Ah-nold regularly tries to score points with his Democratic constituents by claiming environmental cred.
Well, thanks go to greenLAgirl for pointing out this little hypocrisy. (One of many, I'm sure.)
Schwarzenegger sells his 8 hummers cuz his new luv’s the environment (via grist.org). Then he vetoes a bill that would reduce air pollution from the shipping industry.
One of my "must read daily" blogs is Calitics.com, and Friday, once again, Calitics had a great catch on how Ah-nold continues to lie to the residents of our state. Seems that Ah-nold sent out a press release touting the number of jobs that were created in August in CA, only he conveniently left out the fact that while new jobs were created in our state, the overall unemployment number went up.
Here is what Ah-nold had in his press release:
California employers leaped out of their hiring funk and added a net 36,900 jobs in August, the state reported today, suggesting that the state's economy may be getting a second wind along with the rest of the nation.The gain was the largest in a year and followed a revised increase of only 6,600 jobs in July, the Employment Development Department said.
The job gains were widespread, as 10 of the 11 sectors tracked by the state posted increases, led by government with an boost of 10,300 jobs.
And here is the truth:
The unemployment rate, however, rose to 4.9% from 4.8% in July.
And:
Construction was the only sector to lose jobs, with a decline of 3,800 positions, reflecting a cooling in the state's once-sizzling housing market.
And if one digs just a little bit, the overall reality of this "second wind" becomes all too clear:
A recently released report of the University of California at Berkeley Labor Center, "Where Have All the Wages Gone? Jobs and Wages in 2006," shows that while jobs have been added in California since 2003, 1) the rate of this job creation is lower than in other years, 2) real wages have actually declined, 3) real wages have increased only for the top one-third of our state and 4) wage inequality is growing.
And:
Here are some of the key findings of the University of California study as to California:1. California added 172,000 jobs between July of 2005 and July, 2006. This represents a slight decline from the previous year. In contrast, between 1996 and 2000, Califonria was producing an average of 424,000 jobs. The unemployment rate in both the United States and California declined to 4.8% in 2006, virtually matching the lowest level of unemployment in California in the last boom period (4.7% in February of 2001). Bottom line: We have added jobs in our state, but in this regard, we are matching what is happening in the country as a whole—not performing uniquely due to some magical policies we have adopted.
2. In California, real wages (adjusted for inflation) grew until 2003, but have been stagnant since them. The average real wage is 0.2% lower in 2006 than in 2003.
3. Wage inequality is growing. Between 2003 and 2006, real wages declined by 1.2% for the bottom third, declined by 1.1% for the middle third, and rose by 0.6% for the top third of Californians.
Unless there is something unique about California, the Bush-Schwarzenegger Index used by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides and sometimes called by him the "BS Index," seems to fit the facts. The UC study shows that as to the three findings above, California more or less matches the country as a whole - and the graphs and charts bear this out. These policies, nationally and in California, have in fact resulted in a squeezed middle class and a widening gap between the haves and have-nots.
It is clear that Ah-nold hasn't done much to help real residents of our state, those residents who work hard for a living; rather Ah-nold has harmed the middle class. While Ah-nold wants you to think our economy is booming, the reality is that those of us who live and work in this state are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet, and no skewed press release is going to change what we know to be true in our lives.
So, Ah-nold thinks that the mix of black and Latino blood found in Cubans and Puerto Ricans is what makes Republican Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia so "hot." Actually not just her, but "all" of those Cubans and/or Puerto Ricans. [Source: Associated Press.]
Over at BlogHer Laina Dawes asks: So is everyone making a big deal out of nothing? And you can see Laina and I mixing it up in the comments with a guy who focuses on the fact that I criticized Garcia for buying into the stereotype, rather than on what Ah-nold actually said.
I think the whole thing is just gross, imagining the Gropinator speculating about Garcia's ethnicity and talking about her hotness (even though I assume he meant personality, not appearance) makes my stomach churn.
And I'll stand by what I said in my comments on the BlogHer post. As a woman with a mixture in my ethnic and cultural make-up (1/2 Jewish, 1/2 Spanish) I don't like it when a Jewish woman calls herself a JAP (as one of my former co-workers in NYC used to do.) I don't like it when a Latina lawmaker calls herself a "hot-blooded Latino." These people are making SELF-deprecating remarks that are instead giving permission to others to make those same remarks not only about that individual, but about others who share the same backgrounds being stereotyped. And it puts those of us who would NOT choose to refer to ourselves that way in the position of being called humorless or politically correct over hyper-sensitive.
And I don't appreciate it.
The LA Times has an interesting editorial by George Skelton on just how dishonest Ah-nold is when it comes to discussing the tax plan that Democrat Phil Angelides is proposing. For starters Angelides plan is:
A tax cut for the middle class, small businesses and seniors totaling $1.4 billionA rollback in college tuitions to the pre-Schwarzenegger era, amounting to a $600-million break. Also, a $400-million increase in school spending and affordable health insurance for all kids Creation of a blue-ribbon commission to recommend how to raise $2 billion by closing corporate loopholes A long-promised hike in the top income tax rate from 9.3% to 11% - same as it was under Govs. Pete Wilson and Ronald Reagan - for individuals making $250,000 a year and couples earning $500,000. That rate would continue for three years, hitting the wealthiest 1% of taxpayers and generating $3.1 billion annually.
And what does Ah-nold have to say about this plan?
Schwarzenegger's strategists must have thought Angelides' plan had some voter appeal because they immediately began trashing it with distortion. (Distortion, a too-gentle word, but printable.)
More below the fold.....
While many middle class Californians are struggling to make ends meet, Ah-nold has done little to offer real help to the ever shrinking pockets of the average citizen of our wonderful golden state. At the CA GOP convention Ah-nold had this to say about Angelides:
"Our opponent wants to raise your taxes by at least $18 billion. He wants to tax virtually everyone, everywhere. He wants to increase the car tax, the sales tax, the property tax, the farm equipment tax, the income tax, the alcohol tax, and he even wants to tax you when you go and get a tune-up for your car. Our opponent has never met a tax he doesn't like or a tax he won't hike."His message to us is more taxes. Well, here's our message to him: We say no to more taxes. No to more government spending. No to more government control."
The problem is that Ah-nold isn't telling the truth (shock!), especially as government spending has gone up 26 percent during Ah-nold's term in office. Additionally Ah-nold has done nothing to close loopholes that allow corporations doing business in CA to make billions in profits while not paying any taxes to our state. Angelides has a plan to address these loopholes, and as he states:
"There are 46 profitable corporations doing business in California with $1 billion or more in revenues that pay no corporate income tax," he said. "I don't think that's right."I don't think it's right that 18 corporations can set up phony mail boxes in Bermuda, the Bahama Islands or Cayman Islands and escape state taxes. But the tax code is like a Swiss cheese, a privilege for those who have lobbyists and accountants who crawl the halls of the Capitol."
And least we forget the promises of Ah-nold when he ran against Davis in the recall, such as the promise to stop all the influence that special interests have in Sacramento. Only problem is that Ah-nold considers teachers, nurses, public safety officers and average Californians the interest that should have no influence. According to the San Diego Union Tribune:
SACRAMENTO - When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was swept into office by the recall election in 2003, he promised to end politics as usual, where "money goes in and favors go out."But Schwarzenegger has carried on the political tradition of providing favors - in the form of coveted state appointments - to generous campaign donors.
At least 13 of Schwarzenegger's appointees, their spouses and their companies have contributed more than $1.4 million to his campaigns, according to campaign disclosure forms and a review by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.
Ah-nold would like you to listen to what he says and ignore all that he does, but you the voters are smarter then that. Ask yourself if you want four more years of Ah-nold and his lies, four more years of Sacramento being influenced by coporations while the rest of us are not only ignored, we are told by Ah-nold that he will kick our butts.
In November we will have the opportunity to show Ah-nold what we think of his lies and distortions, we, the real people of California, can stand up and together kick Ah-nold's butt all the way back to Hollywood where he belongs.
So, it has not gone without notice at a national level that Ah-nold is in a tough spot when it comes to relations with Dubya. I love this little nugget from the afore-linked NY Times article:
The governor, who is facing a tough re-election fight, did not want to appear too often or too cozy with Mr. Bush, whose approval rating in this largely Democratic state is 32 percent, according to a Field Poll last week. That is even lower than Mr. Schwarzenegger's, 36 percent in the poll.
You'll note, however, that Ah-nold tries to offset his coziness with Dubya during his recent visit by immediately slamming Dubya over his (lack of) response to our levee issues. I just find it interesting that Ah-nold can praise and snuggle up to a guy whose actions he calls "inexcusable."
"Any of those kinds of real big, powerful special interests, if you take money from them, you owe them something." Candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger (San Diego Union Tribune, August 31, 2003)In 2003 candidate Schwarzenegger made the above claim, in 2006 candidate Schwarzenegger banked close to $2 million in campaign contributions from oil companies:
In the past year alone, the governor's California Recovery Team collected $500,000 apiece from independent oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens and Vail Drilling Co., plus $250,000 from Chevron Corp. and $50,000 from Shell Oil. Chevron has also given $44,600 to Schwarzenegger's re-election campaign since November.
As gas prices go up faster then you can fill your tank, our governor is not only taking millions from the companies that are gouging Californians, he is also avoiding taking direct action to help the working families in our state. Democrats, on the other hand, are taking action. On Monday Democrats in an Assembly committee approved a bill "that would slap a windfall profits tax on California oil producers." (Presstelegram.com)
Schwarzenegger refused to take a position on the windfall profits tax when asked about it during a news conference. He said the only way to cut gas prices was to reduce consumption.
As the increasing cost of gas is causing many California families financial hardship, Governor Schwarzenegger won't go after those 'real big, powerful special interests' he has taken money from because he 'owe(s) them something.'
Over and over Schwarzenegger attacks those in our community who serve the public; police, firefighters, teachers and nurses, claiming that these groups are those 'special interests' that are ruining our state. Of course the 'special interest' corporations, like the oil companies, are somehow left out of Schwarzenegger's attacks and labels.
Our state will once again go to the polls in November to elect a new Governor. Do not forget the hollow words and broken promises made by Schwarzanegger. When you are paying over $3 a gallon for gas remember that the windfall profits being paid to the oil companies are ending up in the pockets of a man who stated:
"I will go to Sacramento and I will clean house. I don't have to take money from anybody. I have plenty of money." (Sacramento Bee, August 7, 2003)
Or he certainly wouldn't have hired Matthew Dowd, the chief strategist for the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign, now would he?
Well, yes, you're right, he might...if he was so committed to winning that his principles would never be allowed to stand in the way. (Thereby sort of contradicting the idea that he has principles, no?)
So, liar or hypocrite? Which do you think it is?
I addressed why it's so important to vote NO on Prop. 75 in this post. What I said then was:
"Sure, make unions get every individual member's permission before using that individual member's dues for anything. As long as you do the same with shareholders in public companies. As soon as corporations have to play on a level field with unions (especially since corps. give to politicians at a ratio to 23 to 1 over unions) then maybe I'll listen to you."
But my SCC DP boss David Cohen wrote a letter to the editor today that spells it out even more clearly. (I hope they print it!):
"Ralph Manfredo’s letter (Oct. 24) draws a valid analogy between unions and businesses. While a business’ responsibility is to protect shareholder money, a union’s responsibility is to protect its members. In both instances, the pursuit of those goals results in the support of politicians that may not be universally supported by those who are being protected. And in both instances, there is an opt-out mechanism. Shareholders can sell their stock; union members can opt out of paying the portion of their dues that goes to politics. The problem with Proposition 75 is that it places an extra burden on labor unions that does not exist for corporations, by requiring an opt-in procedure that businesses would not have to follow. Corporations already outspend unions by 24:1. This is purely a ploy to further unbalance the playing field. Vote NO on Proposition 75."
David further elaborated in an email to me, when I told him I hadn't realized there was already an opt-out choice for union members:
I believe there is in fact an opt-out for the entire dues. If you opt out, you get a refund check (although I understand that it sometimes takes months to receive). Clearly, the opt-out is rarely used. On the other hand, opt-in would be ignored or skipped. After all, if you had to sign away $60/year, you might choose not to. Another point, of course, is that this is probably unconstitutional. How union dues are used is between the unions and their members. They vote for the rules. It would be like the voters telling the Sierra club, or PBS, or NRA, etc how to use its dues. It is a private contract between the members and their unions. There is no way a similar restriction on corporations would ever pass the legal test.
Here are pertinent talking points from the No on 75 campaign:
- The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that no public employee can be forced to join a union or association and contribute to politics.
- All public and private employees in a union or association have the right to opt out of having their fees used for politics.
Makes sense to me. Thanks David!
OK, this Special Election may be stupid and needless and expensive...but you cannot respond by staying home. That's eaxctly what they're counting on. There are two important things that should get you off your butts and to the polls on Tuesday, November 8th:
1. Defeat the harmful, punitive, scary Propositions that Ah-nold is pimping.
2. Send a message and get the momentum going in our favor for November 2006.
So, what should you remember:
1. The election itself is Tuesday November 8th
2. The last day to register for the Special Election is Monday October 24th. That's in 10 days or so.
Be there.
In fact, help other people be there.
Here's the SCC DP Calendar of Events, including many opportunities to get out there and help get out the vote...whether by reigstering folks or walking precincts. It's easy, you can do short-term commitments, just a couple of hours this weekend, for example. And it will make a difference.
I just used the SCCDP letter form to send Ah-nold the following message:
I am appalled to read that with not even a moment's careful thought you are announcing you are vetoing the marriage rights bill.
You will pay a political price for pandering to a far right wing that either a) you side with philosophically...in which case your "moderate" positioning is a big lie or b) you don't side with, but feel that you *need* for re-election...in which case you're like the kind of politician you claim not to be, and you're willing to sell your soul down the river.
So, you're a liar or a hypocrite...not a great choice for voters at the ballot box.
This is one straight woman saying "Shame on You."
Use the link above to let Ah-nold know how you feel about his betrayal of his own purported principals.
Ah, yes, Ah-nold.
The guy who said how corrupt politics was (and politicians. The guy who was going to come and whack the Legislature with a broom. Or sweep away something. I don't know...it was a powerful visual image where substance wasn't necessary, right?
Anyway, the LA Times is on a roll, exposing yet another shady Schwarzenegger move. This time it looks like he's finding ways around fundraising rules.
Kinda sounds like the worst of what cynics call "business as usual", no?
Perhaps this explains Ah-nold's plummeting approval ratings? [Reg. Req'd.]
At this point, unless he has some major unexpected victory in November's Special Election (which we're not going to let happen, right?) I'd be very surprised if Ah-nold can even muster up the enthusiasm to run for re-election.
Good thing Maria delivered him the out he needs by saying she hopes he won't.
Oh my. Not a pretty story at all.
Much worse than getting paid millions by magazines that make the bulk of their revenues from supplement companies and then vetoing a bill that would regulate said supplement companies.
No, this is worse. Looks like Ah-nold was willing to "pay to play" if you know what I mean.
No? Let's explain. The LA Times has published a sordid tale indeed. Right after Ah-nold announced his candidacy for the governorship, the media company that owns the National Enquirer paid two women for the exclsuive rights to their stories regarding Ah-nold's long-time infidelity with one of the women. Then they never published another word about the story.
Now at the same time this same media company was negotiating with Ah-nold to have him be the "Executive Editor" of one of their magazines. (Yes, one of those gigs he quit a few weeks back.)
Now as much As Ah-nold wanted to make the millions off the media company for that gig, they wanted him to have to accept the gig and give his name to their publication.
Buying silence to help a buddy much?
Here's Chris Nolan's take (Hint: doesn't look good.)
And here's Ezra Klein's.
Oh, yes, the man who wasn't going to be "politics as usual" sure seems to be politics done even worse.
I was going to blog that it was a bad day for Ah-nold, since a judge tossed out his pet redistricting measure for November's ridiculous and needlessly costly special election.
But a story that is burning up the blogosphere today puts that little setback for Ah-nold and victory for, oh, I guess the rest of us, in perspective.
See they hung two teenagers in Iran today...for being gay. First they flogged them. The they hung them.
One was 17, the other 18.
TalkLeft has the story, but she also has a picture of the two with the nooses around their neck just prior to being hung. I warn you because it's a chilling image, and one that will stick with you.
Is anyone other than the blog community going to raise an outcry over this?
Oh, I get tired of chronicling the follies, foibles and felonies of the Bush Administration as much as the next girl. That's why I'm so glad when Ah-nold acts like an ass. OK, yes, he probably does that every day, but today he's been super-good at it.
Not too many sitting Governors take multi-million dollar endorsement deals, but that's not stopping Ah-nold.
Oh, and if people weren't already realizing that Ah-nold isn't "one of us" and has little understand of the lives of many of us, read about this little line-item veto he executed today.
It always kind of cracked me up how people could see Dubya as a regular guy...when he's just a rich daddy's boy with a put-on Southern accent none of his siblings have. People already didn't think Ah-nold was a regular guy...but I think they fooled themselves that he would care about the regular folk.
Why? Because he needs them to buy tickets to his movie? The wool is definitely falling from people's eyes on both these guys.
OK, I've got a really busy day tomorrow, so I'm posting tomorrow's post today.
How do I know today what outrageous situation will happen tomorrow?
Well, in this case, I know what outrageous situation you should do something about tomorrow.
Yes, it's about Ah-nold and his wasteful, unnecessary special election which is more a sign that he hopes the general populace of California will be a whole lot more stupid and inattentive than the Democrats in the Legislature.
Go to the state party site to get a run-down on why this sucks.
The follow the links at that site or in the Art Torres letter below to write a letter to your editor urging people to see through the politics and shoot Ah-nold down.
See the text of Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres' letter to Democrats in the extended entry:
On Monday June 13, the verdict came in: Driven by his own arrogant, special-interest driven agenda, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made the decision to call a Special Interest statewide election for November 8, 2005.
We need your help to make sure Gov. Schwarzenegger understands that most Californians do not agree with his decision. Visit our advocacy center and send a letter to the editor to one of your local newspapers - it's easy to do, and it will get the message out.
Arnold could have easily chosen the more prudent approach by waiting until the June primary in 2006. But instead, after months of high dollar fundraising events, several out-of-state road trips to wine and dine his special interest partners (they sign the checks, he signs their legislation), Arnold once again picked up the gauntlet, throwing it at the feet of hardworking middle class families, seniors, kids, teachers, nurses, firefighters and others - California's "real people."
Gov. Schwarzenegger and the Republicans will spin this special election as cleaning up Sacramento by clearing out the special interests and putting the power back into the people's hands. But as the last few months have demonstrated, all he has done is handed off his "broom" to his special interest backers, giving them a free hand to do whatever they wanted to further their own agenda.
Arnold's plan all along has been to call the special November 8th election. He drew this battle line not just on June 13, but months ago when he broke his promises on education, started his name-calling rhetoric, and refused to work with the legislature.
Instead he would leave town to be among his fans and backers, and eventually had to start slipping in through back doors to avoid seeing the signs of discontent, because Arnold's real campaign slogan is "my way, or no way."
In the coming weeks the Democratic Party will be updating you with action alerts, letting you know how you can help in the upcoming special election campaign. Our web site will be constantly updated throughout the day with information, breaking news, events, rallies, etc. and we will be creating new areas and features to give voters, our terrific grassroots activists and anyone wanting to join in and become part of our team, the tools and information they need to more effectively fight Arnold's power grab.
Feel free to forward these action alerts to anyone who might be interested and tell them to visit www.cadem.org to sign up and start receiving our newsletters and action alerts. We will also be sending out localized alerts so you will be informed about upcoming rallies and events in your area.
As always, we want to hear from you - if you have ideas, events or information to share, or have questions specific to the upcoming special election send an e-mail to Election2005@cadem.org.
As always, thank you for your continued support and all the work you do on behalf of Democrats.
Sincerely,
Senator Art Torres (Ret.),
Chairman, California Democratic Party
The special election that's going to cost us tens of millions of dollars that is.
Here's the NY Times report on the issue.
But this SF Chron editorial makes it even more clear that this is about politics, not reform. And the LA Times concurs, exposing it as the cynical scheduling ploy it is.
Rather than work with the legislature, this costly campaign will give Ah-nold another chance to be out on the road delivering one-liner sound bites, claiming he's doing what the people want, when recent polls show they do not want this special election. June 2006 seems soon enough for us, the actual people. Perhaps Ah-nold is as surrounded by toadying yes-people as Dubya is? He emulates him in so many other charming ways.
No, no rest for the wicked...we're going to have no time off between nasty and disingenuous campaign ads. Yippee.
And even according to his biographer, these are dangerous times for Ah-nold.
And he can't fight his way out with an Uzi this time.
Although we don't even know yet if Ah-nold will actually run in 2006 (which isn't a given, given his wife has been laying the groundwork for a "more time with my family" excuse) it's clear Ah-nold will have a tougher row to hoe than he did to get elected in the first place.
It's one thing to talk about "kick the bastards out" and "reform, reform, reform." It's another to actually get anything done. And for all those people who say well, it's all the Legislature's fault, I'll continue to remind you: this is politics in a democracy, not a dictatorship or kingdom. Leaders have to work with other duly elected leaders. It requires negotiation skills, diplomacy, compromise...not all of which are natural to everyone...nor even appealing.
So, what is there to read about Ah-nold this weekend:
An LA Weekly article on Ah-nolds hard times. Note with interest this comment on the article:
"However, some mention of the fact that he is really a part-time Govenor should be made. As a Brentwood Resident, I see him almost daily. I can say with certainty that much of his time is spent here in Los Angeles mostly at his personal Santa Monica office. It is hard to develop much of a relationsip with the legislature by avoiding time in Sacramento."
Washington monthly column: Is Arnold Losing It?
A Blog interview with Phil Angelides.
Not too many politicians lose 16 points in their popularity in just three months.
You gotta work hard to accomplish numbers like that. And Ah-nold has been:
- Saying he prefers a fight to negotiation and compromise. Nice for an action star, not so appealing in a politician.
- Picking on nurses, teachers, firefighters and police officers. Oh, and not just those folks, but the widows and orphans of firefighters and police officers. Very cuddly.
- Breaking his promises to public schools.
-Raising more money from corporate interests than Grey Davis did, saying that because he personally isn't rich the fundraising wouldn't affect him. Huh? Then don't raise it, right?
Ah-nold sure isn't distinguishing himself as anything more than a politician...the kind people don't like much once they get to know him, that is.
Hat Tip to Iron Mouth
Even though we only launched our Stop Arnold campaign a few days ago, already it's having an effect! (Well, OK, perhaps the constant and diligent protests and outcries from the teachers, nurses, police officer and firefighter unions had a little something to do with it.)
Ah-nold is dropping his attempt to privatize public servant pensions. At least for this year.
Now all of a sudden he cares about what the Legislature comes up with. I think he's realizing that Californians may been a bit dazzled by his star power, but we're not stupid masochists.
Well, my previous post discussed the excellent example Dubya is setting...an example of mocking serious issues and thereby mocking anyone who is concerned about them.
This article in the WaPo discusses Ah-nold's current battles with what he calls "special interests", you know, your kids' teachers, your ailing parents' nurses, your communities' public safety officers.
And Ah-nold can't understand why people have trouble with him attacking those "special interests" while he continue to raise unprecedented amounts of money from corporate interests...which aren't as special I guess?
Anyway, two very telling quotes from the article:
"When it was suggested that Schwarzenegger sounded as though he would be disappointed if a face-off were averted by compromise, he responded without hesitation. "There's something very attractive about it," he said. "You're absolutely right.""
Excellent: a politician in a democracy who prefers conflict over bi-partisan compromise. I'm surprised Dubya hasn't nominated him as our Ambassador to the UN with those credentials.
And: "The whole thing is a big stage play," he said with amusement as he talked about his opponents. "They are all very important characters in this play, in order to carry out this play. It's wonderful. . . . Since they are all part of the play, you have to appreciate all those pieces and all those characters."
"And your role?" he was asked.
"Leading role," he said with a bright smile. "Above-the-title billing.""
Terrific! Still hasn't really grasped that he's not a movie star in an action film...he's dealing with real people, their lives and livelihoods and the welfare of the this state. I feel confident, don't you?
And just in case you think I'm the one who doesn't have enough of a sense of humor, I certainly do I tell you! Just check out this post about Ah-nold on the Manolo Shoe Blog.
From my blogging counterpart at the State Party site, Bob Mulholland:
-Schwarzenegger has started alienating many of those who supported him. Specifically, Schwarzenegger's attacks on teachers, nurses, Native Americans and many others are turning more and more Californians against him.
-Schwarzenegger is pushing the Bush agenda, by attacking the pensions of law enforcement and others and this is costing him support from many Californians.
-Schwarzenegger's $100,000 per person fundraising scams has him in legal trouble with the courts, and with the Fair Political Practices Commission. in fact, Schwarzenegger has replaced - and greatly surpassed -- Governor Davis as the biggest political fundraiser ever.
-Schwarzenegger is looking more and more like an angry politician, who acts like a schoolyard bully, because he's in over his head on the state budget with all his red ink.
-Schwarzenegger now has 53 percent of voters saying California is on the wrong track. (Field Poll 2/23/05)
-Schwarzenegger as an environmentalist? Hardly, in fact, that's a joke -- Schwarzenegger has seven Hummers, and all his hotel rooms are pre-set at 60 degrees with the fireplace going, even if the outside temperature is 100 degrees!
-Schwarzenegger's trip to Ohio for Bush Jr. will end up in TV ads in 2006 in California.
-Schwarzenegger's halo has evaporated -- in the last couple of months, he has lost 10 points in the polls. Field Poll now has his job approval at 55 percent, down from 65 percent (10/8/04).
From me: I know some people think it's an inevitability or something that Ah-nold will win re-election. As though this is a movie where you know they won't have the big star lose. But this is life, and the truth is that Ah-nold sold himself, sold himself very well of course, as one thing: a moderate (gee, practically a Democrat) but his actions are mirroring the Bush Administration's pretty well to a tee.
So all you Democrats who got so riled up about Dubya that you found yourself attending meetings, and donating money, and working voter registration tables, and participating in phone banks, and writing blogs for your local party (oh wait, that's me) for the first time in your life...don't let that activism fade away. Start now. Talk to anyone you meet.
When you hear people say, "oh, I think he's been doing a good job, right?" ask them why they think so. I guarantee that in most cases they have no idea why they think so.
But you can name a host of reasons why they shouldn't think so. So, let's get on it now!
Alexander Cockburn of Counterpunch delivers a lovely skewering of Ah-nold and his attempted intimidation of nurses here.
Cockburn does a lovely job of belittling the biggest Governor in the land, and he doesn't even have to call him Ah-nold once. That's satiric skill.
Hat tip to the brilliant James Wolcott for the link.
And as long as we're on the topic, this NY Times article on Ah-nold's fundraising makes me think that Ah-nold thinks we're idiots.
He's rich, so fundraising is meaningless to him? Yeah, that must be why he's doing such a thorough job of it. Yeah, like rich people want to spend only their own money on political campaigns and like that even always works.
I would say the bloom is most definitely off the rose with our Governator.
I know I'm picking on him lately, but is anyone else starting to feel like Ah-nold wants a dictatorship, not a democracy?
I know that sounds counter-intuitive, given this story that he wants to go over the legislature's head and straight to ballot initiatives. But think about it. When you talk to Californians you know do they feel like they really are on top of all of the Propositions when Election Day rolls around? Most people I know, politically-active me included, don't ever fully understand all of the initiatives and either end up not voting on some of them, or voting based on the lightest of rationales.
This works in Ah-nold's favor, given his cult of personality.
I'm also not understanding why we need to call yet another special election (the recall being a fairly recent one.) These special elections cost special extra money...millions and millions of dollars worth. how is this helping our budget crisis exactly?
I'm not buying this.
Remember how the Dubya White House is so skilled at manipulating the media? Sending out commercials disguised as news reports. Paying off "commentators" to support their policies.
Sounds like Ah-nold liked what he saw and is doing the same delightful and disingenuous thing.
Read the full Salon.com story in the extended entry:
Salon.com
Tim Grieve
02/28/05
Arnold's new project: fake news
Arnold Schwarzenegger, who campaigned for governor as a new kind of leader, seems to have learned something from an old hand. Like George W. Bush, Schwarzenegger has now resorted to using a phony news story to sell one of his political proposals.
The Los Angeles Times reports today that Schwarzenegger's administration has circulated a videotape package masquerading as a news report on the governor's proposal to roll back labor regulations that require employers to give their employees half-hour lunch breaks within the first five hours of their shifts. Several California TV stations ran the report as news, offering their viewers a one-sided, government-financed view of Schwarzenegger's proposal.
Schwarzenegger's spokesman says the video package is "just like any other press release, only it's on video." But as the Times reports, the tape "looks like a news report and is narrated by a former television reporter who now works for the state." The Schwarzenegger administration distributed it to TV stations complete with a suggested introductory script for an anchor to read -- but without any mention that labor unions oppose the change.
If it all sounds a little familiar, that's because it is. On at least two occasions, the Bush administration has palmed off similar phony TV news reports -- a practice the Government Accountability Office says violates federal anti-propaganda laws. California law has a similar prohibition against using state funds for political purposes, and Joseph Dunn, a Democratic state senator from Santa Ana, says he'll launch an investigation as part of upcoming hearings on Schwarzenegger's budget.
Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Ah-nold is at it again, thinking in his arrogance, that his super-stardom allows him to be above the rest of us in having to show respect for others.
You know, people do love someone they perceive as outspoken, forthright, a maverick. It's why people like McCain; it's why the arguably ultra-liberal Boxer got ultra-big votes tallies in California...state-wide; it's why Howard Dean has followers that are affectionately called "Deaniacs."
But McCain, Boxer, Dean: they don't call people names like some bully in a schoolyard. I'm not saying they don't use strong language, but they manage to sound like grown-ups...not an overgrown child like Ah-nold.
And Ah-nold may be in for a rude surprise that his superstar persona isn't going to protect him forever. If people begin to feel belittled, patronized, insulted etc. they won't let it go because at least they're being mocked by a movie star. Not when he's also portraying himself as a serious political presence.
And he's making a mistake to think picking on nurses, teachers and such is a good move. See, people generally like their teachers and nurses...and they don't perceive them to be well-paid or greedy or a "special interest group." Talk about picking on someone who is not your own size!
As Ah-nolds approval ratings slip, it seems clear he has miscalculated. People simply aren't going to buy that teachers and workers and nurses are "special interests" while the corporate types donating money to Ah-nold somehow are not.
We're not stupid, Ah-nold.
If you read one article today, this week, this month...it is this one.
Yes, it's on Salon.com, so if you're not already a Premium member, you will have to watch a 2-second ad to get access, but it is worth it.
If for one minute you are a Democrat, or an Independent, or a moderate of any kind who has this vague feeling that Ah-nold is doing "okay" as Governor, without really being able to pinpoint that feeling on anything, then read this article.
You need to know about his finances (and hypocrisy.)
You need to know about the less buzzworthy moderate legislation that he voted against.
You need to know about his power grab, and how he's trying to abolish checks and balances.
You need to know how Ah-nold's idea of a budget is no different than Dubya's.
You need to know it all to stoke your fires to get you ready to fight him in 2006.
This article is an essential starting point.
If you're one of the folks who believes that "politicians lie, but Ah-nold isn't a politician", you must be having some real inner conflict right now too. I'm sure all those education leaders who agreed to take Ah-nold's investment cuts last year, believing promises about more funding next year, are feeling pretty stupid right abut now.
So Superintendent of Schools Jack O'Connell is feeling a bit cranky about the State of Education in California, and he finally lets it loose and says so. Thanks to Gropinator for the link and the commentary.
In the goal of returning California to the red fold, the Republicans are counting on Ah-nold. Ah-nold, on the other hand, is using his, to my mind, rather limited acting skills to convince normally sane Democrats and Independents that at least he's "doing something". Never mind that not one of them can name a single, damn thing.
This weekend yet another reasonable person made vague statements about Ah-nold doing "something", as though that, in and of itself, was a good thing.
"Yes", I said, "he's taken liberal stances on social issues that he, as Governor, will have little to NO impact on, and on all the things he actually gets to do as Governor, he is as right-wing as Dubya, Jebbie or any other, what a surprise, REPUBLICAN."
But sadly, I spend less time tracking Ah-nold than I should.
Never fear,though, I've found someone who does track him...a site amusingly named:
Gropinater.com
Please read it and please don't watch the swinging watch and believe Ah-nold is "doing something."
Yes he is: he is favoring corporate and wealthy interests over our elderly, our soon-to-be retirees, our middle class, our mentally ill, our children and their education. I feel good about that, don't you?
Just a few more fake crises, courtesy of your local Republican.
Read Gropinater for the full download.