGroveDan
Arnold to tap major Democrat to be his Chief of Staff
by Jon Fleischman - Publisher
11-29-2005 6:02 pm
The rule of six (if I hear at least six credible people tell me something, then as a confirmed rumor, I run with it) has struck again. I previously reported on rumors that Pat Clarey, the Governor's Chief of Staff (and a loyal Republican) would be stepping aside after the special election. Read that story here.
Well, apparently the Governor has decided to name Susan Kennedy as his Chief of Staff.
I am sure that if this plays out, Kennedy will be vetted by many who know her well. I can only judge her political ideology based on her resume, which includes these highlights (seriously, I am NOT making this up):
Kennedy has spent nearly the last three years as Gray Davis' appointee to the State Public Utilities Commission. Before that, she was a Deputy Chief of Staff and Cabinet Secretary for the infamously recalled Governor. (Kennedy's resume on the PUC website boasts that she was responsible for 'development of $100 billion state budget)
Before working for Gray Davis, Kennedy served as Communications Director and a senior staff member to Democrat United States Senator Dianne Feinstein (where, according to her own resume, she assisted the Senator with the development of legislation and policy initiatives...).
This next paragraph is straight from her resume (how could I improve on this):
Kennedy previously served as Executive Director of the California Democratic Party and as Executive Director of the California Abortion Rights Action League. She managed two of the most successful Get-Out-The-Vote campaigns in recent California history, including the 1992 Coordinated Campaign for Clinton/Gore and the 1998 Coordinated Campaign that elected Governor Gray Davis.
Right now I am a little bit shocked by this 'confirmed rumor' - actually, I would call it a 'very confirmed rumor' at this point.
I am not sure how Governor Schwarzenegger expects Republicans to react to this appointment. This is not an appointment to some peripheral position in his administration. The Chief of Staff is the most central role on the Governor's entire staff.
I think it would be premature to comment on a rumor, even a 'very confirmed' one at this point. But you can be sure that there will be a lot of questions, frustrations, concern and anger from the base if this turns out to be true.
While Republicans are not a majority in California by a long shot, there are still many million of us out here. It doesn't seem plausible that there was not one person who could ably serve in this capacity who agrees with the Governor's general philosophy enough to register in the same political party as he does.
Well, let's see how this plays out...
Jon
PS: I will offer an open invitation to any and all, whether in the administration, or friends thereof, or friends of Susan Kennedy (or Ms. Kennedy herself if this reaches her) to reach out to me, and help me understand why this appointment should not be interpreted as the big kiss-off to the GOP base.
She's married to a woman.
Arnie is a straight talker- this seems to be mistaken for him being conservative. He is NOT by any means.
He defies our image of a liberal because he talks straight and doesn't have to play the media for favor- the people already like him....
Plus- he gets the whole managing money thing.... But he is no conservative.. not really even a Republican... besides- is this Kennday chic any relation to his in-laws?
My point... why is anyone shocked! I mean I get a kick out of the way he talks to the CA politicians- but he sertainly doesn't inspire any confidence in him as a conservative man that shares my values...
/just sayin'
Sounds like something stinks in Sacramento...
We need a RINO day in Sacramento.
What is next? Tookie as attorney general?
Is this where you friend got it? Written two weeks ago for "breaking news"
http://www.sfexaminer.com/articles/2005/11/19/columnists/p_j_corkery/20051116_co01_corkery.txt
maybe aRnold likes Kennedys whispering in his ears all the time
And let us not forget that Ahhnold is considering commuting Tookie's death sentence.
This is why I have no time for "big tent" RINOs.
He never said he was a Conservative and he didn't run as a conservative. He ran on fiscal resonsibility. That's all. And that's the best we could have hoped for at that time and I do think CA is at least a little better now that it was then.
The 'Main Street Partnership' is financed by none other than George Soros.
http://www.sfexaminer.com/articles/2005/11/19/columnists/p_j_corkery/20051116_co01_corkery.txt
It was a rumor back then. Fleischman would have gotten it from staff within the governor's office or members of the legislature since he is reporting it as a a fact.
The rumor has been floating around the Capitol and frankly a lot of us brushed it off as absurd. The difference this time is that it is certain.
Such comments would be funny if they weren't so ironically sad.
Oh God, EV flashbacks...it's too late at night to be going back and forth with you....good night.
There's a big dang difference between "conservative" and Republican. He ran as a Republican and a lot of people voted for him assuming that he would bring in a Republican team -- that he's not a conservative is ancient news. We all knew that long ago. That he is making a lifelong Democrat hack the highest official in an allegedly Republican administration is the cause for outrage here.
Arnold & Maria pick Kennedy to run show
Scoop: Our two governors, Arnold and Maria, have asked Susan Kennedy, longtime Democratic operative and currently on the California Public Utilities Commission, to come on board. She’ll probably become Arnold’s chief of staff. Her longtime colleague, Daniel Zingale, just started as Maria’s chief of staff.
The dual governors, seeking players who can deal with the Dems in Sacramento, are reaching back to the administration of Gray Davis, the man they ousted: Both Kennedy and Zingale served on Davis’ immediate staff. … Kennedy is brilliant. One who has tangled with her says, “Her great ability is to frame a solution for a problem. She’s terrific at seeing solutions and then advocating fiercely for them. Unfortunately, they’re not always the best solutions.” A pal puts it this way, “She’s able to see a problem and solve it before it becomes a big one.” She’s also very pro-business — that’s just what Arnold likes in a Democrat. …
It's a rumor.
Here's a list of GOP elected officials who take money from the George Soros-financed 'Main Street Partnership':
Sen. Lincoln Chafee, Rhode Island
Sen. Norm Coleman, Minnesota
Sen. Susan Collins, Maine
Sen. Johnny Isakson, Georgia
Sen. John McCain, Arizona
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Alaska
Sen. Gordon Smith, Oregon
Sen. Olympia Snowe, Maine
Sen. Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania
Sen. Ted Stevens, Alaska
Rep. Charles Bass, New Hampshire
Rep. Judy Biggert, Illinois
Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, New York
Rep. Mary Bono, California
Rep. Jeb Bradley, New Hampshire
Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, Florida
Rep. Ken Calvert, California
Rep. Dave Camp, Michigan
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia
Rep. Michael Castle, Delaware
Rep. Thomas Davis, III, Virginia
Rep. Charlie Dent, Pennsylvania
Rep. David Dreier, California
Rep. Vernon Ehlers, Michigan
Rep. Mark Foley, Florida
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, New Jersey
Rep. Jim Gerlach, Pennsylvania
Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, Maryland
Rep. Paul Gillmor, Ohio
Rep. Kay Granger, Texas
Rep. David Hobson, Ohio
Rep. Nancy Johnson, Connecticut
Rep. Timothy Johnson, Illinois
Rep. Sue Kelly, New York
Rep. John R. Kuhl, New York
Rep. Mark Kirk, Illinois
Rep. Jim Kolbe, Arizona
Rep. Ray LaHood, Illinois
Rep. Steven LaTourette, Ohio
Rep. Jim Leach, Iowa
Rep. Jerry Lewis, California
Rep. Frank LoBiondo, New Jersey
Rep. Jim McCrery, Louisiana
Rep. Thomas Petri, Wisconsin
Rep. Todd Platts, Pennsylvania
Rep. Jon Porter, Nevada
Rep. Deborah Pryce, Ohio
Rep. Jim Ramstad, Minnesota
Rep. Ralph Regula, Ohio
Rep. Joe Schwarz, Michigan
Rep. Christopher Shays, Connecticut
Rep. Robert Simmons, Connecticut
Rep. Michael Turner, Ohio
Rep. Fred Upton, Michigan
Rep. Greg Walden, Oregon
Rep. James Walsh, New York
Rep. Curt Weldon, Pennsylvania
Rep. Jerry Weller, Illinois
Gov. Robert Ehrlich, Maryland
Gov. Linda Lingle, Hawaii
Gov. George Pataki, New York
Gov. Mitt Romney, Massachusetts
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, California
A 'Who's Who' of RINOS.
I'm sure you love 'em all, Hildy...
Conservatives:
Every single politician on this list should be targeted for defeat!
No it's confirmed now.
I agree with you- no doubt at all....
He has been great for CA in my opinion-
my point was just that I don't understand why people would be surprised by this decision... disappointed and upset at him- sure... but not shocked or surprised...
sorry- that was my point...
Arnold has been tapping a Democrat for years.
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