Arnold Schwarzenegger gets 2nd major election smackdown by voters

[Liberal_in_LA]

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-nightvote20-2009may20,0,3498747.story


With budget propositions failing, Schwarzenegger looks ahead

By Cathleen Decker
10:25 PM PDT, May 19, 2009
In a breathtaking rebuke to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders, Californians tonight brushed aside a package of special-election ballot measures that the officials said were critical to the state's solvency but triggered anger and indifference among voters.

The sole state proposition winning as returns mounted tonight was another repudiation of elected officials -- a measure that would ban pay hikes for legislators and state officeholders when the state is running a deficit.

n a statement released less than two hours after polls closed, Schwarzenegger acknowledged the defeat of the measures.

"Tonight we have heard from the voters and I respect the will of the people who are frustrated with the dysfunction in our budget system," he wrote. "Now we must move forward from this point to begin to address our fiscal crisis with constructive solutions. We face a staggering $21.3-billion deficit and in order to prevent a fiscal disaster, Democrats and Republicans must collaborate and work together to address this shortfall."

While Schwarzenegger did not explicitly confirm the defeat, his numbers suggested a wholesale drubbing.

[bridgit]

1. Whaaaaa, Ah-nold!

:cry: not rilly :rofl:

[opihimoimoi]

2. The Gropeanator not coming back??? Oh My ....

[Creena]

3. Boo-frickin-hoo.

:cry:

Repudiation of elected officials, indeed!

[Luminous Animal]

4. This state is ungovernable.

I think we need a parliament style of government and ranked voting. It is time to call for a new California Constitutional Convention.

[aquart]

5. Well, fella, when you all decided not to pay for anything...

Because you didn't like taxes, you kinda forced that situation on yourselves.

[Luminous Animal]

6. I don't know who the hell you are talking to.

It is nearly impossible in this state to raise taxes. And I am a strong proponent of progressive taxation. I am anti-prop 13 as it has been, and will always be, a gift to corporate property owners. I am against the regressive sales tax and for a progressive value added tax (or luxury tax). Currently, the wealthy pay less percent of their income than the middle class... I'm all for righting that wrong.