Semi-Daily Journal

Hey, I don't live in CA. So I don't get hit with the fallout. But Hey, we are very very happy that the largest state in the union is putting pressure on the administration to finallly adopt a sound fiscal policy that gives money to the States. Maybe after having a Gray Davis moment (onstage w/ Bush getting no help with Enron attacks) the Terminator will seek to terminate Bush in 2004. Dream on!!!

I do live in California--I was born here in 1968--and I do indeed love my state. But I am profoundly relieved to hear this. It would have been curious to see the federal government awarding our state $30 billion or so just because we elected a GOP governor. I mean, the president can't do that, can he?

Not to sound like an idiot, but can he?

Is Mr. Schwarzenegger really an adult?

Yes, the Congress and the President could vote to give $30 billion in federal payments to a state with a population of more than 30 million people and a long seacoast on the Pacific Ocean.

How House Majority Leader Delay would then explain this to the voters of Texas, how Senate Majority Leader Frist would then explain this to the voters of Tennessee--these would be very fun to watch.

Watch the Republican political establishment in Washington and in every other state flee this proposal of our governor-elect like bats out of hell...

The Democrats should hold Arnold's feet to the fire on this pledge. For three years now, and following in the footsteps of his father, current President Bush has thumbed his nose at California. All that money those Texans stole gaming our electricity market would go a long way toward mending this state's finances. Will Arnold speak for California to Bush or speak as a Republican to Bush? Will Arnold press the case that Enron rigged FERC, which turned a blind eye to the plight of California for the benefit of Texas cronies, or will be roll over. Will he make the case that more homeland security money come to California rather than Wyoming? Finally, can be persuade the Congressional Republicans from California that if the California caucus (Dems and Reps) hold together, then the South and Midwest get nothing until Califorina is taken care of first. The Republicans are fond of justifying tax cuts with the phrase: it's our money in the first place, we just want to give it back. Well, California I keep reading pays more to the federal coffers than it gets back. We want our money back. It's our money, afterall. Take it back from Florida, Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, Nebraska and Kentucky, etc. It won't happen. Further, if the Democrats roll over like they did to Bush, then good night sister, I'm moving to Canada.

I'm actually surprised; I was half-expecting Bush to aim a fountain of money at Schwartznegger to try to rebuild the Republican party there. Guess they're too worried about the federal deficit.

It would get defeated in the Senate 98-2

Arnold is in the same situation that Pataki (sp?) is in, in NY state. The state is very likely to go Democratic in the presidential race, so Bush has little motivation to help them. The senate seats are all Democratic, so they have little leverage there. The only thing keeping the administration from declaring actual war on those states is the prospect of losing the GOP representatives :)

Instead of beating up on Iraq to the tune of $200 billion, I guess we could have used some of the money at the state level.

On the other hand, I am quite sure that there are sizable cuts that can be made in the CA government. The question is whether they're significant enough to alter the structural deficit there.

Apparently the neocons haven't given up on their strategies: they've just cannily applied them in Cali.

1) Pick a hostile locale where you really need some friends (Iraq/Cali)
2) Make sure the local strongman of said locale is someone not even all Democrats have the stomach to defend (Saddam/Davis)
3) Blame local strongman for problem not of his making (Al-Quaeda/Enron-Dynegy)
4) While Democrats mill about like sheep, take swift action to create "facts on the ground" (Move troops to Gulf/Get fatcat to finance petition)
5) Keep cost of operation and aftermath vague(Avoid Congress/Avoid Press)
6) Wait for Left to attack each other (Hitchens/Bustamante)
7) After operation is complete, ask American Taxpayer for bailout.

If the Repubs were smart, they would give Arnie all the money he needed, so he could take the credit for "saving" California, and possibly turn CA into a state where a Republican has a chance at winning electoral votes.

Fortunately, Republicans aren't smart.

People, including those who work for state governments, don't magically become fiscally sober when they receive "free" money. In fact, it's highly likely that the opposite will occur. California needs to get its spending under control. Something akin to the Grace Commission would be in order.