A Forum for Grinches and Ho-Ho-Hoes

[The Larry Davis Experience]

Originally posted by sgtclub
1 word - bold

I thought the boldest thing about it was his continued use of the term "special interests" to mean "anyone who doesn't give money to him or his ballot measures."

I'm curious. Do you see his governorship as a success at this point? I don't really see that he's done much, but maybe I'm reading the Chron too much.

[The Larry Davis Experience]

This has to be tough to read in a newspaper article, even one that begins with high praise of you as the likely deputy SecSt:

But Zoellick is not a glad-hander, friends and associates said.

During Cabinet meetings, Bush often goes around the table calling on one secretary after another by the snappy nicknames he coins for them. "When he gets to Zoellick, he just says, 'Hello, Zoellick,' " one source said. "It was very clear he didn't have the Texas touch."

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-zoellick7jan07,1,6527556.story?coll=la-news-a_section

I love imagining W doing the Seinfeld "hellooooo Newman" to this guy. Part of me wants to think Bush dislikes him because Zoellick is, you know, capable and book smart, but my sources on Bush's disposition are notably suspect.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by The Larry Davis Experience
I thought the boldest thing about it was his continued use of the term "special interests" to mean "anyone who doesn't give money to him or his ballot measures."

I'm curious. Do you see his governorship as a success at this point? I don't really see that he's done much, but maybe I'm reading the Chron too much.

Club is willing to overlook the continued Gray Davis-like budgetary tricks because Arnold is a Republican and gives a good speech.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by bilmore
Wow. You didn't get it at all. That's sort of surpr . . . .

No, it's not. Nevermind.

Once again, heal thyself. Or at least see the humor in your own contradictions, when you are busy pointing out the humor in someone else's.

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Club is willing to overlook the continued Gray Davis-like budgetary tricks because Arnold is a Republican and gives a good speech.

No, I agree with him when he says that all we've (read he) done so far is stop the bleeding with last years debt restructuring. His proposal is necessary and bold (for a politician), and I actually think it has a good chance of passing, mostly because there is no other politician in the state that has any where near the stature he does.

To Larry, I think he has taken some necessary steps thus far. Too early to say whether his term has been successful.

[The Larry Davis Experience]

There was a bit of a flap awhile back about the admin commissioning pseudo news reports to support and tout its Medicare program. People were upset that tax dollars were being used for partisan political purposes. The GAO called it illegal.

The response was apparently to find new and more effective ways of doing the same thing.

Seeking to build support among black families for its education reform law, the Bush administration paid a prominent black pundit $240,000 to promote the law on his nationally syndicated television show and to urge other black journalists to do the same.

The campaign, part of an effort to promote No Child Left Behind (NCLB), required commentator Armstrong Williams "to regularly comment on NCLB during the course of his broadcasts," and to interview Education Secretary Rod Paige for TV and radio spots that aired during the show in 2004.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washing...itehouse_x.htm

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Wolfowitz leaving?

[The Larry Davis Experience]

Originally posted by sgtclub
No, I agree with him when he says that all we've (read he) done so far is stop the bleeding with last years debt restructuring. His proposal is necessary and bold (for a politician), and I actually think it has a good chance of passing, mostly because there is no other politician in the state that has any where near the stature he does.

To Larry, I think he has taken some necessary steps thus far. Too early to say whether his term has been successful.

Looking at the structural deficits predicted for this year and next, I think the bleeding continues, only now we have to use some stitches instead of the debt gauze pads (uh, metaphors aren't my strength).

I agree that it's too early to say if his term has been successful. But I, for one, am sort of disappointed that he hasn't parlayed that "stature" into more of a working relationship with the Legislature. I support his idea that we need to change the way districts are drawn, but I'm pretty sick of his governing via initiative. If there is a worse way to run a large state like CA, I'd like to see it.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by sgtclub
No, I agree with him when he says that all we've (read he) done so far is stop the bleeding with last years debt restructuring.

You think there's something else that Arnold has done to deal with the fiscal crisis on which he campaigned? Something the liberal media have concealed from us? Something the poor, under-funded Governor and party, who have no access to the media whatsoever, have been unable to bring to our attention?

What, exactly?

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by The Larry Davis Experience
governing via initiative.

This, more than anything, is California's problem. A problem not limited to Arnold's tenure, but not helped by it either.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by sgtclub
. . . and I actually think it has a good chance of passing, mostly because there is no other politician in the state that has any where near the stature he does.

When you say "stature", do you mean his ability to threaten other pols with his hordes of following voters if they fail to do what he wants?

(Because I wonder how his "stature" will survive once he has to tell those hordes what the bill's really gonna look like on their paystubs to clean everything up.)

[SlaveNoMore]

Tyrone Slothrop
Wolfowitz leaving?

About effing time. How long ago did I pick him?

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by The Larry Davis Experience
Looking at the structural deficits predicted for this year and next, I think the bleeding continues, only now we have to use some stitches instead of the debt gauze pads (uh, metaphors aren't my strength).

I agree, hence my excitement regarding his proposals last nignt. There are structural changes in his proposals, especially in respect of education.

I agree that it's too early to say if his term has been successful. But I, for one, am sort of disappointed that he hasn't parlayed that "stature" into more of a working relationship with the Legislature. I support his idea that we need to change the way districts are drawn, but I'm pretty sick of his governing via initiative. If there is a worse way to run a large state like CA, I'd like to see it.

Why would you expect him to work with the legislature. Those guys (and girls) are morons and don't have any respect from the people. The people buy in to Arnold (or at least the idea of him). He doesn't need the legislature.

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
You think there's something else that Arnold has done to deal with the fiscal crisis on which he campaigned? Something the liberal media have concealed from us? Something the poor, under-funded Governor and party, who have no access to the media whatsoever, have been unable to bring to our attention?

What, exactly?

Huh? I don't understand your post. I said all I think he's done is bought time for the fiscal issues.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by bilmore
(Because I wonder how his "stature" will survive once he has to tell those hordes what the bill's really gonna look like on their paystubs to clean everything up.)

If you think Arnold will ever do that, you haven't been listening.

He's not a tax-and-spend liberal. He's a don't-tax, just-spend conservative.