California Insider
A Weblog by
Sacramento Bee Columnist Daniel Weintraub
« Congressional trifecta |
January 06, 2005
Schwarzenegger on the couch
Here's a round-up of journalists' analysis of Schwarzenegger's State of the State speech:
My take: I like all of his reforms except the budget stuff, and I say he has finally begun to live up to the spirit of the recall.
The Bee's Dan Walters: After a year of relative aversion to risk, Schwarzenegger rolls the dice, big time.
The Bee's Amy Chance: Despite the talk of collaboration, it's clear Schwarzenegger is looking past the Legislature toward a special election on his reforms later this year.
The LA Times' Robert Salladay (registration required): The governor "took aim at the lifeblood of Democrats and of politics itself — how money is spent, how constituents are rewarded and how elections are run."
The Times" George Skelton: Schwarzenegger should focus more on compromising with legislators and less on a special election.
Bill Ainsworth of the San Diego Union-Tribune: "In his first year in office, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger alternately cooperated and competed with Democrats, who dominate the Legislature. This year, the Republican governor seems determined to use his soaring popularity to confront Democrats."
Lynda Gledhill and Carla Marinucci in the Chronicle: " Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday embraced the challenge that he has avoided up to now, pledging to use his populist appeal to recast California government while taking on some of the state's most entrenched traditional powers. By vowing to take power away from lawmakers, insisting on strict spending limits and pledging to overhaul the state's pension system, the governor is tackling politically risky issues that previous governors failed to make headway on or sidestepped entirely."
Dion Nissenbaum in the Mercury News: By unleashing a union-driven attack on his proposals, Schwarzenegger may be getting his opposition to play right into his hands. |
