California: The poster child for dysfunction

By Michelle Malkin  •  May 19, 2009 05:02 AM


Photoshop via W.C. Varones

Arnold Schwarzenegger was so preoccupied with lecturing the national GOP about the need to “rebrand” itself and move left that he forgot to mind California’s own business.

Today, his desperate tax-and-spend ballot measures are expected to all go down in flames at the polls. Tea Party activists of all political stripes have lambasted the deceptive initiatives. The intellectually and financially bankrupt state GOP is in full meltdown, having poured $650,000 into Schwarzenegger’s coffers to promote the phony spending cap measure before the state party waffled, then turned around and voted to oppose it and the other tax hikes.

So, where in the world is the Taxinator now? After making a last-ditch pitch for his $16 billion in tax increases at black churches in L.A. (hello, church/state separation activists?) and attempting to fear-monger voters into approving the measures, Arnie has fled to Washington, D.C. today for a pow-wow with Barack Obama to celebrate — what else? — new eco-regulations on cars that will result in massive new costs imposed on drivers:

Battling anger and indifference on the part of California voters, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger implored them Sunday not to make the state “the poster child for dysfunction” by defeating a host of measures on Tuesday’s ballot that seek to restructure the state’s bleak finances.

After years of binge spending, open-borders welfare expansionism, environmental extremism, unchecked unionism (read: SEIU) and hostility to businesses, it’s a little late to try to prevent California from becoming “the poster child for dysfunction,” isn’t it?

You can run, but you can’t hide:

When the going gets tough, the tough get going and that’s what Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is doing tonight: going out of town.

Although the governor has been arguing for months that Tuesday’s election features a package of ballot measures that are absolutely essential to California’s financial future, Schwarzenegger is leaving on a jet plane for Washington, where he’ll spend election day. And he’s not coming home in any hurry, either.

The governor will be in DC for what his staff is billing as a major announcement: California is expected to get its long-sought waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency, which will allow the state to set higher standards for car and truck exhaust emissions.

And Schwarzenegger plans to stay in Washington Wednesday to lobby the California congressional delegation for more budget help for the state.

Important stuff. The tougher emissions standards are something Schwarzenegger has been working on for years and is an important past of his plan for the greening of California. And since California is looking at a $15.4 billion budget deficit under the best — and currently unlikely — circumstances, a chance to smooze the DC-based pols isn’t a bad thing.

Still, would Schwarzenegger be making this trip if every poll wasn’t predicting an election night disaster for the governor’s budget reform package? Things are so ugly that Budget Reform Now, Schwarzenegger’s umbrella group for support of the ballot measures, hadn’t decided by this afternoon when, where or even if they were going to have an election night party.

It will be thanks in large part to both the old guard taxpayers’ rights groups (Howard Jarvis) and the new generation of anti-Evil&Stupid Party activists from the Tea Party movement that Schwarzenegger’s ill-conceived measures go down. But the fight is far from over.

The Taxinator is in D.C. with his hands out — and his figurative gun to the head of the rest of the country’s taxpayers. As I noted last week, California wants TARP money. They’ll argue, as every other successful bailout recipient has, that the state is Too Big Too Fail.

California did itself in. It deserves to suffer the consequences.

Tell your congressional representatives to tell the muscle man looking to pump up his puny state coffers with everyone else’s money:

Not one dime.

***

Karl at Hot Air: “[M]any Americans will chafe just as much at the prospect of paying to bail out California’s decades of inept govenment as they do at paying to bail out GM’s decades of inept management. Obama would bail out California to hold onto those electoral votes, but he will have to worry about how many he loses in the process.”

CK MacLeod: Your official Cali budget initiatives guide. Har.

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Trackbacks

  1. Ed Driscoll » “Tomorrow’s Vote In California Might Be A Big Deal”
  2. In Calif: Schwarzenegger Runs To See Obama as Voters Expected to Trash His Spend and Borrow Budget « Peace and Freedom Promises
  3. Taxpayer Revolution 2.0: Vote ‘No’ Today on Proposition 1A :: Daily Uprising :: Join the Conservative Counter-Revolution!
  4. Tea party? Calif Voters Likely to Pass Only One Resolution: Freeze Pay For Govt Work Force, No To New Taxes, Spending « Peace and Freedom Promises
  5. 47 of 50 States Have Budget Shortfalls Cumulatively Totalling $300 Billion « Peace and Freedom Promises
  6. The Other McCain: They Can Have My Gas Guzzler When They Pry It From My Cold Dead Fingers!
  7. Calif, NY, NJ: Highest Taxes But “Fiscal Basket Cases;” People Moving Out « Peace and Freedom Promises
  8. You Will Be Californized « The Rhetorican
  9. Making the World California | Neptunus Lex
  10. The Obama road to serfdom and the need for nationalized health care (and unrestricted abortion for that matter) « Jim Blazsik
  11. Hey Arnold, we are not your ATM! | Fire Andrea Mitchell!
  12. Rush Limbaugh Transcript: Tim Geithner Audaciously Blames Average Americans for Obama’s Overspending, Bailouts, & Recession « Frugal Café Blog Zone
  13. Schwarzenegger: No Federal Bailout for Calif; Fiscal Discipline Needed « Peace and Freedom Promises
  14. Steele Rising: After Four Years Behind, GOP Pulls Even With Dems in Party ID; RNC Outraises DNC in Cash « DONE (Democrats Over Nominating Elitists)
  15. Ed Driscoll » “California Voters Don’t Just Say No; They Say NO way!”
  16. Calif Voters Order Govt Pay Cuts; No New Taxes, Gov Starts Slashing Budget, Services « Peace and Freedom Promises
  17. California: Why Liberal Media is Failing « Peace and Freedom Promises
  18. The Jawa Report
  19. Michelle Malkin » California to tax-and-spenders: No, no, no, no, and hell no.
  20. No Santa Claus for Arnie: Californians Weary of Increased Taxes, ‘Governator’ Unhappy with Voters « Frugal Café Blog Zone
  21. Watcher of Weasels » A Prescription For Disaster
  22. Bookworm Room » Watchers stuff that I’ll be mulling over today
  23. Watcher of Weasels » Less Common Sense Than An Amoeba
  24. Rhymes With Right
  25. Bookworm Room » Last week’s Watcher of Weasels results
  26. “I Left My Wallet… in San Francisco”: Huge Gov’t Salaries in “City of Pelosi” Adds to California’s Disastrous Debt « Frugal Café Blog Zone
  27. Michelle Malkin » The Taxinator loves his open-borders welfare state
  28. California Doesn’t Get It: Cuts Tax Deductions for Children, Illegal Aliens Trained for Jobs They Can’t Legally Hold « Frugal Café Blog Zone
  29. California Doesn’t Get It: Cuts Tax Deductions for Children, Illegal Aliens Trained for Jobs They Can’t Legally Hold « Frugal Café Blog Zone
  30. California Such a Financial Mess, ‘IOU’ Notes Will Be Given to Vendors Who Are Owed Money « Frugal Café Blog Zone
  31. California: Big Banks Tell Gov. Schwarzenegger No More IOUs « Frugal Café Blog Zone

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Comments


  1. #703494
    On May 19th, 2009 at 2:17 pm, Lucifer Jones said:

    California collapses? Fine with me.

  2. #703497
    On May 19th, 2009 at 2:20 pm, hawkeye54 said:

    Depends on how you define “rich”.

    Rich = having any kind of savings and investments and having income not wholy provided by the government.

  3. #703504
    On May 19th, 2009 at 2:26 pm, bananny said:

    Soon-to-be former San Diego (Mexifornia) person raising her hand here…

    My son asked me what I was doing for my birthday today. I said, “The same thing I hope YOU’RE doing—-voting a big, fat, oh HELL no(!) on these stinking propositions!”

    I’m off to Indiana by the end of June; our new place there is in escrow as we speak.

  4. #703505
    On May 19th, 2009 at 2:27 pm, rightisright said:

    Yup, Auhnoold says that he will be releasing 40,000 inmates from prison and cutting back services like firefighters, teachers and, ummm, police.

    that’s why God made guns and ammo.

  5. #703508
    On May 19th, 2009 at 2:30 pm, California Red said:

    “the poster child for dysfunction,”

    You mean “model for Federal Socalist Government”

  6. #703516
    On May 19th, 2009 at 2:42 pm, Capt Kirk said:

    “Terminator: Rise of the Taxes” could suddenly become “Total Recall” if he isn’t careful.

  7. #703517
    On May 19th, 2009 at 2:43 pm, California Red said:

    I wish the California electorate would stop sending tax and spend Democrats to Sacramento and Washington.

    I am hopeful that a proposed Federal bailout of CA (and other liberal irresponsible states) fuels a political revolution where people say enough is enough. This is not sustainable.

  8. #703550
    On May 19th, 2009 at 3:21 pm, Canadian Mike said:

    Libs moving out of California? May I suggest Canada. A veritable lefty paradise, and not even part of the evil USA, however would certainly be defended by it if need be, much like California.

    I hear its nice there. Warm and sunny in winter too.

    b-cat, go and wash your mouth out with soap or maybe a fruity chardonnay with subtle undertones. Canada sucks. We have only 2 seasons here, winter and mosquitos. Liberals would absolutely hate it here. Besides, we now have a conservative federal government so we are becoming more racist and homophobic every day. On the other hand, I hear that France is lovely and has virtually unlimited social and welfare programs available to all. Plus new immigrants receive a free unicorn (”unimais”?). Honest.

  9. #703553
    On May 19th, 2009 at 3:24 pm, RobM1981 said:

    This is a proud day for Michael Steele and the RNC.

    They have a socialist RINO chumming around with our Stalinist Premier, begging people to vote for socialism.

    Nice job, Michael. You’re doing great so far…

  10. #703557
    On May 19th, 2009 at 3:28 pm, Lucifer Jones said:

    Arnold is in Washington while he suffers a failure here. This is a pattern for prominent California politicians, “Today (we screw up) California, tomorrow (we screw up) the country, then the world”

    We were always worried that he was a manchurian candidate type of governor.

  11. #703562
    On May 19th, 2009 at 3:31 pm, RobM1981 said:

    We were always worried that he was a manchurian candidate type of governor.

    Austrian, I believe, but point well taken… ;)

  12. #703563
    On May 19th, 2009 at 3:32 pm, hawkeye54 said:

    “Today (we screw up) California, tomorrow (we screw up) the country, then the world”

    Obummer doesn’t need any help from Ahnold in that regard. Seems he’s already screwing up the country and the world. But California has been known as a trend leader.

  13. #703564
    On May 19th, 2009 at 3:32 pm, hawkeye54 said:

    “Today (we screw up) California, tomorrow (we screw up) the country, then the world”

    Obummer doesn’t need any help from Ahnold in that regard. Seems he’s already screwing up the country and the world. But California has been known as a trend leader.

  14. #703566
    On May 19th, 2009 at 3:34 pm, RabbidSquirrel said:

    Even if California were to fall into the ocean, those idiots would blame it on Global Warming.

    Then they would probably first save the endangered Prebble Field Sea Kitten from extinction and then try raise all of Cali from the water through mandatory wave powered electrical generation. (On our money of course)

  15. #703569
    On May 19th, 2009 at 3:37 pm, RabbidSquirrel said:

    “Today (we screw up) California, tomorrow (we screw up) the country, then the world”

    Not if Texas is smart enough to secede first. Mexico can have Cali, just leave the rest of us alone.

  16. #703573
    On May 19th, 2009 at 3:39 pm, hawkeye54 said:

    Even if California were to fall into the ocean, those idiots would blame it on Global Warming

    And should they survive that, they’d just infest OR and the newly created coastal states of AZ and NV. If AZ, OR, and NV had any sense, they’d start building their own border walls NOW!

  17. #703587
    On May 19th, 2009 at 3:54 pm, thetoysurgeon said:

    FYI California LIBS, Don’t come to South Carolina either, its ate up with chiggers, noseeums, skeeters, sand gnats, copperheads and rednecks. We are also a red racist state. Its much better to go to Oregon, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania or Washington State.

  18. #703594
    On May 19th, 2009 at 3:58 pm, Lucifer Jones said:

    And should they survive that, they’d just infest OR and the newly created coastal states of AZ and NV. If AZ, OR, and NV had any sense, they’d start building their own border walls NOW!

    Liberalism is a virus, unfortunately, and it follows you wherever it goes. But we shouldn’t have to leave CA because of it, and it will do no good to leave.

    The end game of all of this will not end with the recall, but with reverting back to a part-time legislature that meets 1 day per month. We had that until the late 60’s or early 70’s, until some liberal got the ball rolling (forgot his name — he just passed on).

    However, there may be reprisals from the anointed one, who is with the gov today.

  19. #703596
    On May 19th, 2009 at 4:02 pm, fairyfoose said:

    (Sigh, how do you all have time to read all these posts and keep up? I have too many sick kids to get Insurance Authzn for.)

    I was surprised to see the local San Jose or was it Oakland News Station interview several of the Public who were against these Prop’s. (It gives me a glimmer of hope.) `No more taxes,’ they said, `Cut down expenses.’
    Former State Senator Ray Haines said to `Starve the Legislators and the Gov of revenue.’ It’ll be tough on us for a while but they will have to cut back on programs. That’s what I want: reduce waste, fraud and abuse. Cut the budget and not just the RATE OF INCREASE IN SPENDING, but real, actual spending.

    That’s a revolution that can start in California and spread to the rest of the Country!

  20. #703597
    On May 19th, 2009 at 4:04 pm, Socratease said:

    I’m 4th generation native Californian, work in a government lab managed by the state, and I agree: Not one dime. Tough love, baby.

    But I did vote Yes on 1D, to raid Rob Reiner’s piggy bank. Now if we could just do the same for the fetal stem cell research fund…

  21. #703599
    On May 19th, 2009 at 4:07 pm, Socratease said:

    We were always worried that he was a manchurian candidate type of governor.

    Don’t blame me, I voted for McClintock. (Sent the dude money, too.)

  22. #703600
    On May 19th, 2009 at 4:09 pm, hawkeye54 said:

    The end game of all of this will not end with the recall, but with reverting back to a part-time legislature that meets 1 day per month.

    I’m for that – no pay either or compensation for travel expense – REAL PUBLIC SERVICE. If that could ever happen.

    We had that until the late 60’s or early 70’s, until some liberal got the ball rolling (forgot his name — he just passed on).

    Obviously, what’s-his-name didn’t pass on soon enough.

  23. #703615
    On May 19th, 2009 at 4:23 pm, fairyfoose said:

    Socratease, SCT (Stem Cell Transplant)is part of what I get authzn for. Giving access to the Public Trough is never a good idea. And I haven’t heard that anything other than Adult Stem Cell work long term.

    While I agree that taking money from Rob Reiner’s initiative for State Sponsored, State Mandated Preschool is a good thing, I can’t vote for THE STATE taking money from one program the Public voted for and giving it to another Program. Gov’t interference: not a good thing. We need less of that. I donated more than once to McClintock, too.

  24. #703616
    On May 19th, 2009 at 4:24 pm, vatodio said:

    Any ordinary person would know that in a bad economy you don’t raise taxes, embrace Global Warming crap, Resist offshore drilling, or raise the cost of automobile manufacturing in the name of CAFE.

    My guess is that he is not getting any in bed with Maria unless he agrees to her liberal agenda.

    That proves that Arnold is a real girlie man – aka CUCKOLD.

  25. #703630
    On May 19th, 2009 at 4:42 pm, hawkeye54 said:

    That proves that Arnold is a real girlie man – aka CUCKOLD.

    Gotta feeling Maria obviously exerts her influence on Ahnold. Constant exposure to the Kennedy clan is not for the weak-minded.

  26. #703636
    On May 19th, 2009 at 4:49 pm, 24Klady said:

    Sadly, California can no longer claim to be the Golden State. When I left 15 yrs. ago (leaving my whole family behind) I didn’t think life could be endured anywhere else. What a surprise. It does, and I’m better for it financially. I’ve lived in two states since but refused to vote for the first year of residency. I fought bringing my oh-so-set ideas to the table until I knew more about the local issues that had made that state appealing. My sister had left for Oregon some years before I moved and couldn’t believe that all the people moving there brought their same screwed up ideas with them. Not a dimes worth of difference between any of the coastal states now. So, if you relocate, give the locals the benefit of listening to them and realizing you’ve had a totally different life experience which may only work in a liberal local. With the state now in the toilet financially, they can hardly to be held up as an ideal example.

    I’m surprised they haven’t decided to try taxing graves on a yearly basis. That’s about the only thing they tax once.

  27. #703639
    On May 19th, 2009 at 4:53 pm, Leatherneck said:

    I am confident, the only thing that can save the southern half of CA. is military intervention.

    You Lefturds do not want military intervention? Then give the southern half of CA. to Mexico, and man the border.

    The problem has to be cleaned up with force. All illegal aliens can have MRE’s and water all day long, but they have to go.

  28. #703645
    On May 19th, 2009 at 5:00 pm, T-Bone said:

    Just voted no no no no no no no & no. Extra no’s for emphasis. Very low turnout so far. I see measures like this and read between the lines:

    Hi, we took all your money and gave it away to Teachers unions, Prison Guard Unions, Government Workers Unions, and illegal aliens. In return, we got their vote and maintained our power base. It was a good gig while it lasted.

    However, we found that there is not enough money to go around to everyone that has a hand out (and a vote)so we raised taxes on the so called evil rich to get more money to redistribute. That kinda backfired as the rich no longer had that money to invest in new business and hire workers. In fact, many left the state and took their operating profits with them. When those evil rich took their money, they left behind their workers who now don’t have a job and need a handout (and I need their votes).

    Now we are getting even less money to spread around to more people. So I raised taxes again to make sure I have enough money but this worldwide recession caused by the evil Bush Policies of the last 8 years is now causing more business to go under.

    So the bottom line is I have more people to help and less money to do it with. We are screwed. I don’t recognize that I can’t raise taxes more without causing more business failures and causing productive members of society to relocate out of the state with all their wealth. That just can;t be true. It is not in the liberal handbook where all outcomes are rosy unless evil Republicans mess them up.

    I can’t easily raise taxes anymore. I need to have the peoples approval to do that. I have already exhausted all my tricks like raising fees and licenses, and emergency measures (not taxes hee hee ;) ). If I don’t give the people what I promised them, they won’t vote for me next time and I will be out of power. Then Republicans will be in charge and you won’t be able to kill your unwanted baby and you will not be able to have free sex and government handouts.

    And can you imagine the economy if the free markets prevailed instead of my wealth redistribution strategy? Well, on second thought, forget about the economy for now. I don’t want you to focus on that. You may be on to my idiocy. Please pass my increases or there will be no policeman to save you from criminals (not illegal alien criminals mind you). We now need Fed money for the common good. We are too big to fail. Gimme Gimme.

    Now back to reality. Socialism has failed here as it does everywhere. Maybe our problems are not real. Maybe the CIA lied to me and Haliburton is behind this. Maybe Dick Cheney had something to do with this. LGM told me so and he is always right. It just couldn’t be….liberalism? Hello Obama lickers. Buy a Califonia clue. (or check any red state). Do your homework. Nothing is free. /rant off/

  29. #703655
    On May 19th, 2009 at 5:11 pm, madmonkphotog said:

    I for one have been withholding tourist dollars from California. I don’t want to get liberal all over me.

    In addition, CALIFORNIANS SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM TEXAS. WE DON’T WANT YOU OR YOUR TWISTED WAY OF POLITICAL OR SOCIAL THINKING HERE.

    We still believe in God, Country, and Family, and we want to keep it that way.

  30. #703683
    On May 19th, 2009 at 5:46 pm, fairyfoose said:

    madmonkphotog, I understand your concern. I hail from Mass, my Hubby from Michigan. I have a friend from Maine who says the same thing about people from Mass. I wouldn’t move back to either place. I do take under advisement what 24Klady said, in essence, if moving, listen, take the measure of the place before inflicting your beliefs on the populace. They are actually having that problem down in Monterey. The Army pulled out of Fort Ord. It is mostly Univ.Calif Monterey Bay now. The Liberal “kids”/Students, when they vote, jam thru all their leftist ideas on the old timers there, some of whom are Conservative. I’ve been to Texas (once). Too hot for us. BUT, One does have to escape Cally-fornia occassionally if not born here, to get out of the drenching Liberalism.
    And remind yourself that there are other perspectives besides these mind-numbed robots.

  31. #703689
    On May 19th, 2009 at 5:52 pm, 24Klady said:

    Texas has more poisonous snakes than any other state. Bugs so big (that can sting multiple times) and nasty enough even natives shy away from them. It’s hot/sticky for months on end, rain that can flood you out in hours, or cold with icestorms and even on the best of days a little thing called a tornado can form up and blow your house down. Very few basements, so there is no place to hide. However, once you fall in love with the state and it’s people that Lone Star flag can bring you to tears just blowing in the breeze. Don’t even try to take on a Texas accent either – southern accents are different in every region. They know a phony when they see one and treat you accordingly. Men still hold doors open for ladies, and also stop in parking lots to let you safety walk across.

    Texas is a state of mind, and it is a whole other country. There is a pride of country I’ve not seen anywhere else.

    No matter where you relocate, leave your stories about how wonderful life was where you came from. ;)

  32. #703694
    On May 19th, 2009 at 5:57 pm, Socratease said:

    The jerks in Sacramento made a law applying Kyoto-styled CO2 limits on the state (and Arnold signed it!), but the registration on my high-mileage low-emission motorcycle went up almost 40% in a single year. And now they’re talking about making motorcycles pass regular dynomometer smog test as well so they can penalize their owners even more.

    Like Mallard Filmore said: “Why is it that the very people who keep saying that we don’t need to drill for more oil, we just need to consume less of it, can’t understand the same principle when it’s applied to tax dollars?”

  33. #703700
    On May 19th, 2009 at 6:00 pm, 24Klady said:

    fairyfoose #121
    Oh, you had to go and bring up Monterey. I used to spend a weekend a month in Pacific Grove just to get back in sanity mode. Never could afford a place there but loved visiting. Just thinking about cooling fog and a lovely coastline makes me drool. :(

  34. #703706
    On May 19th, 2009 at 6:03 pm, Member-VRWC said:

    On May 19th, 2009 at 12:00 pm, kthomas8268 said:
    Have you noticed the states with the biggest deficits are progressive states that tax the hell out of their citizens? THINK THINK THINK Obama, liberals, progressives whatever you want to call yourself, IS IT WORKING?

    You obviously have Obama confused with someone who cares about something working. His mission is to destroy this country, not improve it. In his mind, he is succeeding beyond his wildest dreams so far.

    Hence, those of us, led by the MahaRushi, who want him to fail.

  35. #703707
    On May 19th, 2009 at 6:04 pm, PhredE said:

    LuciferJones said:
    “And should they survive that, they’d just infest OR and the newly created coastal states of AZ and NV. If AZ, OR, and NV had any sense, they’d start building their own border walls NOW!”

    Amen. We don’t want ‘em here either for cryin’ out loud! When I scream about the border fence, I’m talking about one along CA-OR border (adding a NV stretch might be a good thing too).

    One of our late, great, governors (Tom McCall-R) famously said: “Please come to Oregon again and again – but please don’t stay” (that part most folks probably recognize, the part that most people don’t is the following part: “…unless you’re prepared to live by our rules”. We have survived an early mass migration from the South, and well, most people here weren’t very keen about all that. Let them bloom where they’re planted. :D

  36. #703721
    On May 19th, 2009 at 6:23 pm, Tuesday said:

    On May 19th, 2009 at 5:00 pm, T-Bone said:
    Just voted no no no no no no no & no. Extra no’s for emphasis. Very low turnout so far. I see measures like this and read between the lines:
    ….

    Hiya, T-Bone:

    Did you send a copy of the paragraphs after the first one quoted above to Arnie and the CA Assembly? You should.

    It doesn’t make a lot of difference if we just talk among ourselves. Tell it to the people who need to hear you. Together with the failure of the propositions today, the Taxinator and the CA legislature might get a jolt when they see how irritated people are with their behavior.

    From what I heard, they studiously skip reading Conservative blogs, especially Michelle’s, Powerline, etc.

  37. #703737
    On May 19th, 2009 at 6:47 pm, fairyfoose said:

    24Klady….Well, it was up near 100 degrees over this past weekend. Humidity was 50 odd %. The natural air conditioning/fog has rolled in. Think it’s going to be a bad fire season, unless one defies the Eco-Nazi’s and turfs over the weeds. I’m still here cuz I’m a Foodie. But, since the Farmers in the Delta are deprived of water for a non-indigenous fish, all our food prices will rise. Just one more reason to get angry about what they are doing to my Country.

    Arnold, you weren’t there when we marched on Sacramento 5,000 to 10,000 over the ebb and flow of it, to say No to restrictions on cars. Next they’ll be coming again for Classic Cars. Oh, don’t even let them do that!

    Who is going to stand up to these two: Arnold and Barack? The Arrogance. I hope the Political Fall is HARD.

    Tuesday, you are speaking what I was thinking: I need to let Sacramento know why I voted this crap down; cut waste fraud and abuse. Don’t be a Girlie-Man!

  38. #703748
    On May 19th, 2009 at 7:08 pm, hawkeye54 said:

    One of our late, great, governors (Tom McCall-R) famously said: “Please come to Oregon again and again – but please don’t stay”

    And, when visiting my sister, who lives in Eugene, I recall seeing bumper stickers reading “Welcome to Oregon, Now GO HOME!”

  39. #703753
    On May 19th, 2009 at 7:11 pm, hawkeye54 said:

    Together with the failure of the propositions today, the Taxinator and the CA legislature might get a jolt when they see how irritated people are with their behavior.

    Wish that were true. The only jolt the dolts in Sacramento will understand is the one they feel riding a rail, tarred and feathered, to the nearest tree with a rope necktie. If only that could be so, as a just ending for zealously ruining this state.

  40. #703756
    On May 19th, 2009 at 7:14 pm, 24Klady said:

    fairyfoose
    Along with them going after the antique autos you can bet they’ll penalize those with slightly older vehicles that don’t meet their 35.5 mpg fantasy dream. The light at the end of the tunnel is that dreaded freight train.

    Any word on how they plan on going after the lowriders, or do they get a pass? How about those modified trucks with the huge wheels?

  41. #703767
    On May 19th, 2009 at 7:28 pm, fairyfoose said:

    24Klady, when we demostrated against CARB (Calif Air Resources Board) READ ECO-NAZI’s, there was some President of a Classic Car Ownership Group that lobbied hard to get cars excluded as I recall. These btards won’t stop. I don’t think they care what Nationality you are. Classic Car Owners of ALL Stirpes will have to raze a raucous. (I mispelled raze on purpose.)(I am off to fight the commute…actually better with the lay-offs and furloughs.)

  42. #703777
    On May 19th, 2009 at 7:36 pm, jeanie said:

    I’d like to see these measures defeated just for the interesting experiment of seeing what will happen. If they are passed, CA can just expect more of the same ole, same ole! I hope they realize this.

  43. #703815
    On May 19th, 2009 at 8:36 pm, Papa Louie said:

    Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger implored them Sunday not to make the state “the poster child for dysfunction”

    Arnold’s comment reminded me of something I read last month. After a little searching I found the excerpt I saved on my computer. California has gone from being a “laboratory” for Democratic policies to the “poster child for dysfunction” in 7 short years. (Isn’t there something in the Bible about 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of famine? Or was that just a dream…)

    Anyway, if you didn’t read Ann Coulter’s piece on April 15th, it’s well worth it. If you’re a democrat from California, be warned, this is gonna leave a mark:

    OBAMA’S RECIPE FOR CHANGE NOT MY CUP OF TEA

    … California tried the Obama soak-the-productive “stimulus” plan years ago and was hailed as the perfect exemplar of Democratic governance.

    In June 2002, the liberal American Prospect magazine called California a “laboratory” for Democratic policies, noting that “California is the only one of the nation’s 10 largest states that is uniformly under Democratic control.”

    They said this, mind you, as if it were a good thing. In California, the article proclaimed, “the next New Deal is in tryouts.” As they say in show biz: “Thanks, we’ll call you. Next!”

    In just a few years, Democrats had turned California into a state — or as it’s now known, a “job-free zone” — with a $41 billion deficit, a credit rating that was slashed to junk-bond status and a middle class now located in Arizona.

    Democrats governed California the way Democrats always govern. They bought the votes of government workers with taxpayer-funded jobs, salaries and benefits — and then turned around and accused the productive class of “greed” for wanting not to have their taxes raised through the roof.

    Having run out of things to tax, now the California legislature is considering a tax on taxes. Seriously. The only way out now for California is a tax on Botox and steroids. Sure, the governor will protest, but it is the best solution …

    California was, in fact, a laboratory of Democratic policies. The rabbit died, so now Obama is trying it on a national level.

    That’s what the tea parties are about.

    – Ann Coulter, Apr 15, 2009

  44. #703833
    On May 19th, 2009 at 9:19 pm, danigon said:

    We left California in 2003. Praise the Lord. it was the Disfunctional poster child then and still is. That was when they were getting rid of tax paying Aerospace workers and voted in king davis and other despicable people. the biggest problem is the STATE LEGISLATURE believe it or not. They are controlled by perverts and liberals and other assorted idiots.

  45. #703836
    On May 19th, 2009 at 9:22 pm, Papa Louie said:

    What’s become apparent from the California debacle is that government is perhaps capable of doing a little bit for everyone, or everything for a few. But liberalism’s golden promise of an efficient government that does everything for everyone is nothing but a pipe dream – and an expensive, destructive one at that.
    –Carol Platt Liebau

    Or, as Abraham Lincoln might have said it:

    The government may do everything for all of the people some of the time; it can even do it for some of the people all of the time; but it can’t do it for all of the people all of the time.

  46. #703864
    On May 19th, 2009 at 10:12 pm, GladzKravtz said:

    We shoulda known…dude is married to a Kennedy….

  47. #703870
    On May 19th, 2009 at 10:27 pm, jangar said:

    However, we found that there is not enough money to go around to everyone that has a hand out (and a vote)so we raised taxes on the so called evil rich to get more money to redistribute.

    Bad shot…you missed the Hollyweirdos.

  48. #703887
    On May 19th, 2009 at 10:50 pm, WestCoastCoconut said:

    Schwarzenegger is leaving on a jet plane for Washington, where he’ll spend election day. And he’s not coming home in any hurry, either.

    What the Heck I thought he cared about the environment and he is flying to DC???How big is that carbon footprint? Why is not BO lecturing him on being eco friendly, Oh I guess that only applies only to CEOs of the big three and not to the california rock star politicians.

  49. #703897
    On May 19th, 2009 at 11:07 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

    After making a last-ditch pitch for his $16 billion in tax increases at black churches in L.A. (hello, church/state separation activists?)

    I’m fairly sure that Michelle is simply trying to point out that church/state separation activists didn’t have a problem with this.

    I certainly hope that Michelle is not trying to imply that the 1st Amendment prohibits politicians from speaking in churches…
    because it most certainly does not prohibit that.

    I’ve had enough of seeing:

    The First Amendment Turned Upside-Down

  50. #703931
    On May 19th, 2009 at 11:51 pm, The Ugly American said:

    The polls have closed and so far it’s looking like everything but 1F will go down in defeat

  51. #703938
    On May 19th, 2009 at 11:59 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    Now lets see some Conservative operatives go into mainly white churches and argue against tax and spend policies of the Left and see who screams.

  52. #703942
    On May 20th, 2009 at 12:15 am, Right By-The-Sea said:

    The husband and I both voted “no” on all the Props today. We’re relative newcomers to the CA “scene,” having relocated here for a much-needed job three years ago. Won’t be able to leave for several more years, for various good reasons, but we aren’t planning on retiring here. We won’t be going back to our “native” Illinois, either. Talk about a screwed-up state…

  53. #703943
    On May 20th, 2009 at 12:19 am, tonyr951 said:

    RESULTS

    I LIKE IT :)

  54. #703953
    On May 20th, 2009 at 12:58 am, Joy said:

    YES!

    I mean NO! :)

    Down in flames………. Too bad Taxinator!

  55. #703954
    On May 20th, 2009 at 1:01 am, Joy said:

    I’m fairly sure that Michelle is simply trying to point out that church/state separation activists didn’t have a problem with this.

    IITRP – That is correct. She’s simply pointing out the usual hypocrisy of the left.

  56. #703963
    On May 20th, 2009 at 2:20 am, greenLibertarian said:

    One saving grace for Arnold: the last set of initiatives several years ago were in part reductions in union worker compensation. The unions affected and their allies, including a nurses union, outspent him by ~5-1 and the measures were defeated soundly.

    He seemed to get the impression that the voters wanted to maintain the exorbitant union wages and perhaps other expenditures, and flipped into a liberal spending mode.

  57. #703968
    On May 20th, 2009 at 3:02 am, graysonret said:

    Even if the initiatives are voted down, I wonder how long it will take a judge to rule the vote invalid and allow them to go through anyway?

  58. #703971
    On May 20th, 2009 at 3:47 am, greenLibertarian said:

    Just watched Glenn Beck, who called it perfectly.

    Other more fiscally responsible states will be forced to bail out California. Maybe the voters were smart enough to prefer that non-Californians pay instead of them???

  59. #703975
    On May 20th, 2009 at 4:43 am, RetFireman said:

    There are 800 registered voters in my Precinct. I did not vote until 6:05pm on my way to my daughter’s band recital. (She plays flute. There was not any more proud of a father in the entire auditorium…guaranteed…than me)

    At 6:05pm, the two ladies and one gentlemen who were manning the polls told me I was only the 39th person to come and vote.

    I live in an area that is mostly elderly, in the largest Republican County in Northern California. If only 39 out of 800 bothered to show up in this precinct…and from the numbers, not many more anywhere else…it goes to show just what a lesson in abject failure the Governator truly is.

    He most definitely let everyone down. He ended up being nothing more than what he replaced. The deficit is even larger now than what it was that got the entire “Recall” thing started. He ran as a Republican and ended up being nothing more than a puppet for the Liberal Democrats who have run this State…the 5th largest economy in the world…into the sewer.

    It will take decades for California to recover…if it ever does. Just consider us a picture of what lies in store for the rest of the country after 4 years of the Democrats and Uber-Libs running Washington.

    You have now seen the future…and it is…

  60. #703976
    On May 20th, 2009 at 4:51 am, greenLibertarian said:

    Well, I think everyone should vote, staying at home accomplishes nothing.

    As George Carlin said, maybe the politicians aren’t what suck, maybe it’s the public. If everyone became informed and voted sensibly, in all elections, California and everywhere else might have much better politicians.

  61. #704002
    On May 20th, 2009 at 8:17 am, jbh45 said:

    Just as I hoped: 1a through 1e – no, 1f – yes. Now the legislators need to get back to Sacro-mental and CUT the budget! NO MORE TAXES!

  62. #704008
    On May 20th, 2009 at 8:35 am, thetoysurgeon said:

    Well its over and California slips slowly into the sea. I am sure Obama will give that RINO Arnold some tied up money. California will become the first “true” State of the State.”.

    I love this line from Noreen Evans,

    Obviously, it’s disappointing,” said Democratic Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, chairwoman of the Assembly Budget Committee. “But I think the voters are sending a message that they believe the budget is the job of the governor and Legislature. We probably need to go back and do our job.”

    Ya think? If you were doing your job in the first place this probably wouldn’t be happening to the great state of California.

  63. #704020
    On May 20th, 2009 at 8:50 am, JusDreamin said:

    Well, the good news is these POS proprositions were soundly defeated. The bad news is turnout was pathetic, truly pathetic. I had hoped that more would realize how important it is to send a clear message, not only to Sacramento, but indeed to the rest of the country. Not so far off to 2010, we really REALLY need to keep up the interest and focus. Momentum counts big time…

  64. #704026
    On May 20th, 2009 at 8:54 am, thetoysurgeon said:

    When you take care of another country’s population without any contribution from them to the state you are going to eventually run out of money.

  65. #704301
    On May 20th, 2009 at 12:50 pm, jwm said:

    I always have to laugh when I read or hear a Oregonian complain about Californians or other foreigners moving to their state. For the record, I was born in Eugene, went to the Univ of Oregon, my father was born and raised in Portland, my Grandfather was born and raised in Oregon and his father immigrated from Lebanon. The attitude is we’re here now and we’re closing the door. Pathetic. The people who foot most of the bills in Oregon are the people who own homes. Property taxes are either the highest or near the highest in the country. I’m sure the people living in apartments appreciate that fact when they vote for more taxes. The politicians in Salem are anxious to legislate you out of your cars and onto light rail or a bicycle. Almost anything that isn’t politically correct is labeled “hate speach.” It has right to die laws aka killing by MD’s. So, Oregonians, try not to be too smug about California when your State is about to go morally and fiscally bankrupt as well.

  66. #704353
    On May 20th, 2009 at 1:35 pm, corona said:

    It turns out Big Labor’s contribution doesn’t always get it what it wants.

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Ridiculous “RAAAACISM” charge of the day

November 4, 2009 02:05 PM by Michelle Malkin

82 Comments | 3 Trackbacks

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November 3, 2009 11:07 PM by Michelle Malkin

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“Knock and drag.”

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November 2, 2009 04:15 PM by Michelle Malkin

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Visitor logs: Knock, knock, knockin’ on Barry’s door

November 2, 2009 09:51 AM by Michelle Malkin

113 Comments | 1 Trackback

Who’s there?

How Scozzafava repays NRCC and RNC

November 1, 2009 05:54 PM by Michelle Malkin

155 Comments | 11 Trackbacks

ACORN and friends diagram of the day

October 29, 2009 12:19 PM by Michelle Malkin

23 Comments | 2 Trackbacks

Newt for 2012? No, thanks.

October 26, 2009 09:47 AM by Michelle Malkin

135 Comments | 7 Trackbacks


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