Posted on 01/11/2007 11:22:09 AM PST by ElkGroveDan
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger used his 2007 State of the State speech to declare his independence from “partisanship,” declare war on the Republican Party, and formally declare his separation from reality.
He said we are entering a new era of history — felicitously named by his speechwriters “post-partisan” — conjuring the eerie echoes of the new age psycho-babble so much the rage during the “Age of Aquarius.” The Aquarian age — declared with much fanfare by various hippies, gurus, and The Fifth Dimension singing group sometime in the mid-’60s — was to see peace guiding the planets, love steering the stars, and all of us frolicking in a world of “harmony and understanding, sympathy and trust abounding.” These declarations were promptly followed by years of war, riots, soaring crime rates, and a presidential near-impeachment leading to a resignation.
The governor has less chance of escaping partisanship than the Fifth Dimension had of arranging for Mars, Saturn, and Antares to adopt “peace” and “love” as their guides through the universe. Schwarzenegger’s actions the past year indicate the phrase “post partisan” means to him eliminating all but Democrat ideas from consideration Ð i.e., a “post Republican” era. Democrat partisanship is fine; Republicans are “extreme” if they complain.
Schwarzenegger’s State of the State speech confirmed the declaration of war on the GOP by giving not so much as a nod in the direction of traditional Republican ideas or values. This governor came to Sacramento in 2003 declaring fealty to Milton Friedman and Ronald Reagan. He spent 2006 defecating on just about every principal either ever advocated. Just in case any listeners or reporters misunderstood his vision of a post- partisan world, his aides spent most of the post-speech spin cycle explaining that it was the legislative Republicans who had to be “flexible,” with no such warnings sent in the direction of the Democrats.
One must wonder what happened to the seemingly level headed, hard-nosed Governator whose recall campaign promised to “blow up the boxes” and make a “clean sweep” of state capitol business as usual. The Schwarzenegger of 2007 bears no resemblance to that candidate. Giving him the benefit of the doubt by assuming that he wasn’t just flat out lying in the first place (and I think that’s a fair benefit to give him), it appears that, despite all of his tough guy movie roles, he really doesn’t have the ... uhm ... ”appendages” necessary to slug it out in the face of determined, bitter opposition, even when he knows he’s right. He is showing all the muscle and fight of the late comic actor Don Knotts in one of his trademark trembling into panic scenes.
Our possibly dual-personality governor, early on, appointed a top quality bi-partisan commission to create a plan to “blow up the boxes” of state government, making it more efficient and saving taxpayers billions while also improving the quality of services delivered to all our citizens. The California Performance Review panel put in thousands of hours of work creating a first-class road map to accomplish the governor’s stated goals. As was to be expected (at least by everyone but Schwarzenegger apparently) the tax leeches whose political power depends on the public trough and business as usual raised a howl. The governor quivered, turned tail and ran for the high grass at the first indication of opposition. Not a single one of their hundreds of recommendations has been implemented.
Giving credit where credit is due, he did fight the good fight in the special election of 2005. He got beat up in the process, and behaving like the schoolyard dork who gets his lunch money stolen by the bully, fell all over himself apologizing to the bully (in this case public employee unions) afterwards. For good measure he promised not only to give them his future lunch money without a fight, but also to increase the amount he brought to school every day!
The unions, promised unlimited largess, declared him their new buddy. No more bloody noses for little Arnie. Liberal Democrats, given socialist economic legislation beyond their wildest dreams, declared him their favorite Republican and the poster boy for the wave of the future: bipartisanship.
Judging from his second-term kick-off address, the governor apparently thinks this state of affairs is just fine, and the path to a peaceable future in Sacramento. In fact it is, in the same sense that the school dork willingly giving his lunch money every day to the bully is the path to a peaceable future for him. But as Patrick Henry said, “Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it almighty God.”
But in reality the peace Schwarzenegger envisions in Sacramento is a phony peace, a peace as artificial as the governor’s tan. As one who ardently supported Schwarzenegger in 2003, it pains me that it is becoming clear that this emperor is wearing no clothes. Those in the state who actually do revere Friedman, Reagan, and other mainstream Republican leaders have a duty to point out this fact. This doesn’t make us obstructionists. It makes us realists.
ping
Ahnold = Mr. Maria Schriver.
Ah but some of the posters here just love the output; they eat it right up.
At the current rate, Schwarzenkaiser will move this state farther to the left than Davis or his clones ever could have done because his Party registration has muted the opposition.
Let's hope that's over.
I think Saracino is being way too generous. How many times does your spouse have to stay out all night before you conclude they just might be unfaithful? Since before being elected, Arnold has promoted the liberal agenda, starting with his half-billion dollar After School Programs. The word "new borrowing" was never uttered in the Recall campaign, but offering up a plan to double the amount proposed by Gray Davis (vehemently opposed by Republicans) was one of his first acts in office. Upon close inspection, the CPR was a bundle of nonsense and the 2005 initiatives were anything but conservative. Increased environmental regulation that will strangle the state's economy has been fully embraced and promoted. Taxpayer and ratepayer subsidies for sparring with global warming windmills has been promoted via the ballot and even forced through the backdoor via the PUC. How much more evidence does one need to to determine what they truly believe and conclude that someone is lying?
Global Warming... Yeah, right.
Today's news: Brrrace for freezing cold weatherAs a blast of icy air headed for California, the governor's office issued a dire warning Wednesday to "brrrrace" for record cold weather that could ruin crops and threaten the state's frail, elderly and homeless.
With forecasters projecting the worst cold snap in four decades, the state took the unusual step Wednesday of alerting all local health departments and social service agencies and nursing homes to monitor those who might be vulnerable to effects of the cold.
Arnold had his chance, and blew it. Time for another RECALL!
I agree. Let's keep electing u ntil we get someone that actually works FOR the citizens of California. It couldn't be any more expensive or destructive than what we are doing now.
I would love to see fear in these politicians for a change.
I hadn't heard it was going to be THAT bad! 1990 was horrible around here. It got down around 10 degrees for over a week!!! Hideous cold and many homes ruined by busted pipes in the attic!!!
It sucks being Cassandra, doesn't it.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
ROFL! Reading this thread is enough to drive anybody mad. ;-)
Of course, some also believe Guido and Luigi Farabutto were great tailors.
You could have said that in 1976 (in fact it was worse), but shortly after that from 1982 through 1998 we had Republican Governors for 16 years. In 1994 we elected a Republican Governor, Republican Attorney General, Republican Treasurer, Republican Secretary of State, and a Republican majority in the Assembly.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. The PEOPLE of California are not deeply liberal. The tiny few who make up the California Democrat Party power structure though, are extremely liberal and through a mixture of indifference and ignorance the voters have allowed the Democrat Party take charge.
It will change -- soon.
A real keeper.
Too bad.
I knew we were in trouble when I came across this:
Giving him the benefit of the doubt by assuming that he wasn’t just flat out lying in the first place (and I think that’s a fair benefit to give him)
.. and then this ..
Our possibly dual-personality governor,
.. and finally this:
Giving credit where credit is due, he did fight the good fight in the special election of 2005
It would be refreshing to see an assessment without the obligatory effacing and obfuscation.
Those are just obligatory platitudes toward a public figure in public commentary. It's a style of writing. If you ever met Bill you would see that he's one of the most unapologetic conservatives you will ever meet, and a wag and a wit to boot. Over a couple of martinis he'd come up with some of the choicest barbs for the Austrian -- stuff that you and I had never thought of.
Don't blame me. I voted for McClintock.
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