Squeezeplay


Schwarzenegger is often touted as a new kind of Republican, one who could change the way business as usual is run in American politics.

But to be that, he has to maintain broad cross-party appeal, and there's early evidence that he's starting to lose a bit of ground even within his own party.

Governor's Spending Limits Plan Causes Friction In Own Party
(KCRA) Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's pitch to pass new spending limits on state government is causing plenty of friction, even within his own party.

Some Republicans believe the governor is just not going far enough to tackle the state's spending problems. His measure, which is called Live Within Our Means, falls short of the spending cap for which some are calling.


What's nice is how well this meshes with the tactic that the Democratic challenger will likely take: He's promised us the moon on financial responsibility, but delivered nothing. While we challenge his ballot measures as diversions from the fact that he hasn't accomplished any campaign promises, the GOP will bust his budget proposals as not going far enough. It's kind of scary how consistent the internal and external criticisms might end up being.

"Business as usual" in politics might indeed change someday (though I don't think Arnold is the guy to do it; I'm with Shakespeare's Sister in believing that it will require moderate Republicans to insist on recovering control of their party from its evangelist warmonger wing), Arnold may not live to see it. The love-fest on our side is coming to its long-overdue end, even as his own party is starting to pick at him from the other side.

In order to change business as usual, any support you give up on one side must be compensated by inroads into the other party's base.

Otherwise it's not called realignment; it's called losing.

Posted: Tue - March 22, 2005 at 08:56 AM   | Category:     |   |   | |


©
eXTReMe Tracker