GOP Stand On Budget May Work (Dan Walters: Sacramento's Game Of Political Chicken Alert)

Sacramento Bee ^ | 08/14/2007 | Dan Walters

[goldstategop]

The chances of another maverick joining Maldonado appear to be fading. Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Atwater, has been specifically targeted because of his being somewhat less conservative than other senators, but he's reacted to the pressure -- including a Democratic Party threat of a recall campaign -- by becoming more adamant.

If, as the Field Poll indicates, public pressure is unlikely to crack the GOP solidarity in the Senate, the question now is whether Democrats will feel enough pressure from their constituent groups that are dependent on state financing to give ground on the Jerry Brown demand.

This week's rhetorical maneuvers are laying the groundwork for a showdown next week when the Assembly returns to the Capitol after its summer vacation recess. If the GOP senators are still a solid bloc then, the heat may shift to Schwarzenegger and Democrats to find a solution to the dilemma. And that could force Democrats into backing away from their rejection of the Republican demands.

It's a game of political chicken and everyone's waiting for someone to blink.

[goldstategop]

Someone will blink first in Sacramento's game of political chicken. If the CAGOP stands fast in the face of Red Arnold's and the Democrats' pressure to pass the budget, there could be a balanced budget in the offing. It depends on how much pain Democrat constituency groups feel before that happens.

"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

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

This could be the sign of a new conservative renaissance in California.

[ModelBreaker]

This could be the sign of a new conservative renaissance in California.

They would have to get elected to a majority in the legislature for that to happen. Maybe in a couple hundred years. The only reason they have any leverage at all is that it takes a supermajority to pass the budget. That's why this is the ONLY issue in CA on which conservatives have any influence whatsoever.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Thank God for Prop 13!! Thank you Jarvis-Gann!!