Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: The New Majority

ASSociated Press: Moderate Republican PAC has forged close ties with Schwarzenegger

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger could find a lot of reasons why the Legislature turned away his public works plan to spend billions of dollars on highways, schools and levees, but Paul Folino wasn’t one of them.

The wealthy chairman of computer-components maker Emulex Corp. – who also is a personal friend of the governor and one of his most generous financial patrons – was just one of the administration supporters who called legislators in an ultimately futile bid to secure votes for the massive bond issue.

Folino’s participation wasn’t happenstance. His informal lobbying is just one example of the close and beneficial relationship Schwarzenegger shares with Folino and the rapidly expanding political action committee he helped establish, the New Majority. Members of the centrist group have donated or raised more than $10 million for the Republican governor’s political ventures.

“Our view of the world links up very closely with the governor’s – you have to consider the governor is a moderate Republican,” Folino said. “We’ve become close friends. I feel like my wife and I are part of the family.”

At a time when Schwarzenegger is struggling to shore up support within his own party, his ties to Republican moderates are likely to become an increasingly important financial source for his emerging re-election bid.

And California Conservatives are supposed to be happy that Republican “MODERATES” are driving California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger re-election?

The Governor has been in trouble with conservatives since the November 2005 California Special Election.

First, it was the Susan Kennedy appointment.

Second, the Minimum Wage Increase announcement.

Third, the appointment of a “moderate” to the California Supreme Court.

Fourth, the Massive Infrastructure Bond.

And the list goes on with the Governor having appointed an equal number of Democrats as Republican to the state bench, appointing other Democrats to staff positions in lieu of Republicans and the California Republican Assembly’s efforts to yank the pre-primary endorsement of the California Republican Party for Schwarzenegger.

So, the question California conservatives must ask this Fall:

Is it in the conservative movements best interests that Schwarzenegger wins in November?

The New Majority’s website is here.

“The New Majority group cares deeply about the future of California and includes some of the most distinguished leaders in the country. The governor is grateful for their ongoing support of his bold agenda to continue moving the state forward,” Schwarzenegger’s campaign manager, Steve Schmidt, said in a statement Friday.

Members of the New Majority “are checkbook Republicans – individuals who are wealthy and raise big bucks to support moderate candidates,” said GOP analyst Allan Hoffenblum.

Unlike the party’s social conservatives, he said, “they are not dominated by religious-right issues.”

California conservative voters are being taken for granted by Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is NOT a conservative. But, then again, we knew this when we recalled Gray Davis.

Will Flap and his friends turn out and vote for Arnold this November?

Doubtful…….

So, how many votes will the “New Majority” be able to buy for the Governor?

Not Many……..

Stay tuned for the MSM to expose the “New Majority” as special interests chasing California state contracts.

What do they get in return?

“I’ve never asked for a thing,” Folino said. “Most of my business is actually generated outside of California. It’s not about getting anything in return.”

Baxter and Folino are members of the governor’s jobs commission, which advises Schwarzenegger on economic matters. Another member, Gary Hunt of the consulting firm California Strategies, is the campaign’s finance chairman. A.G. Kawamura, an Orange County grower who was a member of the PAC, is Schwarzenegger’s food and agriculture secretary.

Other companies with ties to the group are involved in state business.

State records show developer Irvine Co., headed by New Majority member Donald Bren, spent more than $350,000 for lobbying in 2005-06 on a host of state matters, including dealings with the governor’s office.

Perhaps it is time for California conservatives to reject the “moderate” candidacy of Arnold Schwarzenegger and advocate staying at home this November rather than supporting/voting for a politician that is an anathema to their conservative principles.

Will anyone beside Flap have the guts……?