The Dems' response was really lame.
Posted by Kaleefornian at January 5, 2006 05:55 PMI have to agree, but considering that Arnold presented all of their issues along with his own, ...
Posted by pessimist at January 5, 2006 06:02 PMIndeed. I'm a dyed-in-the-wool big-D, but man did they sound like the negative broken record the GOP/shill media makes Dems out to be. I think it would be better to give a chipper response, be enthusiastic, cooperative, and let Arnold either deliver, or demolish his own facade of trying to be everything to everyone. I'm not saying be any more cooperative than you planned on being already, but for goodness sake don't whine about how exemplary and non-partisan you're being. People will notice. I'm a big fan of the "catch more flies with honey" theory.
His speech was shy on details, but big on numbers. It seems (Nor)Cal-ians at least just love the numbers. Give us 10 billion gallons of water in the river, 4 inches of rain, 101 court renovations, a quarter-million new students, whatever, as long as you tell us how many, we're happy. You must care and/or know what you're talking about, because you know how many. But it's all precision and no accuracy.
I heard a commentator say that it was not as "charismatic" a speech as his usual, but I found it more persuasive. Although it sounded like he was bucking the party line to some degree, I think plenty of details will toe the line. Specifically, I think things like the new highway and education goals with no new taxes will be only nominally accomplished -- they'll be done with much private money and "invisible" taxes, like bridge or fast-lane tolls (per the idea of private toll roads), school vouchers, etc.
But, we shall see...the proof will be in the pudding. (I hope it's in the pavement, too - the roads are really crummy around here.)
Posted by Kaleefornian at January 5, 2006 06:51 PMHe's an actor. His words mean nothing to me.
Posted by somebody at January 5, 2006 07:58 PMArnold - Credible? Don't give a guy like that the benefit of the doubt. Do you remember the Republican National Convention? How soon we forget. "Economic girlie men"? In one phrase he attacked effiminate men, people who know how to add and subtract, and advocated a policy of budgetary disaster. Sometime I wonder about Californians. This guy is a con man, wake up.
Posted by William Jensen at January 5, 2006 08:25 PMYeah, sounds perfectly reasonable, doesn't he? Too bad he has already ruined all of his credibility. Why should we believe a thing he says? What is the politicaly correct term for "Indian Giver"?
Posted by skeeve at January 5, 2006 08:41 PMI only heard part of the address on the drive home from work. What DID jump out at me was he pointedly said no new taxes. I immediately thought, wait, aren't we in like a 125 million dollar deficit? How are we going to pay for stuff?
I thought I read last week somewhere on the web that though Davis left us with a $8 million debt, we're now owing much more than that, and that Arnold was about to ask for it. (I obviously gave the post a quick glance.)
Posted by resignedidealist at January 5, 2006 09:13 PMEverything that comes out of Arnold's mouth is a poll-tested, focus-grouped, totally polished and prepared method to delude California voters into allowing him and his gang of right wing corporate hacks to stay in power.
What difference does it make what Arnold says? It's what he does that matters. And what he does is provide a human face for right wingers that could never hope to get elected in California.
Posted by James E. Powell at January 5, 2006 09:18 PMArnold HAD to do some serious bootlicking tonight since he got his ego handed to him on a plate for demanding that $57 million special election, which netted him exactly nothing btw. He wants to recover some of his lost honor and would say just about anything to do it. He might even be serious about implementing some real progressive policy, as he is now claiming, but to date he is not to be trusted. He doesn't always do what he says he'll do (remember the sexual harrassment investigation he promised us?) and the populace, even the rural Republican parts of the state, is wary of him now. Besides, he's still a a member of the Godforsaken party of criminals and charlatans so why give him the benefit of any doubt? By his deeds should he be judged and it ain't lookin' too good. He stunk before the speech and he still stinks after it. 10 to 1 it was a Karl Rove production designed to reel in the gullible.
Posted by hip at January 5, 2006 09:44 PMArnold's apology for his wasteful Special Election got my blood boiling. When I think of the millions wasted, the Unions fighting for their lives, his apology is lost on me. He trotted around the state during the recall election with a broom in his hand, professing not to be a partisan "politican." He quicky morphed into a winger, GOPer lackey - pushing Norquist's agenda. His apology was insulting. He is so transparent - move to the center, shift left, for his run in Nov. Arnold's simply running for office and blowing smoke up our collective rear ends. How does he propose to pay for his proposals? Sure, now he's concerned about "education" after beating up teachers. I don't believe a word he says. It's been a nightmare for Californians - we have had to endure Arnold during the reign of King George. How did we get here and when does this nightmare end? Even if one believes Arnold has "heard the message of moderation," I don't prefer that my Gov receives on the job training. It took millions of dollars wasted and getting his butt handed to him in a bitter defeat of his proposition for him to figure it out - to listen to the people ? We've had the recall and special elections and this is what we get - Arnold gets props for admitting defeat. Who cares? I'd rather get busy sending him back to Hollywood.
Posted by LauraLA at January 5, 2006 10:07 PMYou can't present a bold plan to rebuild the state's infrastructure without a plan to pay for it - and the sad thing is there's a lot of merit to justify the increased taxes it'll take to pay off Arnie's proposed enormous construction program.
Instead, Arnie wimps out and claims it can be paid for without raising taxes. If he understands numbers, which I've heard he does, then for sure he knows that's impossible.
But to have the Democratic response be, in part, "well, our plan is actually much smaller than the Governor's" - is wimpy. It suggests that they can't see the problems that exist in our infrastructure or are too wimpy to put forward a plan that asks for some sacrifice to make the needed investments.
Posted by PeteB at January 5, 2006 10:29 PMUntil politicians are willing to bite the bullet and admit we have to revamp the tax laws (make it possible to raise taxes) and the budget process (make it possible for a majority to pass one) it is all bull. Arnold isn't going to lead us there and I sure don't see any Dems really pushing either.
Posted by janinsanfran at January 5, 2006 10:40 PMWhat is the politicaly correct term for "Indian Giver"?
Republican?
:P
Posted by DukeRevolution at January 5, 2006 10:47 PMCalifornia is in huge economic trouble. And companies are noticing the unfriendly business climate, Nissan just decided to relocate its headquarters out of California, to Tennessee. Who would have ever guessed THAT would happen?
Posted by avaroo at January 5, 2006 11:12 PMArnold's a Republican. That's all I need to know.
Posted by Judith at January 6, 2006 12:49 AMthe proof is not in the pudding. the "proof of the pudding is in the eating".
Posted by melonhead at January 6, 2006 04:21 AMtookie von't be back, arnold. tookie von't be back. i don't give a damn about your proposals.
Posted by anonymous at January 6, 2006 04:34 AMNissan just decided to relocate its headquarters out of California, to Tennessee. Who would have ever guessed THAT would happen?
Posted by idiosynchronic at January 6, 2006 04:39 AMI agree with the comments expressing skepticism and doubt about the credibility of Ah-nuld’s new act.
Actors, of course, are performers trained to fool audiences into believing they are someone other than themselves. I don't believe in Santa Claus, and I don't believe in Election Day conversions.
Beware. Ah-nuld has shown his true face, and he's a quick study. Kicking the Dem's butts, he learned in November, requires him to deliver his words dripping with honey than soaking in vinegary rhetoric.
Yes, Virginia, Ah-nuld can fool the Dems, again.
Posted by fafnir at January 6, 2006 05:36 AMWho will get the contracts for this "rebuilding" of Kalifornia?
Isn't there an election in November for the groper?
Isn't this the real gop agenda?
Yeah, he's real fucking sorry for running over your dog, then backing up over him, sorry about your pregnant teenage daughter, real sorry about that bad check he gave you that you used to pay the mortgage, really, really sorry.
Taking Kalifornia out of commission, Blue blue blue Kali, or at least neutralizing the state has always been part of the gopper fascist plan, the methods are just a detail to be adjusted to circumstances.
Instead of terminating us with extreme prejudice he's going to latch his lamprey jaws on us and suck the life out of us from the inside.
Infrastructure needs are real. Bankruptcy isn't the way to do it.
Posted by Duckman GR at January 6, 2006 06:25 AMArnold's proposed plans to "build" various projects such as schools, hospitals, infrastructures, etc sounds like "Democratic" ideas. However, how is he going to pay for all these? When a politician promises everything under the sun but fails to tell you how he is going to effectively finance it, do not believe it. It is just an attempt on arnold's part to gain public support that he lost in the last special election.
Even then I believe Democrats should encourage such change of heart of a Republican leader so that other Republicans 9in Washington) would learn that Tax cuts to rich at the cost of essential programs to poor, is not the winning strategy.
Posted by suresh at January 6, 2006 07:52 AMI is apparent that Mrs. Governator is now running the show full time. Maria simply said to Arnie, 'you're a girle man, now fuck off'. We will see who wears the Depends in the family.
Posted by tempus at January 6, 2006 07:54 AMHere's how an intelligent Democrat responds to Arnold's speech:
"We will judge him by his deeds."
Then you shut the fuck up and go have a beer.
What's the problem with Democrats and pithiness? Its a goddamned virtue, Jackasses! (pun intended)
Posted by God Of War at January 6, 2006 08:05 AMHere's the thing about Republicans and taxes:
They (GOPpers) hardly ever raise taxes. However, they have no problem raising fees, tolls, borrowing, and other semantic equivalents to taxes.
So, once again, they are filthy fucking liars.
Posted by God Of War at January 6, 2006 08:08 AM
ARNOLD CAN BE TRUSTED AS MUCH AS BUSH CAN BE. THEY ARE BOTH LYING SCUMBAGS.
What about this idea - Arnold thinks that he's going to get 130% matching funds from the federal government for levee repairs. My immediate comment was - "Where's that money going to come from?".
As I stated in the post, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and when this 2006 budget is presented, we'll all find out just what Arnold is trying to pull.
Posted by pessimist at January 6, 2006 08:24 AMI support public works projects.
Posted by muckdog at January 6, 2006 09:01 AMWhat's good to ponder for any fence sitters out there is the contrition that jack abramoff expressed the other day, or the weepy woe that duke j cunningham expressed after pleading GUILTY to being a lying shameless common thief, and compare that to arnold's revelation expressed yesterday.
Then measure that bullshit to his actions up until the day he got his ass handed to him by the voters of CaliFornia, the lies, the smears, the name calling, the money grubbing braggadocio, the bootlicking bushco supplicant afficianado, the in your face bully boy smackdowns of the Democrats, of Liberals, of Progressives, of Lefties, of Unions, of Heroic First Responders, of Students, of everybody, the Dick Riordan Alan Bersin appointments et al, and now he's proposing things that the state cannot realistically pay for in the manner proposed, and tell me why should we believe him, let alone trust him?
Has he given us any reason to this point to do so, other than a speech full of rhetoric sans details?
Not only is it in the eating, but with anything involve the gop, it's in the bowel movement the next day.
Posted by Duckman GR at January 6, 2006 09:06 AMI support public works projects.
Posted by muckdog at January 6, 2006 09:01 AM
*****
So does everyone else who like driving on pavement and drinking clean water.
That doesn't excuse your shilling for liars, traitors, and thieves.
Posted by God Of War at January 6, 2006 09:34 AMPeteB nails it - show me the money, Arnold. He's promised us free tax cuts, now he's promising us free spending. We still have chronic budget deficits, so how are we supposed to pay for $70 billion more plus interest? I'm not supporting any new bonds until I see politicians tell us honestly where the money is coming from to pay them off.
Posted by CA Pol Junkie at January 6, 2006 10:05 AMArnold's apology for his wasteful Special Election got my blood boiling. When I think of the millions wasted, the Unions fighting for their lives, his apology is lost on me. He trotted around the state during the recall election with a broom in his hand, professing not to be a partisan "politican." He quicky morphed into a winger, GOPer lackey - pushing Norquist's agenda. His apology was insulting.
I have to second this wholeheartedly! Many of us maintained that the wasteful special election (ostensibly, ironically and insultingly to combat wasteful spending) was, in part, a pretext for an unpopular governor - who came to office in the controversial unseating of another unpopular governor - to guage just how unpopular he was. It put many people in the uncomfortable position of having to vote "NO" on referenda they might otherwise have approved in order to send the unpopular governor the message he needed. And indeed, the whole slate was rejected.
He'll get no accolades from me for his about face and his willingness now to work with Democrats in the legislature. Mind you, of course, the Democrats should work with him to bring about positive results for our state - that's our government's job! And if the pudding yields the proof we're looking for, I won't begrudge it in any way. But Arnold's "message received" should not have required sending.
Posted by Liveliest Crib at January 6, 2006 10:39 AMi believe out in fontana, there is a former kaiser steel mill, now a location for big budget cinexploitations (like T 3)...as good a place as any to (politically) bury the guvenator deep deep deeper still...he has been an embarassment & a blight on the already debased political system in the golden state...let us be done with it.
Posted by tookie's spirit at January 6, 2006 10:40 AM"Anyone who's paid attention to the last decade's auto factory movements, especially by 'foreign' automakers. Between the lack of a unionized foothold and the generous tax breaks and incentives most of the southern states are willing to offer, it's an obvious bet."
and yet you STILL didn't predict it. amazing
And what do I hear on the radio today about financing of road projects?
Toll HOV lanes, and tolls for trucks using certain roads! Couldn't see that one coming.
Posted by Kaleefornian at January 7, 2006 12:07 AM