Arnie loses out .Hasta La Vesta Baby.
 

Schwarzenegger Suffers Major Defeat at the Polls
All Four Ballot Initiatives Fail
By MICHAEL R. BLOOD , AP

LOS ANGELES (Nov. 9) - In a stinging rebuke from voters who elected him two years ago, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's efforts to reshape state government were rejected during a special election that darkened his prospects for a second term.

The Republican governor and former Hollywood actor, who likes to say he can sell anything, on Tuesday saw all four of his signature ballot proposals rejected.

The election pitted the once-dominant Republican governor against two of California's powerhouse political forces - public employee unions and Democrats who control the Legislature.

The unions spent millions of dollars to beat Schwarzenegger's propositions to limit the use of their member dues for political purposes, cap state spending, redraw legislative districts and restrict public school teacher tenure.

It was a sobering evening for a man once considered among the most popular politicians in America. The contest represented the biggest test yet of a faltering Schwarzenegger's leadership.

Voters overwhelmingly defeated Proposition 76, the governor's centerpiece proposal to slow the growth of state spending. Proposition 77, which would have redrawn legislative and congressional districts, was knocked down by a similar margin.

Failing by slimmer spreads were Proposition 74, a plan to make teachers work longer to achieve tenure, and Proposition 73, which would have restricted political spending by public employee unions.

Poll after poll showed it was an election that Californians didn't want, with a total lineup of eight initiatives that didn't connect with every day issues such as gas prices, housing costs and the war in Iraq.

Schwarzenegger's conflict with the unions made him a target for teachers, nurses and firefighters. Their television advertising blitz helped push his popularity ratings to record lows.

Union leaders and Democrats who opposed the governor chanted "sweep, sweep" at their Sacramento victory party. "I'm very grateful to Arnold Schwarzenegger for really working people up," said Deborah Burger, president of the California Nurses Association.

Schwarzenegger's proposals to curb spending and weaken unions inflamed passions on both sides, partly because of the election's roughly $50 million cost in a state that repeatedly faces budget shortfalls.

Appearing before supporters at a Beverly Hills hotel after learning that at least two of his initiatives had failed, a smiling governor did not concede defeat.

"Tomorrow, we begin anew," Schwarzenegger said, his wife Maria Shriver beside him. "I feel the same tonight as that night two years ago ... You know with all my heart, I want to do the right thing for the people of California."

Though some of the measures were complex, Schwarzenegger cast the election in simple terms: Support him and the state moves forward - vote no and protect a broken system of government in Sacramento.

"I guess I didn't do a good enough job to convince them otherwise," the governor said of voters.

Tim Wong, 48, an independent from Belmont, called the election "a waste of the meager money we have."

"These propositions were a diversion from the important issues," Wong said. "It's all show and no substance."
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prop 75 was too close to call but losing .I hope it does. And next year maybe Arnie won't be saying "I''l be back':laugh:

Can I hear a Yea Brother? What a colossal waste of taxpayer monies.:mad:
Im glad 75 lost, Im a Public Employee/Union Member and the idea he would prevent the Unions from having a political voice just steams me up! Also the proposition to change how California's districts....Im glad that went down in flames :nod:
here's a link to the CA State Election Results (CA Secretary of State)

i thought the whole state idiots for voting him in the 1st place:shrug: ~

I voted for Gray Davis. I hated what the spinmeisters did to him. He was a victim of the GOP hate machine and Enron's greed. I wonder how that lawsuit is going (CA vs. Enron). I keep seeing the MisCount from Arnold's Neighborhood when I think of Enron now! that little video is too funny :nod:

hey my brother voted for gray davis also:nod: ~

That steams me up too. It's unbelievable that he thought he could get these things through.

I VOTED AGAINST THIS CRAP. I also voted against Arnold in the beginning. What a joke. This state already produced that idiot Reagan. Enough damage done there.

It's not as if he was unanimously elected...I sure as hell didn't vote for him. I thought the incumbent at the time (the aforementioned Gray Davis...or wait, was that actually Orel Hersheiser?) was doing a pretty fine job, for being railroaded.

Gray Davis was kind of an idiot in my opinion. He had a very weak presence and a classic demo namby pamby manner. But, he took the fall for the energy disaster when Enron (Bush buddies ALL) sucked billions out of California during the rigged blackouts of a few years ago. The republicans are trying to get this state, but we just won't let them have it.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c8...093f49e521.jpg
Vuck all you cod-am, voters!

Rock on with your bad self.

Far and away the best governor California had since Jerry Brown. You want Deukmejian or Pete Wilson back? Didn't think so.

YESSS!!!!:]


Why, oh why, couldn't we have ended up in California instead of Texas? :p

I was here when Pete Wilson was in power, and I wasn't that fond of him. I thought he was an arrogant republican prick. Was Davis better ? Yeah. But I still didn't like him. He pretty much embodies everything I don't like about the democrats. These days both parties sicken me. The only difference being the dems sicken me because they are wimpy, silly and poisoned by pc rhetoric. The repubs are so without conviction and minds, completely bought and paid for by religious fanatics and big business that they are cartoons of actual human beings. Neither party gets anything done, they are so damned busy vilifying and fighting with one another.

Great article from the LA Times:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...home-headlines