I’ve posted an edited version of the speech he gave in SF yesterday. It’s not well edited and jumps at random points. I ttried to catch the best points, but frequently missed some good stuff. So, if you have a better video of the speech either in SF or LA, let me know. We’ll post that and take this one down. You can get a lot more information on his Middle Class Tax Cut plan and other fiscal policy details at his site here.
All posts by Brian Leubitz
CA-Gov: DiFi’s speech introducing Phil
DiFi gave a great speech here in SF. She talked about all the great things that Phil’s done for the state both while he was CDP Chair, as Treasurer and as a businessman. She gave the crowd a lot of reason to be excited for the main course of Phil’s speech. She discussed Phil’s help in getting both her and Barbara Boxer elected. She also discussed his commitment to the State and the hard-working people in it. But don’t trust me, watch the video!
New Commercials on AB 32, global warming emissions
Environmental Defense and the NRDC have released a website and new ad on AB 32 and SB 1368. The ad directly attacks an earlier ad by the “Competitive Enterprise Institute” that alleges that CO2 is merely a byproduct of life and or our Wonderful technology. “Imagine if they succeed in labelling CO2 a pollutant.”
Both ads are in the extended.
First the NRDC/ED ad:
Now the CEI’s patently absurd ad:
Eminent Domain Could Land a Mortal Blow to Ethnic Neighborhoods
Editor’s Note: This diary was originally written by “caprogressive.” It is astroturf with no substantive arguments than the “they’re going to take your homes” fear mongering. Unless Prop 90 opponents choose to address the problems with the “damage” provisions, they will not be speaking with our microphone. Prop 90, like Prop 13 before it, would devastate the governance of California. It would slow environmental protections and virtually outlaw zoning restrictions. Whether or not you agree with the sentiment that E.D. needs to be reigned in, Prop 90 is a bad proposition. -SFBrianCL
With heated elections from the top to the bottom of the ballot this year candidates at all levels are talking about education, health care, and tax reform yet the one issue that is noticeably absent from most serious policy discussions is that of eminent domain and the rights of private property owners.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines Eminent Domain as, “The right of a government to appropriate private property for public use, usually with compensation to the owner.” This right has been expanded to a virtually unlimited level in the United State Supreme Courts Kelo v. City of New London ruling.
In fact, according to John Kramer of the Castle Coalition “Since the U.S. Supreme Court decided the Kelo v. City of New London eminent domain case last summer, city officials have new power to file condemnation actions against churches to make way for private commercial development.”
This poses a mortal threat to minorities across the country and especially along California’s seacoast. Carol Harvey writes in the San Francisco Bay View that “Progressive San Franciscans from the Castro to the Tenderloin and from the Height to South of Market are shocked and awed by the Redevelopment Agency’s recent threats and announced attempts to “eminent domain” and “market rate” African Americans, peoples of color and other homeowners out of Bayview Hunters Point for profit.”
In a different story Ms. Harvey writes, “Corporate interests would exile moderate to low income citizens and progressive who don’t cast conservative votes, replacing them with whiter, wealthier taxpayers who vote for money-generating initiatives. Cutting out ethnic diversity, they would excise San Francisco’s human heart. Into the soulless cavity, they would graft the planet’s largest artificial money-generating pump.”
In essence, she argues, it boils down to “predatory gentrification.”
The use of eminent domain to redevelop supposedly “blighted” pieces of property poses a significant threat to every homeowner in the Golden State. Some on the left claim that the government should have unlimited, or virtually unlimited power to claim some ones property or that eminent domain reform efforts are only a conservative ploy to weaken environmental restrictions these are arguments put forth by surrogates and political operatives from the states largest developers who are looking to confuse voters and confuse progressive about what is at stake.
Of all the issues in California this year none are as important as this.
It’s official: Sen Feinstein to appear with Phil this afternoon in SF
I won’t say this is a result of the pestering of Conan and his diaries about , but I’m sure it helped inspire Sen. Feinstein. Good work, Conan.
The event in SF will be at 2 p.m (the Campaign requested that you arrive early to help them organize), Jeremiah’s Pick Coffee Co., 1495 Evans Ave. Google Map here.. Come say hi if you’re going to be there too!
Term limits & Redistricting won’t be linked
Well, it looks like redistricting and term limits will be separate. It also puts Sen. Lowenthal’s SCA 3 Redistricting measure in a precarious position as he’ll have a devil of a time sweetening the pot for legislators. See the extended for more.
California lawmakers abandoned efforts Tuesday to link an overhaul of the state’s system for drawing political districts with revamping legislative term limits.
Democratic and Republican legislative leaders jointly announced that they have canceled a conference committee formed last week in hopes of reaching a bipartisan consensus on both issues.
{snip}
Canceling the conference committee left in doubt whether a pending redistricting measure, Senate Constitutional Amendment 3, would be squashed before reaching the Senate floor. … Lowenthal, who faces substantial opposition to SCA 3 within his own Democratic caucus, said he was counting votes late Tuesday but tentatively planned to seek a vote today.“There are some Democrats who will never support this,” Lowenthal said. “And there are some Republicans who will never support this. But I’m still hoping there are enough who will come together (and pass it).” (SacBee 8/16/06)
The thing about this redistricting measure is that it would likely yield 1-2 seats in Congress, likely Latino majority districts. Reps. Waxman and Berman would likely be in the most precarious positions for the Dems, however it would threaten some of the subarban LA and OC Republican Reps more. There is a possibility that they might be able to hold onto the seats for a few years until they retire, but the new seats would be Latino opportunity districts. In fact, Prop 77 would have likely had the same effect. However, we don’t need mid-decade redistricting scandals like Tom Delay likes.
Good luck to Sen. Lowenthal…he’ll need it.
CA-Gov: Why is Steve Schmidt scared?
(Bawk…bawk – promoted by SFBrianCL)
Steve Schmidt likes to create buzz. It’s his thing. He’ll make it anyway he can…even resorting to half-truths and outright fabrications:
But those critiques really fry former State Senator John Burton — who can get very expressive when he’s angry. The past State Senate Pro Tem, who is Angelides’ chief debate negotiator, says that he’s made it clear that Angelides will debate anytime, anyplace, and as soon as possible.
In a phone call this morning, he says he’s been in contact by phone and by letter to Schwarzenegger debate negotiators — former GOP State Senator Jim Brulte, and attorney Steve Merksamer and has “gotten no response from them whatsoever.”
“If I thought it would have been like this, I would have sent registered mail, return receipt requested,” fumed Burton. “I sent them each separate letters with a separate address, and I said the following groups have invited us to debate — and we will accept every debate.”
“And they’ve have never called back. We’re waiting for them to talk to us.”
Burton says the suggestion that the Angelides side has dropped the ball is hogwash — well, he used a more colorful term. “Jimmie called me as soon as he heard (I was the negotiator),” he said. “He knows how to reach me.” (SF Chron Politics Blog 8/15/06)
Is Arnold upset that he won’t have Arianna to insult this time? Or is he insulted that he has to be on a stage with somebody opposed to him at all? We all recall how he “debated” during the recall. You know, he made Don Perata go on the stage before him. We wouldn’t want anybody to challenge his distortions and lies.
No, this time Arnold is going to have to stop ducking the debates and actually face Phil head on. I like Phil’s chance in a battle of wits with Arnold.
LGBT Related Bills in the Closing Days
Dan Walters (he of the global warming agnosticism) did a little summary of LGBT related issues in the Legislature. I’m just going to borrow a bit from him, and add a little explanation of my own.,
- SB 1437: The Curriculum law. After Arnold’s veto threat, Kuehl has gutted the bill of the textbook provisions. Now the only thing that remains is the provision against “reflecting adversely” in the classroom. It will pass the assembly and will be sent to the veto. I’m not sure if Schwarzenegger will sign it though. There are pressures on him from both the left and the right on this one.
The ironicly named Campaign for Children and Families has their spin on the “reflecting adversely”, which I find pretty humorous:
As a result, several school activities will be deemed to “reflect adversely” on transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality:
• School proms (Prom “kings” and “queens” could not be gender-specific)
• Gender-specific sports (“Boys Basketball” would be “discriminatory” against transsexuals)
• Cheerleading (Can you say “transsexual cheerleaders”?)Personally I love the rhetorical question about “transsexual cheerleaders”. It’s quite the bugaboo for them. Unfortunately for them, there are no provisions against transgenedered cheerleaders now. In fact no restrictions on gender at all. Another funny story here, when the Speaker was making the amendments to the bill on the floor, Dennis Mountjoy challenged even the gutting of the bill. I happened to be in the Assembly at the time. Mounjoy stood up and said that he didn’t want his name on anything related to SB 1437 at all. So, a little more gay baiting from the man who went on a talk show with a gay host and called homosexuality deviant.
- “Senate Bill 1441, also by Kuehl, which would prohibit discrimination in public programs based on sexual orientation, similar to provisions now barring discrimination by race or gender, sent to Schwarzenegger for signature or veto on Thursday.”(SacBee 8/14/06)
- “Assembly Bill 606, by Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, which would require school districts to implement programs to combat harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation, with the threat of withholding state aid for noncompliance, pending in Senate after Assembly approval.” (SacBee 8/14/06)
This is another big bugaboo for the Far Right. They think for some reason that this ends their “protection against the homosexual agenda.” Well, ultimately it works to end discrimination, which I suppose is bad for them. The more bigots the better as far as the “Campaign for Children and Families” is concerned.
- “Assembly Bill 1207, by Assemblyman Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, which would change the state’s voluntary code of campaign conduct to include a ban on negative appeals to prejudice based on sexual orientation, awaiting final vote in Assembly.”(SacBee 8/14/06)
A bill very similar to AB1207 was vetoed last year by Schwarzenegger. I don’t think he could possibly sign it. It would be quite hard to campaign for a gay marriage ban while not bashing gays. It’s pretty much part and parcel of the GOP’s game. Not likely that we’ll see a Republican sign that one. Attacking gays is pretty much the last refuge of the bigots. It’s still acceptable to the GOP, and it helps them get elected in places like Monrovia (home to the Mountjoy clan).
Arnold & Bush: Two Deciders Together on the Right Wing
Lest anybody forget where Arnold Schwarzenegger is coming from, here’s some pictures he’d rather you not see before the election:
The truth is that Arnold and Bush share the same ideals. They are ideals from an ideology based on corporatism and praising the almighty dollar over the betterment of your fellow human beings. They are visions of a monolithic big brother federal government, and a powerless state government. They wipe the vision of the American founders away, and replace them with a vision of greed above all else. It is a vision that finds roots in fear and ends in the darkness of tyranny. It is a vision that is wholly inappropriate to California, a land of builders who make technology that enables the future, of dreamers who color the landscape of American culture, and of hard-working Americans who understand that our soceity is judged not on the richest among us, but on the common man. Phil Angelides understands California. He understand how government should work for the people, not against them.
Here’s some quotes from a speech that Arnold would rather that you just forget that he gave, his speech in the 2004 Republican National Convention. Arnold louldy proclaimed his support for the President then, but now he runs from him. But it’s all there folks in black and white. I’ve pulled selected quotes here. The full speech is in the extended.
The president did not go into Iraq because the polls told him it was popular. As a matter of fact, the polls said just the opposite. But leadership isn’t about polls.
It’s about making decisions you think are right and then standing behind those decisions.
SCHWARZENEGGER: That’s why America is safer with George W. Bush as president.
{snip}
SCHWARZENEGGER: Our president, George W. Bush, has worked hard to protect and preserve the American dream for all of us. And that’s why I say, send him back to Washington for four more years.SCHWARZENEGGER WITH AUDIENCE: Four more years. Four more years. Four more years. Four more years. Four more years. Four more years. (WaPo 8/31/04)
Do you really want to see four more years?
The entirety of Arnold’s Convention Speech:
Text of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s speech at the Republican National Convention:
SCHWARZENEGGER: Thank you very much. Thank you. What a greeting. What a greeting. Wow. This is like winning an Oscar — as if I would know.
(LAUGHTER)
Speaking of acting, one of my movies was called “True Lies.” And that’s what the Democrats should have called their convention.
(APPLAUSE)
You know, on the way up here to the podium, a gentleman came up to me and said, “Governor, you are as good a politician as you were an actor.” What a cheap shot.
(LAUGHTER)
Cannot believe it.
Anyway, my fellow Americans, this is an amazing moment for me. To think that a once-scrawny boy from Austria could grow up to become governor of the state of California and then stand here…
(APPLAUSE)
… then stand here in Madison Square Garden and speak on behalf of the president of the United States — that is an immigrant’s dream.
(APPLAUSE)
SCHWARZENEGGER: It is the American dream.
You know, I was born in Europe and I’ve traveled all over the world. And I can tell you that there is no place, no country, more compassionate, more generous, more accepting and more welcoming than the United States of America.
(APPLAUSE)
As long as I live, I will never forget that day 21 years ago when I raised my right hand and took the oath of citizenship. Do you know how proud I was? I was so proud that I walked around with an American flag around my shoulders all day long.
(APPLAUSE)
Tonight, I want to talk to you about why I’m even more proud to be an American — why I’m proud to be a Republican — and why I believe this country is in good hands.
(APPLAUSE)
When I was a boy, the Soviets occupied part of Austria.
SCHWARZENEGGER: I saw their tanks in the streets. I saw Communism with my own eyes. I remember the fear we had when we had to cross into the Soviet sector.
Growing up, we were told, “Don’t look the soldiers in the eye. Just look straight ahead.” It was a common belief that Soviet soldiers could take a man out of his own car and ship him back to the Soviet Union as slave labor.
Now, my family didn’t have a car. But one day we were in my uncle’s car. It was near dark as we came to the Soviet checkpoint. I was a little boy. I was not an action hero back then.
(LAUGHTER)
But I remember. I remember how scared I was that the soldiers would pull my father or my uncle out of the car and I would never see them again. My family and so many others lived in fear of the Soviet boot. Today, the world no longer fears the Soviet Union, and it is because of the United States of America.
(APPLAUSE)
SCHWARZENEGGER: As a kid I saw the socialist country that Austria became after the Soviets left. Now, don’t misunderstand me, I love Austria, and I love the Austrian people.
But I always knew America was the place for me. In school, when the teacher would talk about America, I would daydream about coming here. I would daydream about living here. I would sit there and watch for hours American movies transfixed by my heroes like John Wayne.
(APPLAUSE)
Everything about America seemed so big to me, so open, so possible.
I finally arrived here in 1968. What a special day it was. I remember I arrived here with empty pockets but full of dreams, full of determination, full of desire.
The presidential campaign was in full swing. I remember watching the Nixon-Humphrey presidential race on TV. A friend of mine who spoke German and English translated for me. I heard Humphrey saying things that sounded like socialism, which I had just left.
SCHWARZENEGGER: But then I heard Nixon speak. Then I heard Nixon speak. He was talking about free enterprise, getting the government off your back, lowering the taxes and strengthening the military.
(APPLAUSE)
Listening to Nixon speak sounded more like a breath of fresh air.
I said to my friend, I said, “What party is he?”
My friend said, “He’s a Republican.”
I said, “Then I am a Republican.”
(APPLAUSE)
And I have been a Republican ever since. And trust me — and trust me — in my wife’s family, that’s no small achievement.
(APPLAUSE)
But I am proud to be with the party of Abraham Lincoln, the party of Teddy Roosevelt, the party of Ronald Reagan, and the party of George W. Bush.
(APPLAUSE)
To my fellow immigrants listening tonight, I want you to know how welcome you are in this party. We Republicans admire your ambition. We encourage your dreams. We believe in your future.
(APPLAUSE)
SCHWARZENEGGER: And one thing I learned about America is that if you work hard and if you play by the rules, this country is truly open to you. You can achieve anything.
(APPLAUSE)
Everything I have, my career, my success, my family, I owe to America.
(APPLAUSE)
In this country, it doesn’t make any difference where you were born. It doesn’t make any difference who your parents were. It doesn’t make any difference if you’re like me and couldn’t even speak English until you were in your 20s. America gave me opportunities, and my immigrant dreams came true.
I want other people to get the same chances I did, the same opportunities. And I believe they can. That’s why I believe in this country, that’s why I believe in this party, and that’s why I believe in this president.
(APPLAUSE)
SCHWARZENEGGER: Now, many of you out there tonight are Republican like me in your hearts and in your beliefs. Maybe you’re from Guatemala. Maybe you’re from the Philippines. Maybe you’re from Europe or the Ivory Coast. Maybe you live in Ohio, Pennsylvania or New Mexico.
(APPLAUSE)
And maybe — just maybe — you don’t agree with this party on every single issue. I say to you tonight that I believe that’s not only OK, but that’s what’s great about this country.
(APPLAUSE)
Here we can respectfully disagree and still be patriotic, still be American and still be good Republicans.
(APPLAUSE)
SCHWARZENEGGER: My fellow immigrants, my fellow Americans, how do you know if you are a Republican? Well, I tell you how. If you believe that government should be accountable to the people, not the people to the government, then you are a Republican.
(APPLAUSE)
If you believe a person should be treated as an individual, not as a member of an interest group, then you are a Republican.
(APPLAUSE)
If you believe your family knows how to spend your money better than the government does, then you are a Republican.
(APPLAUSE)
If you believe our educational system should be held accountable for the progress of our children, then you are a Republican.
(APPLAUSE)
If you believe this country, not the United Nations, is the best hope for democracy, then you are a Republican.
(APPLAUSE)
SCHWARZENEGGER: And, ladies and gentlemen, if you believe that we must be fierce and relentless and terminate terrorism, then you are a Republican.
(APPLAUSE)
Now, there’s another way you can tell you’re a Republican. You have faith in free enterprise, faith in the resourcefulness of the American people and faith in the U.S. economy. And to those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say: Don’t be economic girlie-men.
(APPLAUSE)
SCHWARZENEGGER: The U.S. economy remains the envy of the world. We have the highest economic growth of any of the world’s major industrialized nations. Don’t you remember the pessimism of 20 years ago, when the critics said Japan and Germany are overtaking the U.S.? Ridiculous.
Now, they say that India and China are overtaking us. Don’t you believe it. We may hit a few bumps, but America always moves ahead. That’s what Americans do.
(APPLAUSE)
We move prosperity ahead.
(APPLAUSE)
We move prosperity ahead. We move freedom ahead. And we move people ahead.
And under President Bush and Vice President Cheney, America’s economy is moving ahead in spite of a recession they inherited and in spite of the attack on our homeland.
(APPLAUSE)
SCHWARZENEGGER: Now, the other party says that we have two Americas. Don’t you believe that either. I have visited our troops in Iraq, Kuwait, Bosnia, Germany, and all over the world. I’ve visited our troops in California, where they train before they go overseas. I have visited our military hospitals. And I tell you this, that our men and women in uniform do not believe there are two Americas. They believe we are one America, and they are fighting for it.
(APPLAUSE)
We are one America, and President Bush is defending it with all his heart and soul.
(APPLAUSE)
SCHWARZENEGGER: That’s what I admire most about the president. He’s a man of perseverance. He’s a man of inner strength. He is a leader who doesn’t flinch, who doesn’t waiver, and does not back down.
(APPLAUSE)
My fellow Americans, make no mistake about it: Terrorism is more insidious than Communism, because it yearns to destroy not just the individual, but the entire international order.
The president did not go into Iraq because the polls told him it was popular. As a matter of fact, the polls said just the opposite. But leadership isn’t about polls.
(APPLAUSE)
It’s about making decisions you think are right and then standing behind those decisions.
(APPLAUSE)
SCHWARZENEGGER: That’s why America is safer with George W. Bush as president.
(APPLAUSE)
He knows you don’t reason with terrorists. You defeat them. He knows you can’t reason with people blinded by hate. You see, they hate the power of the individual. They hate the progress of women. They hate the religious freedom of others. And they hate the liberating breeze of democracy.
But, ladies and gentlemen, their hate is no match for America’s decency.
(APPLAUSE)
We are the America that sends out the Peace Corps volunteers to teach our village children. We are the America that sends out the missionaries and doctors to raise up the poor and the sick.
SCHWARZENEGGER: We are the America that gives more than any other country to fight AIDS in Africa and the developing world.
(APPLAUSE)
And we are the America that fights not for imperialism, but for human rights and democracy.
(APPLAUSE)
You know, when the Germans brought down the Berlin Wall, America’s determination helped wield the sledgehammers. And when that lone, young Chinese man stood in front of those tanks in Tiananmen Square, America stood with him. And when Nelson Mandela smiled in election victory after all those years in prison, America celebrated, too.
We are still the lamp lighting the world, especially those who struggle. No matter in what labor camp they slave, no matter in what injustice they’re trapped, they hear our call. They see our light. And they feel the pull of our freedom.
(APPLAUSE)
SCHWARZENEGGER: They come here, as I did, because they believe — they believe in us. They come because their hearts say to them, as mine did, “If only I can get to America.” You know, someone once wrote, “There are those who say that freedom is nothing but a dream.” They are right. It’s the American dream.
(APPLAUSE)
No matter the nationality, no matter the religion, no matter the ethnic background, America brings out the best in people.
(APPLAUSE)
And as governor — as governor of the great state of California, I see the best in Americans every day.
(APPLAUSE)
I see the best in Americans every day, our police, our firefighters, our nurses, doctors and teachers, our parents.
And what about the extraordinary men and women who have volunteered to fight for the United States of America?
(APPLAUSE)
SCHWARZENEGGER: I have such great respect for them and their heroic families.
Let me tell you about the sacrifice and the commitment that I have seen first-hand. In one of the military hospitals I visited, I met a young guy who was in bad shape. He’d lost a leg, he had a hole through his stomach, and his shoulder had been shot through. And the list goes on and on and on.
I could tell that there was no way he could ever return to combat. But when I asked him, “When do you think you’ll get out of the hospital?” He said, “Sir, in three weeks.”
And do you know what he said to me then? He said he was going to get a new leg, and then he was going to get some therapy, and then he was going to go back to Iraq and fight alongside his buddies.
(APPLAUSE)
And you know what he said to me then? You know what he said to me then?
SCHWARZENEGGER: He said, “Arnold, I’ll be back.”
(APPLAUSE)
Well, ladies and gentlemen, America is back — back from the attack on our homeland, back from the attack on our economy, and back from the attack on our way of life. We’re back because of the perseverance, character and leadership of the 43rd president of the United States, George W. Bush.
(APPLAUSE)
My fellow Americans, I want you to know that I believe with all my heart that America remains the great idea that inspires the world. It’s a privilege to be born here. It’s an honor to become a citizen here. It’s a gift to raise your family here, to vote here, and to live here.
SCHWARZENEGGER: Our president, George W. Bush, has worked hard to protect and preserve the American dream for all of us. And that’s why I say, send him back to Washington for four more years.
SCHWARZENEGGER WITH AUDIENCE: Four more years. Four more years. Four more years. Four more years. Four more years. Four more years.
SCHWARZENEGGER: Thank you, America. Thank you, and God bless you all.
Thank you.
CA-Gov: Mad Props that shouldn’t go out
Kate Folmar of the Merc has interesting article in this morning’s paper about the role the propositions will play in the CA-Gov race.
If Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has his druthers, Californians will vote in November to crack down on sex offenders, reject several taxes and authorize a raft of new borrowing for public works.
If Treasurer Phil Angelides gets his way, voters will force oil companies to fund research into alternative energy, create a new system to publicly finance political campaigns and reject a new limit on abortion. (S.J. Merc 8/14/06)
Personally, I think that propositions are highly overused. Because anybody with a million bucks can get a prop on the ballot, we end up with this never-ending growth of propositions. Some of this is cyclical, as voters tend to get very fatigued with the propositions and just end up voting no for anything. Another good idea is the Courage Campaign’s Truth in Initiatives Act, which would require the disclosure of who is putting the money up for the signature gathering.
But back to the impact of the props on the race. Arnold is trying to use them in both ways, to shore up his base and get some independent voters. Trouble is, he isn’t moderate, and his views on the props indicate that.
The various initiatives “force a candidate to take a side and they will help crystallize the differences between the two candidates,” said Democratic strategist Steve Maviglio, who has advised Angelides. “In our case, they help motivate environmentalists, women and educators, who are all our natural constituencies.”
Conscious of the risks entailed in opposing potentially popular initiatives, the governor’s team has offered nuanced reasons for some of his choices.
For example, Schwarzenegger opposes the oil extraction tax, Proposition 87, but supports the goals of promoting green energy sources. Aides say the governor fears that the public financing measure could get tied up in the courts and “short-circuit efforts for meaningful campaign finance reform in our state.”
The “oil tax” doesn’t do anything that Texas doesn’t do. Texas requires a cut of the pie when oil is extracted from the state. The University system is principally funded in this manner. However, Arnold can’t piss off his Big Oil friends, so he can’t support a sensible reform.
THe big one that Arnold isn’t talking about is Prop 85, the Prop 73 Anti-Choice Redux. You see at least 2/3 of the state is pro-choice, but Arnold endorsed Prop 73 in last year’s special election. He’s been noticeably silent. One more flip-flop from Arnold. If he supported a slightly more extremist measure last year, you’d figure he’d be all over this like flies on shit. Well, Arnold’s trying to play the nice soft moderate this year.
He wants it both ways, but he can’t have it. Arnold is against sensible reforms such as Prop 87 and for dangerous restrictions on personal liberty. He’s an actor playing a role of “moderate”, and not all that convincingly.