Susan Kennedy (no relation?)
Posted on 12/02/2005 11:03:02 AM PST by NormsRevenge
We can discuss all of the details surrounding the bad run up to the election, the mistakes with drafting the initiatives and the battles within the horseshoe itself...but time calls for me to be short and to the point:
1. I'm still placing some 'blame' squarely upon the conservatives of the Republican Party. The "Tombots", along with the 'continual vendetta crowd' (you know who you are) never embraced Arnold. Simple 'pride' wouldn't let go of the 'sour grapes' they held as the party went for the win in the recall election (BTW: I still believe it was the right thing to do!). They eventually drove support, and voters away from Arnold's administration and his agenda.
Arnold was willing to stick his neck our on conservative issues, legislation, vetoes and a tough (not perfect) special ballot. He did accomplished some major successes for the Republican ideology. But in the end, the major loss surrounding the "Special Election" left him cold, he didn't feel the love from the conservative core, he got mad...so he has changed dance partners. He is now a scorned lover.
2. This administration's conservative agenda, whether fiscal or social, is over. Arnold has no direction and no 'trust' from any of the Republican leaders. He has decided to make his bed in the 'moderate center', and the liberal core socially. Yes, there are some encouraging words about Susan Kennedy's tough stance on the 'tax and spend' mentality of the Democrat majority, but I have little hope that we can escape tax increases in the next budget. Forget about our chances when it comes to "Same Sex Marriage" and conservative ideals as they relate to legislation. The only question that remains is how long Legislative Affairs Secretary Richard Costigan and Deputy Cynthia Bryant will call the horseshoe home.
3. I'm guessing a large, wide majority of the GOP will further sour on Arnold Schwarzenegger, this will cause him to move further and further to the left. He is a man who likes to be liked. I wouldn't be surprised if he announced himself as an 'Independent' for his second run as governor. No, not to mimic the position of Jessie Ventura (Arnold is not a Jesse, he's bright, intelligent and personally successful), but he might move to the Independent statements, if not the full party affiliation move, to make a statement to the populous of the voters in California..."I'm no ultra-conservative Republican, and I'm not a liberal Democrat, I'm my own man, and Independent of sorts." He came close Wednesday afternoon during the press conference.
4. The party needs to make a decision, do you run with this guy, or do you find another horse? Right now the party has no other option, and Schwarzenegger knows it, advantage Arnold, and Phil Angelides. It may be ten years before the GOP has another opportunity.
5. Finally, remember the "missed opportunity" here; we had a very conservative ballot, and a very conservative possibility for the state fiscally, as well as socially with Prop 73. We...we, the voters did NOT run to the polls as did the unions and the Democrats.
We, the conservatives should take one hard lesson from this disaster; when you have a chance to support a candidate that is 75% conservative, or an initiative ballot that is 60%, or even 50%, of what is needed and desired - we MUST support it with gusto. Increments toward the right, especially in California, are steps in the "right direction".
Now, because of vendetta on our part, and an ego that is looking to be loved on Arnold's part, the Republican Party is shrinking right along with the future of this state.
In summary; Governor Schwarzenegger we all lost the "Special Election", but with this nomination as Chief of Staff, you have lost me as a supporter of your administration. It is now a pitch-by-pitch scenario governor, and we are expecting a few curve balls, careful when and where you throw them
The "Home of the Recall" stands at a distance!
Would you rather have a tumor the size of a nickle or the size of a quarter? If I could trade a tumor the size of a quarter for one the size of a nickel, I would do it in a heartbeat, and not consider it a mistake. So, maybe the results of the recall were not as one might have liked, and maybe in retrospect, the whole thing looks like a mistake, but at the time it looked a lot better. One never knows how a relationship will turn out until much later, and then you can consider a marriage a monumental mistake, but when you were walking down the aisle, it sure doesn't seem like a mistake at the time.
I was very happy to see Pretty Boy Gray shown the door, it was worth any price. If he was still the Governor, you can bet he would have kept on creating government agencies and patronage positions to use as political rewards for his supporters. Read up on the California Coastal Commission for an example of why the recall was NOT a monumental mistake.
You say on never knows how a relationship will turn out. Well, when it came to the recall I had a pretty good idea how it would turn out. As a consequence, I opposed it. Sadly, it's turned out pretty much as I expected.
It's been 14 years since I moved to Nevada from California, and it is interesting to see that there are the same ideological divisions in the State G.O.P. as when I left. However, prior to the last ten or fifteen years or so, at least there was a roughly even balance between conservatives and liberals in California. While many people on F.R. do not wish to face this, the numbers don't lie. The rough balance simply does not exist anymore.
While I certainly sympathize with the conservative wing of the party over the country club/Gerry Parsky/Arnold types, the problem is DEMOGRAPHICS. They have shifted immensely as a result of massive immigration and "white flight" to neighboring states. While it is a bitter pill to swallow, there simply are not enough conservatives left in California to elect a truly conservative candidate statewide for any major office. California has become a solid blue state and is getting bluer and bluer by the year as older, more conservative voters are replaced by younger immmigrants and children of immigrants.
I love Tom McClintock, but I simply don't think he or anyone else with his views can win the Governorship or a Senate race.
If you accept this proposition, then all of these disputes have lost their urgency. As distressing as it may be, if you are a California conservative you have two practical choices statewide: Either go with your principles and support a pro-life conservative G.O.P. candidate and you will almost certainly lose in any major statewide race (Ala Bill Simon, who got trouned by one of least popular Democrats in recent memory). Or, you can support a practical pro-choice, pro-gun control, pro-environment moderate like Arnold, in which case you will STILL lose, regardless of the results of the election (albeit perhaps just a tad bit more slowly)
Okayyyyyyy... after bullet point one, I won't bother wasting any more of my valuable time reading the unsupported and non-credible ramblings Mr. Hogue. And I'll be sure not to tune him in next time I'm driving in the Sacto area.
Thx for the comments.
There is a 3rd option.
Quit voting.
It doesn't count anyway apparently if you're a Republican much less a conservative in this state.
Cynical? Sure.
What is the alternative? Move and cut your losses.
May as well dig up the family plots to and take them with you, their votes don't count either unless they are a democrat.
Save some real estate , btw, Vegas is looking mighty good about now. ;-)
The money raised at those fundraisers went entirely to California. More money was spent there than any other state by BFP2000. Do your homework or listen to a professional who was there.
Not a damn thing. Maybe one day the CAGOP will see fit to run a candidate I can be enthusiastic about, instead of empty suits like Jones and Fong. One that actually agrees with me on more than 50% of the issues. One that takes commited and loud public stances based on conservative principals.
But the people are the Party. This isn't like disagreeing with the Catholic Church or Wal-Mart about whose operations you cannot dictate. Are you even a precinct chairman? County exec committee? The parties both are what people who care enough about them make them into.
It looks like your satisfaction with the R party in CA is commiserate with the effort you put into being involved with the R party. You get what you deserve. Democracy doesn't take care of itself.
I must have missed it. When did it ever start? Reiss, Tamminen, Kennedy. Record borrowing, record spending, stem-cell bonds, global warming, less than 50% Republican judicial appointees, more gun control. Shucks... is there something conservative in there that I missed?
This guy lost all credibility with his shilling, long ago.
Susan Kennedy (no relation?)
Susan Kennedy:
1972: At age 12, was inspired by actress Jane Fonda's support of American Indian and free-speech causes and opposition to the Vietnam War.
1977: Lived in Lancaster, Pa., within the evacuation zone of Three Mile Island. Developed a distrust of the establishment
1979: Enrolls and subsequently drops out of Millersville State College in Pennsylvania "because she was partying too much."
1980: Moved cross country to join Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden's "Campaign for Economic Democracy," a breeding ground for political training in campaigning, fundraising and field organizing, leading to a series of jobs and becoming one of the state Democratic Party's top field organizers.
198x-1991: Executive director of the California Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League
1991-1994: Executive director of the California Democratic Party, selected by then party chairman, Phil Angelides
1992: Helped lead one of the biggest get-out-the-vote campaigns which put Feinstein in the Senate and helped put Bill Clinton in the presidency.
1993: Political director for Kathleen Brown seeking office of California Governor.
1995 to 1998: Worked as communications director to Democratic U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
1995: Begins program of recovery from alcohol addiction
1998: Director of the California Democratic Party's Coordinated Campaign, a grass-roots campaign effort for 1998 election.
1998: Appointed Cabinet secretary by Governor Gray Davis. She was credited with managing the Democratic governor's initiatives on child support enforcement, energy conservation and health care, among other issues. Reportedly, she promoted Gray Davis' energy plans in 2001, and issuance of $12 billion in bonds to purchase more power, warning legislators of "Armageddon." She also acted as chief negotiator in budget discussions with legislators in 2001, angering many that the Governor did not participate more. (We all know how those energy and budget matters turned out).
1999: "Married" in a Maui commitment ceremony to lesbian partner Vicki Marti, a psychotherapist. Democratic lobbyist and party operative Darius Anderson, her best friend, served as her "best man"
2001: Had an active role in approving a $96-million contract with Oracle Corp. to provide software that state managers did not want or need, an issue raised by state Sen. Tom McClintock during confirmation hearings for her 2003 PUC appointment.
2003: Appointed to a six-year term on the Public Utilities Commission by Gray Davis, with an annual salary of $114,191. Meanwhile, Gray Davis also appoints her domestic partner, Vicki Marti, to the California Medical Assistance Commission whose function it is to set hospital Medical rates--a plum job paying an annual salary of $99,000 and requiring only 2 meetings per month.
2005: Reaches her senior year in college after 13 years of part time study.
First, 2000 wasn't 2004. The Jones v. Boxer campaign that wasn't allegedly occurred in 2004.
Second, you are only supporting my point that republicans don't support the State level stuff. Bush for Prez 2000 was great for Bush; how did it help Fong or any of the State level office seekers?
Third, I actively supported the various initiative issues, such as the recall, the no-illegals DLs, the original redistricting initiative, etc. I haven't the time, money or energy to waste trying to pry the party in CA out of their do-nothing, status quo rut. When the republican officeholders start actively acting like an opposition party instead of the compromise party, then you'll see some volunteer time out of me. Until then, I feel I get more bang for my buck via extra-party grassroots efforts.
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