Our new governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has got to be feeling personally embarrassed right now. First, he finds out that an interesting accent and great smile will not serve to torq the state legislature into okaying a budget cap. Even his public appearances to appeal directly to the people didn't do the trick. Gott im Himmel, all the crowd wants is autographs! None of them would contact their legislators and urge a budget resolution, if Arnold personally dialed Sacramento and held the phone to their ears!
Then Monday, the state's bond rating was downgraded again. This puts our rating so low, the loan risk level is somewhere between Robert Downey's bail bond and the collateral worth of Neverland Ranch. That had to hurt. It's like he's finding out how far his personal appeal will take him in politics - all the way through the inauguration.
But neither embarrassment, nor steely Terminator-like resolve, can account for today's headline. What were he and his advisors thinking? No good can come of letting him appear above the fold of every California newspaper, seeming to declare hunting season on our school's budgets.
Most of us would understand if Arnold just made it plain that this snarled mess we call state finances will take more time than he thought to unravel. Why instead does he have to come up with a new Fantastic Plan every day? Is he trying to blackmail the Legislature into compliance? Maybe that's it. Claim to be holding an ax to the schools, and frighten the citizenry into demanding cooperation from their representatives.
"You vill approve a mandatory spendink cap, or I vill steal from ze futcha! You vill never be elected to so much as 'dog-catcher' again!"
Do I laugh or cry? Tell meeeeee!!
On the one hand, I get to laugh and laugh at the people who voted for him. On the other, this state is f**ked.
The legislative hand-smack was clearly a "Don't get all uppity Conan." He's a bigger idiot than I thought if he thinks he doesn't have to earn a little respect with them before anything can get done. What I want to know is where is Warren Buffet? I can't imagine him being ok with the idea of cutting funding for schools.
That's it. I'm leaving.
Posted by: Kimberly | December 11, 2003 at 07:58 AM
I wish I understood politics more - then again, I'm frightened of a personal reality where I DO understand (California) politics. And no, in fact, you're not leaving! You can check out any time you like, but ...
Posted by: pam | December 11, 2003 at 08:55 AM