Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Governor Names Partisan Democrat Chief of Staff – THE FLAP

Gov. Arnold Schwarzengger and California Public Utilities Commissioner Susan Kennedy, walk to a news conference where he named her to be his new chief of staff in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 30. 2005. Kennedy, a Democrat and cabinet secretary to former Gov. Gray Davis, will replace Schwarzenegger’s former chief of staff Patricia Clarey.

Reuters has Schwarzenegger Names Dem Chief of Staff

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday took the first step to shaking up his administration after his resounding special election failure, appointing a longtime Democratic activist as his chief of staff.

The move to replace Patricia Clarey had been widely expected since voters defeated all four of the governor’s “year of reform” measures Nov. 8. Clary was campaign manager for the effort.

But the announcement of state Public Utilities Commissioner Susan Kennedy as Clarey’s replacement caught many Republicans and Democrats off guard.

But, the bottom line for the Governor is will it make ANY difference for his political rehabilitation after LOSING the California Special Election just three weeks ago?

The blogosphere and MSM is all over this story:

First, from fellow Ventura County resident and paid staffer to Schwarzenegger (California Special Election) Steve Frank:

The Republican credentials of Susan Kennedy: NONE

The Democrat credentials of Susan Kennedy (she currently serves as a Davis appointee to the California Public Utilities Commission and the information comes from her official web site :

Deputy Chief of Staff for Gray Davis

Cabinet Secretary for Gray Davis

Was responsible for the phony $93 million Oracle contract under Gray Davis

Helped set energy policy for the Davis Administration

Executive Director, California Democratic Party

Executive Director, California Abortion Rights Action League

Communications Director, Senator Dianne Feinstein

In the phone calls I received tonight about her, the donors and the grass roots leaders now believe that the Governor is not running for re-election. They feel the Democrats won’t support him, the Independents no longer trust him and the Republicans have lost trust in him. They also note the numerous other Davis top staffers like Bonnie Reiss and Daniel Zingale, the Chief of Staff for Maria Shriver, also a former Deputy Chief of Staff for Davis in top advisory positions in the Administration–but where are the leading Republicans–and will they stay –want to stay–or allowed to stay?

One legislator I spoke with this evening flatly said that Kennedy has no credibility in representing Schwarzenegger to the Republican legislative caucuses. “What happens”, he said, “when the governor needs GOP votes to pass the budget? Kennedy was one of those responsible for the massive deficits under Davis, why should we listen to her?” The question was also raised, how can she work with the GOP grass roots to give support for the measures of the Governor. Not only doesn’t she know them, but due to her previous work, she was what these folks were working against.

Some on the RIGHT are in open revolt against Schwarzenegger and some are NOT:

The San Francisco Chronicle has Governor’s hire riles GOP conservatives ANALYSIS: A move to attract moderates

Steve Frank: “The question is: Do we challenge him for re-election…. I believe it won’t come to that, because this sets a signal that he’s not running.”

Michael Spence, head the California Republican Assembly: said that within hours of the news of Kennedy’s appointment, the buzz from the right included talk of finding alternatives to the GOP governor who has “betrayed the loyalty of people who worked for him in the special election.”

Already, he said, there is talk of an effort to draft state Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks (Ventura County), a favorite of conservatives who ran in the recall election. And calls have gone out to gauge the interest of possible high-profile GOP alternatives, including another well-known film action-hero and director, Mel Gibson, he said.

Former California Gov. Pete Wilson: “Most of them don’t know Susan Kennedy and don’t know of her record of performance on the Public Utilities Commission…. She was articulate and forceful in describing the command and control of the PUC … and she has talked chapter-and-verse of how it affects California’s job climate…. Anybody who heard that (speech) knows she is very serious about trying to improve the jobs climate in California by improving the regulatory climate.”

Wilson said conservatives in the party who expect Schwarzenegger won’t run — or will retreat from a strong GOP agenda — are underestimating a man who has been underestimated since he entered California politics.

“He’s going to run, and he’s going to be re-elected, and they would do better to devote their energies to that,” Wilson said. “He’s going to be making the decisions. Her job is to assist him in achieving his agenda. If she is effective in doing that, she will be a great asset.”

Dan Weintraub of the Sacramento Bee has Another Kennedy?

I think the governor’s decision to hire Susan Kennedy as his chief of staff is a smart move…..

Right-wingers who are gnashing their teeth at the moment need to remember that, except on economic issues, Schwarzenegger has never been a conservative…

The early speculation is that hiring Kennedy will hurt Schwarzenegger with Republican voters. I don’t buy it. Most voters will never know who is in the governor’s inner circle. And virtually all voters will judge Schwarzenegger on his results, not on his choice of advisers. If Kennedy helps Schwarzenegger accomplish the goals he has set for his administration, she will help him get reelected.

Randy Thomasson, president of the Campaign for Children and Families has Arnold’s Left Turn Appointment of Susan Kennedy Angers Pro-Family, Conservative Voters

An open homosexual, Kennedy is a liberal’s liberal with a resume that includes: Cabinet Secretary in Governor Gray Davis’ administration, Communications Director to U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, Executive Director for the California Democratic Party, Executive Director of the California Abortion Rights Action League.

“Arnold Schwarzenegger has become a liberal Democrat. By placing a leading homosexual, pro-abortion Democrat activist in charge of his entire administration, Arnold has taken a disastrous turn to the left. Conservative voters who supported him are waking up from their dream and stepping into reality – and the reality stinks. This is like George W. Bush appointing Hillary Clinton to be in charge of his administration. It’s utterly ridiculous. Why doesn’t Arnold get honest and just leave the Republican Party?”

So what is THE FLAP?

Is Flap surprised by the appointment? NO, Flap thought it would be former California Assembly Speaker and Democrat Bob Hertzberg. Reports are that he turned Arnold down.

Is Flap nonplussed over the appointment of Susan Kennedy? NO, Flap knows that Schwarzenegger is NOT a conservative but a RINO. Is he better than recalled Democrat Governor Gray Davis? Marginally…..if the recall were held today Flap would have to consider a NO vote.

Will the Republicans mount a primary challenge to Schwarzenegger in June? NO. The CRP has no other viable candidates in the bull-pen and it is too late in the campaign cycle to raise the money needed for a media campaign to mount a serious challenge campaign.

What effect will this have on the Schwarzenegger governorship? May help it, but he has only a few months to govern before the election campaign.

What will the California RIGHT do? Sit out the election – like they did in the special election three weeks ago.

Will Arnold Schwarzenegger be re-elected Governor of California? Doubtful, He is TOAST.

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