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| WE WHIPPED Arnold Schwarzeneggers ASS big time here (73687) | |||
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WE WHIPPED Arnold Schwarzeneggers ASS big time here |
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Posted by salaamallah@hotmail.com on Wed Nov 9 04:04:53 2005 WE WHIPPED Arnold Schwarzeneggers ASS big time hereUnion dues measure only one with chance in governor's gamble WE BEAT HIM UP ON ALL PROPOSITIONS WE WHIPPED HIM GOOD! SACRAMENTO - After months of bitter attacks and abysmally low approval ratings, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's bold effort to reform state government appeared to have been soundly rejected by California voters. Based on late returns Tuesday night, the four Schwarzenegger-backed measures were all trailing, although one - Proposition 75 - was still close. Proposition 73, the parental notification measure for minors getting abortions, also was trailing with two-thirds of the precincts reporting. Schwarzenegger had gambled heavily on the special election, pinning his political fortunes closely to the success of the four measures, which he called a cornerstone of his efforts to reform state government as he seeks a second gubernatorial term next year. Faced with rejection at the polls Tuesday night, Schwarzenegger made a tempered speech to supporters at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, acknowledging the unfavorable results and thanking all Californians for voting. "I even want to thank all the people who were so passionately against us. I guess I didn't do a good enough job to convince them otherwise." And he also reached out to Democrats in an effort to drop some of the bitter partisanship of the campaign. "Tomorrow is a new day and we have to begin to work together," the governor said. "The people of California are tired of all the fighting. They are tired of all the negative TV ads. We have a lot to do." His best hope appeared to be Proposition 75, which makes it tougher for public-employee unions to use members' dues for political purposes. Early in the evening the measure appeared ahead in the polls, though by late night it had lost ground and was trailing. Proposition 74, which makes teachers wait longer to earn tenure, was trailing but still within striking distance late Tuesday. The two Schwarzenegger measures that appeared certain to lose were Proposition 76, which would put new restrictions on the state budget, and Proposition 77, which would change the way the state draws boundaries for legislative and congressional districts. Schwarzenegger said he had spoken recently with Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuez, D-Los Angeles, about working together. He plans to meet with them and Republican leaders Thursday in a "Big Five" meeting in Sacramento shortly before he leaves for a trade mission to China. When he returns, he said, he will work with Democrats on a new agenda to meet the state's infrastructure needs, creating more jobs and hiring more teachers, nurses, police officers and firefighters. Schwarzenegger, who spoke for eight minutes, shook some supporters' hands and left quickly. Afterward, about 400 supporters who had gathered began pouring out of the hotel by 10:30 p.m. Duf Sundheim, state Republican Party chairman, said he believed that over time people will see the policy issues will still matter. "Given the amount of financial support on both sides, and the turnout, I think people are still willing to go the initiative route. These problems don't go away," he said. About 400 to 500 opponents of the reform slate gathered at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, some wearing T-shirts reading "Terminate the Terminator," as excitement grew as the evening wore on and it became clear many of the governor's measures appeared headed for defeat. "Arnold's message was not the message for the people of California," said Guy Johnson, business manager for Studio Utility Employees, Local 724, in Burbank. "We want him back in Hollywood, where we work." Officials with the Alliance for a Better California, the union-backed group opposing Schwarzenegger, remained optimistic that all of the governor's measures would fail when full results were in, and said the rejected measures reflect voters' disapproval of the governor's agenda. "I think what you saw today was the governor picked a fight with the people of the state of California and they fought back," said Roger Salazar, a political consultant working with the Alliance. "They showed him if you're going to pick on us and call us names, we're not going to stand for it." Schwarzenegger had called the special election in an effort to overhaul California state government - from the way the budget is drafted to the drawing of legislative boundaries. He portrayed the drive as a continuation of the reformist spirit of the 2003 recall that propelled him into office. But Democrats and unions put up fierce resistance to the governor's reform agenda, spending more than $100 million to defeat all four measures, while Schwarzenegger's California Recovery Team spent about $35 million. Polls leading up to election day indicated the unions were likely to succeed, although Schwarzenegger continued to campaign furiously across the state up to the last minute in an effort to move still-undecided voters. Barbara O'Connor, director of the Institute for the Study of Politics and the Media at California State University, Sacramento, said if even one of his measures passes when final results are in, he could declare victory because of how badly he was outspent by the unions and because of polls predicting none would pass. "If the governor wins any, having been outspent 3-1, he can say, See, I told you so." "He can say, The entrenched interests outspent me and look how close they are. We came back from all these polls that said we had no chance in hell." Schwarzenegger's reform agenda consisted of four measures: Proposition 74, which would increase the time for public-school teachers to receive tenure to five years, up from the current two years. Proposition 75, which would require public-employee unions to obtain prior written annual consent from members before using their dues for political purposes. Proposition 76, which would make major changes to the state budgeting process, including limiting growth in spending and giving the governor new authority to make midyear cuts in terms of fiscal crisis. Proposition 77, which would create a panel of three retired judges to draw boundary lines for congressional, state legislative and Board of Equalization seats. Schwarzenegger had effectively used the threat of a ballot initiative as a negotiating tool with the Democratic Legislature in the past, but his results in the special election will impact that ability in the future. "It is important," said political analyst Sherry Bebitch Jeffe of the University of Southern California. "If he doesn't come out a winner, it will make it all that harder for him to get quickly out of the block for the re-election campaign." But, she added, the governor has always been a talented spin-meister and even if only one of his measures passes, he will likely declare the election a success. If none passed, he could still declare the results "fantastic" and just the beginning of a long fight to reform the state, she said. Now, she said, the question will be how Democrats react to the election and whether they and the governor are willing to set aside their differences and work together in the upcoming legislative session. Perata called for both sides to "turn the page quickly on this long and divisive special election and immediately start working together on the issues that matter most to California." Perata said he next wants to work with the governor on fighting federal budget cuts to California, Schwarzenegger's upcoming China trip and restoring bipartisan relations in the state. "Win, lose or draw for either side, it's time for the governor and the Legislature to get back to the basics of what this state needs: better schools, sufficient health care, usable roads and affordable energy," Perata said in a written statement. ............... I VOTED HELL NO TO ALL LAST WEEK ABSENTEE whopeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee |
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