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Schwarzenegger's Entire Agenda Is Rejected by California Voters
Nov. 9 (Bloomberg) -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger lost his gamble to go over the heads of lawmakers as voters rejected every measure he offered to change the political, fiscal and educational policy of the most-populous U.S. state.
In a special election called by the Republican movie star, voters handed Schwarzenegger the biggest loss of his two-year career as governor. Taking the stage as returns poured in last night, Schwarzenegger refused to concede defeat while pledging better cooperation with opponents.
"Californians believe that we need reform, we need change," Schwarzenegger said in a speech to supporters gathered at the Beverly Hills Hilton. "But the people of California are sick and tired of all the fighting."
The election is a victory for Democrats and union workers from nurses to firefighters who worked to quash what they said was a Republican power grab. Opponents said Schwarzenegger's defeat weakens a governor who won office in 2003 and prevailed in two votes on initiatives last year, only to see his standing with voters drop as he heads into re-election.
"It's pretty clear this is a referendum on him," said Fernando Losada, a union representative with the California Nurses Association, as he and other opponents of the governor packed into Trader Vic's to celebrate victory last night in Beverly Hills. "If he goes down, his political future in California is finished. It will cement his slide."
`A Clean Sweep'
After midnight California time, all eight of the measures appearing on the statewide ballot were losing. In addition to the governor's proposals, voters rejected prescription-drug discounts, a limit on abortion and power-industry regulation.
Schwarzenegger had called the special election to pitch three initiatives. Proposition 77, which would have stripped lawmakers of their power to draw legislative lines, was opposed by 58 percent of voters. Proposition 76, to expand the governor's budget authority, was rejected by 61 percent. Proposition 74, lengthening teacher tenure times, was opposed by 54 percent.
A measure the governor supported but didn't propose, Proposition 75, was trailing 48 percent to 52 percent. The proposition would require public employees to give their unions consent for political spending.
"It looks like a clean sweep," said Charles Idelson, a spokesman for the California Nurses Association.
Activating Opponents
Schwarzenegger's agenda was challenged by unions representing teachers, police officers and health-care workers, as well as by fellow actors and potential gubernatorial candidates Warren Beatty and Rob Reiner. One lawmaker said Schwarzenegger, 58, has united Democrats in California.
"He has totally activated our base in a way that we've had a very difficult time activating," said Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, a Democrat from Los Angeles. "We're hoping that when people say we're tired of this through voting against him, maybe he'll say he's willing to work with us, instead of saying, `It's my way or the ballot box."'
The campaign attracted hundreds of millions of dollars from backers and opponents of the four measures endorsed by Schwarzenegger, as well as the four others on the ballot.
This is the first rebuke by voters of a governor whose political career has been bound up with California's nearly century-old laws allowing rules to be set at the ballot box.
Blame
Supporters and opponents both said they anticipate a more conciliatory tone from Schwarzenegger.
"If it looks like he's just going to fight all these constituencies and keep pointing fingers, he's going to hurt himself," said Leon Panetta, a former California congressman and chief of staff for former President Bill Clinton. "People are getting real tired of having both parties blaming each other for why they can't govern and solve problems."
The former bodybuilder, who made his statewide political debut with a successful 2002 initiative for after-school programs, won election in an unprecedented recall vote that ousted Governor Gray Davis. Schwarzenegger cast himself as an outsider who wouldn't be beholden to donors and could end partisan rancor.
Schwarzenegger used his popularity last year to win an overhaul of California's workers' compensation insurance law by threatening to take the topic directly to voters should Democrats stall. Yesterday's vote eliminates that sway.
"He put the gun to our heads," Goldberg said. "The difference was he was very popular then. We felt that we had to go along with him, or we would get hurt."
Approval Slump
The governor's approval among voters has dwindled because of attacks by opponents including the California Nurses Association. His critics charge that a politician who was elected by pledging to cooperate with Democrats was instead seeking to cripple them. Democrats outnumber Republicans in the state.
By calling the special election, Schwarzenegger may have alienated some voters who bristled at the expense. The measures could have appeared on the ballot in the regular election set for June 2006.
Some Republicans at Schwarzenegger's victory party dismissed the suggestion that the defeat heralds another rejection when he seeks re-election a year from now. Duf Sundheim, chairman of the California Republican Party, said voters will come to respect Schwarzenegger's desire to tackle the state's problems, even if they reject his specific plans.
Taking a Punch
Schwarzenegger now heads into his re-election campaign deprived of a victory that might have made it easier to oust unresponsive politicians and cut through the annual stalemates surrounding the budget.
The governor may take solace in history: The last California governor not to go on to a second term was Goodwin Knight, who led the state from 1953 to 1959, noted Bill Whalen, a former speechwriter for Republican governor Pete Wilson and one-time Schwarzenegger adviser.
"He has history on his side," Whalen said, speculating about a defeat before the vote. "His life has pretty much been a series of wall-to-wall successes. This would be a punch in the gut to any politician. So that's the question: How well does he take a punch?"
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To true RDQ, every Kaliforny I know can't stand him. I myself think he has a certain Reaganesque quality about him. We'll see if he is up to the challenge.
Posts: 1235 | From: Anacortes, WA | Registered: Apr 2005
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Arnold as a "semi-Republican" may be a bit generous. Perhaps "quasi-Republican" would be a better description.
Consider these entries in the dictionary
1) quasi
having such a resemblance to another thing as to fall within its general category
adj : having some resemblance; "a quasi success"
2) semi-
pref. 1. Half: semicircle.
I think he "resembles" or "has some resemblance to" a republican, but not halfway, other than in his mind. And certainly, he's neither a "semi" or a "quasi" democrat. Maybe we should consider that he is perhaps yet only "quasi-American" and doesn't know himself what he is.
I really don't like him taking "consultant" fees when legislation is being considered he, as Governor, will be required to sign off on or veto.
Posts: 11304 | From: Fort Worth, Texas | Registered: Mar 2005
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