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Flap’s Links and Comments for May 17th on 19:42
These are my links for May 17th from 19:42 to 19:47:
- Is This Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Love Child? – News of Arnold Schwarzenegger having fathered a child with a member of his household staff more than a decade ago shouldn't come as a surprise. The alleged existence of an out-of-wedlock son, including his name and his mother's name, was reported by the London Daily Mail in 2003. That's him playing high school football.
UPDATE: I just heard from Wendy Leigh, the Schwarzenegger biographer and Daily Mail reporter who broke the love-child story in 2003, and she believes that today's revelations might be about a second love-child. "I'm hearing that this is a different child," she says. "Which means there are two." Leigh stands by her 2003 account Schwarzenegger being the father of Tanner Tousignant, but if what she's hearing today pans out, then Schwarzenegger's statement today wasn't about Tanner. So while he's still a Schwarzenegger love-child, he's not the latest Schwarzenegger love-child.
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Read it all….
How did Arnold cover it up so long?
- Arnold’s True Love Child: California’s Deficit Problem – And what about Arnold? He insisted that this stuff was so far in the dim past that he could barely remember it. But it wasn't. Today we learn that he had cheated on his wife and had a child out of wedlock just a few years before. His megawatt-smile denials were pure pap, and if knowledge of his affair had been public it's almost a dead certainty that the recall would have failed and Gray Davis would have remained governor. The car tax would have stayed in place, no bonds would have been issued to make up for it, and California's deficit problems would have been less than half as bad as they turned out to be under Schwarzenegger.
That's what comes of running a politically motivated snap election with weird rules in six weeks: you don't really know what you're getting. In the end, the Times was right about Schwarzenegger, and his folksy boys-will-be-boys denials were lies. We've paid a pretty high price for that.
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Nice revisionist history from Kevin Drum.
California structural budget deficits were set up many years before Arnold came upon the scene and were at issue when Gray Davis, Arnold's predecessor was in office.
California voters were fed up with Democrat Governor Gray Davis who imposed higher taxes, including the car tax, sweetheart public employee union contract deals (California Correctional Peace Officers Association) and was responsible for the poor handling of the California electricity crisis, where utility bills skyrocketed – among other issues, including the refusal to appeal Prop. 187 on illegal immigration.
But, Arnold did nothing to improve California's dire financial situation and was inept as he was ineffective.
- Is This Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Love Child? – News of Arnold Schwarzenegger having fathered a child with a member of his household staff more than a decade ago shouldn't come as a surprise. The alleged existence of an out-of-wedlock son, including his name and his mother's name, was reported by the London Daily Mail in 2003. That's him playing high school football.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger: I Was Addicted to Being Governator
Arnold Schwarzenegger is pulling no punches in his first formal interview since leaving office, claiming that the highest office in the state left him “addicted” to its power.
In a recent sit-down the former governor granted to the Austrian newspaper Krone, Schwarzenegger estimates that his seven years as governor cost him about $200 million – $70 million of that in lost movie roles.
Schwarzenegger also laments the fact that Hollywood salaries have dropped since he left the business.
He said his abysmal popularity rankings were “just a snapshot” and that “they would have rocketed to the top” had he not been forced out of office by term limits.
Arnold Schwarzenegger was inexperienced and did not grow in the office. He should have done Californians a favor and retired after his first term.
He was a very poor leader (finger in the wind) and an even worse Republican. He drove the California GOP into the ground.
California would have been better served by Democrat Governor Gray Davis who Schwarzenegger replaced in a recall election. At least, Gray Davis would have been termed out and an open election may have brought some worthwhile and experienced GOP candidates to the forefront.
Good bye Arnold. You won’t be missed.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger: Hasta La Vista, FAILURE
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger discusses the fiscal emergency he declared during a Capitol news conference in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Dec. 6, 2010. Schwarzenegger asked lawmakers to meet in a special session to close an immediate $6 billion deficit
After the disastrous California Governor Gray Davis and his recall some seven years ago, how could anything else go wrong?Well, it did and Arnold Schwarzenegger was it – a colossal failure.
In his headier and hunkier days, Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke boldly about how “failure is not an option.” This kind of bravado worked well in the gym–and in a remarkable career that saw an inarticulate Austrian body-builder rise to the apex of Hollywood and California politics.
But Schwarzenegger’s soon-to-be-ended seven-year reign as California’s governor can be best described in just that one simple world: failure.
Read all of the piece.
Arnold never was able to shake off the Hollywood persona and make believe. He has damaged California and the California Republican Party beyond belief.
Good bye Arnold and don’t let the door hit you in the ass as you leave – Hasta La Vista, Baby.
Good riddance.
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California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Signs Bill Decriminalizing Marijuana Possession
In his younger days Arnold Schwarzenegger smoking some weedThe California Governor, Schwarzenegger, who opposes Proposition 19, this morning signed a landmark bill in the state of California which decriminalizes the possession of marijuana. For those wondering, this does not make marijuana possession legal, but it no longer will be a misdemeanor offense. Instead of the mandatory fine of $100 as well as the mandatory appearance in front of a judge, the outcome of being caught with marijuana will now simply be a $100 fine. The new law will be in effect on January 1st and include anyone caught with up to an ounce of marijuana. Basically the possession of the drug is seen no different by California now than speeding is.
Schwarzenegger signed the bill because it will save the state a ton of money since there will no longer need to be a judge and attorneys appointed to each and every one of the misdemeanor offenses involving marijuana possession. Last year alone there were 60,000 Californians caught with the drug, and in the last decade approximately 500,000 offenders.
I am trying not to be cynical here but really isn’t this a ploy to make sure that Proposition 19 which legalizes marijuana on the November ballot will NOT pass? The fact is the medicinal marijuana law is a mockery and the use of marijuana is very common place – like alcohol in California.
I really don’t know how California will EVER solve its numerous problems with more stoned out citizens. But, the current law is really a joke anyway.
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Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation Declaring Ronald Reagan Day in California
President Barack Obama, seated, joined by former first lady Nancy Reagan, left, and others, signs the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act during a ceremony in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 2, 2009. From left are, Nancy Reagan, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., the president, Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Calif., and Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill.
One of the few things the unpopular California Governor Schwarzenegger has done right.California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced today that the US state will celebrate Ronald Reagan Day annually on February 6.
Gov Schwarzenegger said the move was to acknowledge the former US president’s life accomplishments and his contributions to California.
Reagan – who was born on February 6, 1911 and died on June 5, 2004 – was governor of California from 1967-1975 before holding the office of president between 1980 and 1988. He was succeeded by George Bush.
Governor Schwarzenegger said: “With this legislation, we celebrate Ronald Reagan’s incredible legacy and his spirit of optimism. Our nation is stronger because of him, and it is important for future Californians to learn about and acknowledge the extraordinary work he did for the state and country he loved.”
On February 6, all public schools and education institutions will be encouraged to engage in exercises remembering the life of the former president, recognising his accomplishments and the contributions he made to California.
The Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission will be tasked with honouring and promoting the celebration of the 100th anniversary of President Ronald Reagan’s birthday on February 6, 2011.
And, the 100th anniversary should be quite the celebration. Tickets will be hard to obtain but I hope to cover the celebration.
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CA-Sen: Chuck DeVore Rips Schwarzenegger But Voted For Arnold’s Budget in 2005-2006
Chuck DeVore on Glenn Beck, Fox News Channel yesterdayBut, Chuck, this is not what you were saying in 2005 when you were supporting the California Governator and voting for his 2005-2006 state budget.
So, the question is:
Is Chuck DeVore a fiscal conservative? Well, not in 2005 when DeVore voted for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s disastrous budget. You remember the 2005-2006 budget that my then State Senator Tom McClintock opposed.
I am sorry to interrupt the chorus of self-congratulations, but I feel compelled to state an obvious fact – that this budget is $6 billion out of balance; that the state’s chronic deficit spending is getting worse, not better; and that the growth of general fund spending is growing and not shrinking.
Nor can I join applauding the “painstaking negotiations†that have produced this document. The fact is, in May the Governor proposed spending $88 billion (General Fund), the Democrats countered at $89 billion, and they have now compromised at $90 billion. I suppose it is a blessing that the negotiations didn’t go on any longer.
Let me run through the vital statistics of this spending plan. According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office in June, inflation and population will grow 5 percent and revenue will grow 6 percent. But according to the budget staff analysis, spending will grow by 10 percent. That makes it measurably worse than the plan the Senate rejected on June 15th.
On June 15th, we rejected a $5 billion operating deficit. This budget spends $90 and takes in only $84 — for a SIX BILLION DOLLAR shortfall – THIS YEAR.
On June 15th, we rejected a 9 percent increase in state spending. This budget is a 10 percent increase – averaging 7 ½ percent over the last two years. Spending increases under the Davis administration averaged 7 percent.
Let me repeat: This budget spends $6 billion more than we take in. Last year we spent $2 billion more than we took in. That means that this year’s operating deficit is THREE TIMES bigger than last year’s.
Now, I’m sorry to throw cold water on the celebration, but that is not progress. That is the opposite of progress.
And yet, once again, we’re told that the budget is balanced. But the blunt truth is that it is only balanced with borrowed funds carried over from last year.
And, a budget that the Howard Jarvis TaxPayers Association called overspending:
“Overall, we’re pleased there’s not been any broad increase in taxes,” said Jon Coupal, executive director of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and a frequent adviser to the governor. “We do wish the administration would cut spending more but we understand given the makeup of the Legislature, that’s a difficult thing to do.”
So, Tom Campbell is not the only politician in this U.S. Senate race who has problems with fiscal conservative credentials.
Technorati Tags: Chuck_DeVore, Tom_Campbell, Arnold_Schwarzenegger, Glenn_Beck
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Climate Change, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sarah Palin
Schwarzenegger urges US to lead fight on climate
Arnold Schwarzenegger has urged the White House to emulate California in taking a lead in the fight against climate change, saying “it would be good for the whole world . . . if the US becomes the power behind the movementâ€.
The California governor told the Financial Times in an interview that he could sympathise with Barack Obama’s struggles in securing backing in Congress for national emissions targets. But Mr Schwarzenegger added “it would be incredible if America makes a commitment†that helps secure a global framework on climate change.
“America within 10 years could get 20 per cent of its power needs from renewables,†he said. “We have sun, wind – you can even now get oil from algae. There is a green revolution [in California] but the whole US could be leading like that.â€
Mr Schwarzenegger, who flies to a UN climate change conference in Copenhagen this week, also called on cities, states and other “sub-national†governments, urging them not to wait for a binding deal before taking action to curb emissions.
“International agreements, as critical as they are, will never do enough,†he said he would tell the conference this week.
Well, Arnold has to say something since he has driven the California economy to the depths of despair and has bankrupted the state.
But, his comments about Sarah Palin , the former Governor of Alaska are classic Arnold understatement:
The California governor has become an environmental standard bearer for the Republican party, which is split on the merits of curbing emissions. Sarah Palin, John McCain’s running mate in the 2008 presidential election, has attacked cap and trade and questioned any link between man-made emissions and global warming.
“You have to ask: what was she trying to accomplish?†said Mr Schwarzenegger. “Is she really interested in this subject or is she interested in her career and in winning the [Republican] nomination [for president]? You have to take all these things with a grain of salt.â€
Funny how Arnold has had to leave the country to recapture an audience for his political nonsense. Yeah, he has been a worse Governor than Jesse Ventura in Minnesota.
Technorati Tags: Arnold_Schwarzenegger, Sarah_Palin, Climate_Change
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Chicken Little Arnold Schwarzenegger Warns California About a San Francisco Under Water Due to Climate Change
This tour is designed to promote awareness of the challenges we face from climate change in California, and the kind of things that we can do together to overcome those challengesDidn’t Arnold receive the e-mail about the faked global warming/climate change data?
A British university said Thursday it would investigate whether scientists at its prestigious Climatic Research Unit fudged data on global warming.
Thousands of pieces of correspondence between some of the world’s leading climate scientists were stolen from the unit at the University of East Anglia and leaked to the Internet late last month. Skeptics of man-made global warming say the e-mails are proof that scientists have been conspiring to hide evidence showing that global warming was not as strong as generally believed.
California is bankrupt and Arnold has yet to balance a budget yet he parades around the state touting this nonsense. Too bad Californians cannot TOTALLY RECALL this idiot Governor.
Gad, Ahnold cannot leave office soon enough.
Technorati Tags: Arnold_Schwarzenegger, Climate_Change, Global_Warming