Originally Posted By TomSawyer (I ran across this on Daily Kos, where the headline writer called him the "One Term-inator) <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-sacto11nov11" target="_blank">http://www.latimes.com/news/lo cal/la-me-sacto11nov11</a>,0,4871512.story?coll=la-home-headlines A chastened Arnold Schwarzenegger took complete blame Thursday for the thrashing he endured at the polls and pledged to be a more collaborative governor in the coming year, offering Democrats an extraordinary role in crafting his agenda. In his first public comments since election night, Schwarzenegger said he would rely far less on campaigns and ballot fights as a governing strategy in the coming year, pushing various goals instead through slow, painstaking negotiations with his legislative adversaries if that's what it takes.
Originally Posted By DlandDug But where did he say he screwed up? If the idea of politicians taking responsibility-- personally-- for what happens on their watch and showing genuine contrition and a willingness to reach across the aisle is so appealing, why typify it as "Schwarzenegger admits he screwed up?" This is the all-or-nothing rhetoric that is making moderates more and more enfeebled in public discourse.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer He admitted it was a mistake to avoid dealing with the legislature to take his reforms directly to the voters.
Originally Posted By DlandDug That's right. He said he made a mistake and is now willing to do whatever it takes to enact reform.
Originally Posted By cmpaley Here's a pretty good article on the story: Governor vows patience, compromise By Gary Delsohn -- Bee Capitol Bureau Published 2:15 am PST Friday, November 11, 2005 Story appeared on Page A3 of The Bee There was no apology, and he refused to say he made a mistake. But Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger conceded Thursday he should have listened to his wife and others who told him never to call the special election in the first place. "The buck stops with me," he declared at a Capitol press conference. "I take full responsibility for this special election. I take full responsibility for its failure. I take full responsibility for everything." *SNIP* The governor was asked why it took such a divisive and costly election, one that saw all eight ballot initiatives fail, to learn that voters want him and the Legislature to work together and solve problems. "I operate with a different mentality than most people do," he said. "I'm very forceful and impatient, and I always have mapped out my entire life a program and a work schedule. And also a schedule of when I want to accomplish things. I always was successful with that." As governor, he said, he's learned the hard way he needs to be more patient and willing to compromise. "I think I recognize that now, more so than I did before," he said. *SNIP* And he said he realizes he can no longer threaten legislators with going over their heads with ballot initiatives if the Democrat-controlled Legislature doesn't do what he wants. "I think that we have to do everything we can to work together, Democrats and Republicans, and then if we go the initiative route like we have done in the past, go together," Schwarzenegger said. "Don't go fighting. Let's not waste all this money, because look at the kind of money that was spent in this election, which is staggering." *SNIP* According to Núñez and Perata, Schwarzenegger told them when they met Thursday morning that he intended to do more than just talk. They said he wanted to work with them on raising California's minimum wage and extending medical insurance to poor children - bills he vetoed the last legislative session - and that he would work with Democrats on some type of multibillion-dollar bond package for road, levee, school and other infrastructure needs. "Everyone at the table today agreed that we need very badly the infrastructure and that we need to address the things that are falling apart," Schwarzenegger said at his press conference. "We should not wait for another disaster and let all of this happen and people dying and all this. The fact is we can go and do the work right now."
Originally Posted By cmpaley Here's the link, sorry: <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/13844017p-14684133c.html" target="_blank">http://www.sacbee.com/content/ politics/story/13844017p-14684133c.html</a>
Originally Posted By cmpaley Let's see if he lives up to half of what he says here. I doubt he will. " Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...uh...can't get fooled again." Or something like that. :-D-
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>He said he made a mistake and is now willing to do whatever it takes to enact reform.<< I'd prefer he siit down and write a check for about $80 million to cover the cost of this ill-advised special election. That'd be a nice gesture.
Originally Posted By ecdc "This is the all-or-nothing rhetoric that is making moderates more and more enfeebled in public discourse." I'm really with Dug on this one. Maybe it's easier for me because I don't live in California. But reading the article made me wish there were more people ike Schwarzenneger out there. He admits it was the wrong approach and wants to move on. It seems there's a damned if you do, damned if you don't think going on. Someone like Schwarzenneger remains silent, then they're not taking responsibility or they're avoiding talking about the loss instead of owning up to it. They do stand up and say something, they're just trying to get re-elected or suck up to the people. Is there anything these guys can do that won't make us hate them?
Originally Posted By cmpaley >>This is the all-or-nothing rhetoric that is making moderates more and more enfeebled in public discourse.<< Actually, what's the most amusing about the content of this sentence is that the person making it is just as guilty as anyone of doing what is criticized here. I'm more than happy to see the legislature and the governor try to work together. I'd be even happier if they actually DID work together and worked out real solutions that benefit everyone and anger the extremes of both parties.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan But reading the article made me wish there were more people ike Schwarzenneger out there.<< I wish he were out there, too. Look, he danced to the tune played by his hard right funders and stirred up a lot of hard feelings by attacking teachers, nurses, firfighters, etc. Essentially, he suggests it's their "special interests" that are hurting the state. It's nice that he's being contrite now, but his unwillingness to take a more moderate stance (calling legislators "girly men" and such) brought on the ill-will many Californians feel toward him.
Originally Posted By gadzuux >> He admits it was the wrong approach and wants to move on. << The only reason he makes this admission now is that the approach didn't work for HIM. If even one or two of these initiatives had passed, he'd be standing there saying that it was the "will of the voters" and the legislature had better get on board. I don't think he's being sincere for a minute. He HAS TO make a concession speech - he lost, big time. But now these sudden resolves about extending across the aisle to work with the same people he openly insulted (girly-men, obstructionists, irrelevant) just a couple of months ago - it rings false. He never made a serious attempt to work with the legislature - it was his intent all along to run this to the public through initiatives. It didn't work, and now he's forced to come back and face the legislature and play nice-nice. He has no other options - zero. Why should the state legislature give him the time of day? He's an amateur politician and made rookie mistakes. But the governor's office of california is not an entry-level position. And now we see why.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh <Why should the state legislature give him the time of day?> They shouldn't. They should raise taxes on the rich and make California a worker's paradise (especially for public employees).
Originally Posted By Beaumandy <<The only reason he makes this admission now is that the approach didn't work for HIM. >> What was in this for HIM? It's you people in California that lost. You are going to have to pay higher taxes and your state is going to stay broke for a long time as buninesses flee for states that are not run by extreme left socialists. Arnold is govenor to HELP you, not to SCREW you. Gray Davis should have stayed on it looks like. the state deserves him.
Originally Posted By planodisney California is in real trouble, and I fear what it might be 10 years from now. Too many California liberals would rather see the place go down in flames, under the leadership of people with a D by their names, than have a Republican help the state out of anything. California needs the diversity of political opinions it had back in the 80's. It was such a melting pot of ideas and opinions, but now seems to be filled with nothing but radicals. The hatred of people with conservative views by most liberals, in particularly the hard left leaning liberals in California, cant be good for the state, or the humanity within the state. Unfortunately, I dont see any fix when we have people like we have on these boards who are quick to assume evil, and who are foaming at the mouth to accept all propoganda and conspiracy theories. "Bush lied and decieved the nation, here check out this web site from this guy who said this. Whats that about some bypartisan investigation concluding that he didnt lie, and whats that about many, or most memebrs of both parties who looked at the evidence coming to, and saying the same things as Bush? UUUUMMMMM, I just dont buy that. How can you argue or convince people like this of anything. And i know that my side has done this as well. Believe me. But, the left seems to be filled with so much anger and hatred since the first Bush election, and hopefullu they will get past it after his term is over.
