LAT: Schwarzenegger Faces Revolt in GOP (some move to draft Mel Gibson)

Governor Faces Revolt in GOP
As anger rises over the choice of a Democrat as chief of staff, party leaders demand a talk.
By Robert Salladay, Times Staff Writer


SACRAMENTO — With segments of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's political base rising in revolt, directors of the California Republican Party have demanded a private meeting with the governor to complain about the hiring of a Democratic operative as his chief of staff.

The request comes as Schwarzenegger faces sustained opposition from moderate and conservative Republicans over the choice of Susan P. Kennedy. Before serving as a state public utility commissioner, Kennedy was Cabinet secretary for Gov. Gray Davis. She also was an abortion-rights activist and former Democratic Party executive.

In appointing Kennedy last week, Schwarzenegger praised her as an effective administrator who could "implement my vision" and work cooperatively with Democrats who control the Legislature.

But Republican operatives said grass-roots volunteers were so disturbed by the appointment that they were threatening to abandon Schwarzenegger during his reelection bid next year. Others said Schwarzenegger was risking a nasty fight that could cause the party to rescind its endorsement of him during February's convention in San Jose.

There is even a movement to draft Mel Gibson, the actor and director, to run against Schwarzenegger in the Republican primary next year — in part because the success of Gibson's movie, "The Passion of the Christ," could help his chances among religious conservatives. Raised in Australia, Gibson was born in New York and is a U.S. citizen, although he has not expressed an interest in elected politics....


http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-arnold7dec07,0,6041983.story?coll=la-home-local

Pauly Shore's not available?

see if ron silver is available.

I notice his role as "narrator" for Fahrenhype 9-11 is conspicuously absent from his bio on IMDB. Things that make ya go hmmmmmmmmmm...

mikey_the_rat

was the narrator for that..what a delusional twit.

bush was the star of his own media video montage in Michael Moore's "Farhenheit 9/11"!

written by repub hack job, this opine piece suggests arnold should quit the repubs and run as an independent, since arnold is so special and not tied to party interests (he makes both parties mad). Opinion piece conveniently omits the fact that arnold was elected because of his celebrity status as the terminator not be cause of his experience or political views.

I think its a good idea that arnie run as an independent, and the repubs put up their own christofascist to split their vote L-)

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

...the GOP is just admitting that style is more important to them than substance. They are addicted to celebrity, and they say liberals are entranced and beholden to Hollywood. Shees.

Oh, and most of Mel Gibsons films write themselves for future use in anti-Mel ads. The dude is WAY TOO convincing playing people that are out of the field nuts.

It's too fuckin' crazy for me.

I moved here 3 years ago. Love the weather, love my grandson, but Arnold is bad enough, don't think I can take Mel.

someone with experience in governing...no more actors wanna-bes please...stop the madness!

drawbacks..I loved living in California for 15 years and still have a big fondness for it..my daughter was born there.

THey can comeback from this gropenator pyscho shite.

I suppose if I had enough $$$ to insulate me from California politics, I'd move back in a second.

On the other hand, they DID elect Arnold. And that's nuts.

not to mention I was born here, as was my mother. It is truly home; I think I understand the Indians' feelings for the land. Only other place I could imagine living is in Europe.

I'm a third generation native Californian and if I move from here it will be to move out of the USA entirely. I couldn't living anywhere in the US but here.

On the other hand, if Gibson approached it as an acting role, which for most Republicans it is, he'd have a good chance. As long as he doesn't let the inner insanity show through the cracks (as Bush is at this point), he would be as viable as any other Right Wing loonie.

yet the repukes STILL want to draft mel gibson. unreal.

ever see the South park episode where the kids go visit Mel to try and get their money back for paying to see POTC? LMAO - would make a wonderful election-eve showing in CA!!:rofl:

Oh, you meant as Governor... Yeah, do it anyway. It's a sure-fire win for the Democrat. That guy's nuts.

the very same thoughts......O8)

:rofl::rofl:

this thread that I read Mel doesn't think much of bush's war on Iraq.

So I don't he's going to be running as any republican candidate for Gov of California.

arnie, on the other hand doesn't mind sending AMerican Soldiers to die for a lie, does he?

That would get California's gagging. California conservatives can't believe the rest of us aren't as bitter and paranoid as they are. They must be immune to the California laid back groove.

about Ahnold and look what happened.

come on guys, nominate some real politicians!!! keep those crazy ass actors in their crap movies. Now, actresses would be fine except for Bo Derek and that moron mom from Everybody loves Raymond....i hate that show.

But us Calif. voters were smart enough to blow Ahnolds sheaf of propositions that cost us half a billion dollars straight to hell in November. That was widely viewed as a referendum on the guv which is why they're flipping out now.

Gyre

for doing just that.

I know of one nutjob in California that thinks bush walks on water so he probably wasn't too happy that arnie LOST his initiatives. :nopity:

These guys want to be led. They think Democracy is a terrible idea-
They want a King or a Dicktater with religious fundamentalist adgenda.
They want to trash the Constitution !
But I live in Los Angeles and California isn't going to go for it even if they use another AKTOR
--(maybe Orange Counteeeee and Fresno and Sacramento would)

The reason they hate Democracy is because Democracy it is NOT "majority rules" --
In other words even if their religious fundamentalist vote topped all (THANKS TO DEIBOLD) ,
the purpose of the U.S. and State Constitutions are to protect the rights and freedoms of minority from oppression by the majority.

Let's see, what other rightie actors are there...(spins Rolodex...).

he's about as right wing as you can get. Perhaps Vanna could spin for the draft?

for fundies, that's about right.

George beats Mel 15 ways past Sunday.

i like him and he IS interested in politics!

Isn't time for another cast member from the film, "Predator", to be Governor of a state?

wanted to change the Constitution so shovelnator could be Prez?}(

I read somewhere where Gibson didn't think so much of bush's war on Iraq.

LOL, this is too much---GOP picks has-been movie stars to run Calif---no wonder the state is in so much turmoil. What a bunch of losers.

just like a movie star, he goes where the wind blows him. He like so many, he tried the repuke revolution and has failed, now his fickle personality is all on display and the repukes don't like it. could it have something to do with his crappy insane ballot messures that all got flushed? Hmmmm, DUH!

Face it folks, that includes repukes, Dems, indies, etc, the gropenator has allegiance to no one but himself and it appears as if he will do anything he can to hold on to his political seat. He is the worst of the worst. Pig comes to mind.

Here is a message for you arn-old, "it IS a tooooma!" The toooooma being fickle bad politics and you have a huge one right now.

Go back to movies and make one of your crappy violent pictures and maybe just maybe I will rent it when it's down to the sub dollar rental.

In the mean time, be an adult, not a "girlie-man" and move the fuck out of the way, because it's obvious to everyone that you have no concept of how to lead.

THAT's a big reason why Schwarzenegger's choice is causing so much controversy.

just goes to show how shallow the GOP truly is. It's all for show, nothing of substance.

you don't know how much i would have given to see him smash watermelons at the state senate or his first press conference...

he had a plan and everything! have california secede and then ask for a handout from the usa like most of the world's countries already do. and can you imagine the bidding war between china, japan, europe, persian gulf states, and the usa over california?!?! screw being bankrupt from energy thieves from texas, we'd be swimming in pools made of gold! :D

I think he'd do a great job. I'm tired of frickin celebrities.

If I were him, I'd be wondering why a movie I made out of religious devotion has made me into a political figure.

At that point, it would just be pure, complete insanity. I'd be with Bill Hicks and pray that Cali fall in the ocean, leaving Arizona Bay. :puke:

well, in the words of your famous leader ''bring it on''.

Yo, Adrian, we got elected!

Maybe the Soupster can be Lt. Gov.

But how can Mel's wife perform her duties as First Lady of Cali when she's locked in the house, barefoot and pregnant (well, probably not pregnant anymore. Her womb is WORN OUT! )

With segments of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's political base rising in revolt, directors of the California Republican Party have demanded a private meeting with the governor to complain about the hiring of a Democratic operative as his chief of staff.

The request comes as Schwarzenegger faces sustained opposition from moderate and conservative Republicans over the choice of Susan P. Kennedy. Before serving as a state public utility commissioner, Kennedy was Cabinet secretary for Gov. Gray Davis. She also was an abortion-rights activist and former Democratic Party executive.

.......

There is even a movement to draft Mel Gibson, the actor and director, to run against Schwarzenegger in the Republican primary next year — in part because the success of Gibson's movie, "The Passion of the Christ," could help his chances among religious conservatives. Raised in Australia, Gibson was born in New York and is a U.S. citizen, although he has not expressed an interest in elected politics.

"We need to have a good backup," said Mike Spence, president of the California Republican Assembly, a grass-roots organization that is separate from the state party. Spence's group has set up the website, http://www.melgibsonforgovernor.com . "He seems to be more consistent with the Republican message" than the governor is, Spence said.



http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-arnold7dec07,0,6041983.story?coll=la-home-local

surely they shall be saved....

Mel Gibson --ha

to see what he does with Tookie, I hope it's clemency..

What is Mel Gibson's citizenship status?

but never ever trust actors who become politicians.

They're admitting that their ideas and programs are abysmally unpopular. The only way they can get elected is to nominate a celebrity and hope lightening strikes twice--the average voter will be dumb enough once again to vote for someone whose politics they know nothing about because he played a cool dude in a movie and has some totally awsome catch-phrases.

The last special election, fortunately, seems to indicate that Californians have sobered up.

Let's hope so.

Geez. Nominating Mel Gibson because fundies liked his violent religo-porn movie. How pitiful is that.

mad max or kindergarten cop? director of jesus snuff film or co-star w/ woody allen in bananas?

do democratic primaries get such heinous primary choices foisted upon them? i think not. and democrats don't get deluged in ludricrous electionary propaganda like republicans do. i look forward to the mud slinging these candidates will do to each other. i have a well developed appreciation for masochistic irony and things like these entertain me. ahh, and how they pander for my vote~ it warms my heart to think of all the money they waste on me!
:evilgrin:

i wonder if my electionary propaganda will become worth something in the future to vapid young republicans with money burning a hole in their pocket.... free junk mail, wait 10-20 years, instant souvenir on ebay... like twisting the knife, ahh...

He gets going and his eyes start flying around in his head... Baddddd choice. Are there NO politicians or public servant types left in California? God.. I'm so glad I left that state. Even my uber-righty in-laws were admitting that Arnold screwed things up royally.

Bruce Willis is next.

Is Stallone Republican? He should be available once he finishes Rocky LXII.

When he cried as he withdrew from the recall/election race - the one that he pretty much paid for to get off the ground, and believed that he would be the one who would get the prize (the GOP backing)?

A gal can always hope...

Wednesday, December 7, 2005 · Last updated 9:04 p.m. PT

Calif. GOP seeks explanation from gov

By TOM CHORNEAU
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Republican Party loyalists want Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to explain his decision to hire a prominent Democrat as his chief of staff.

The governor has agreed to meet next Thursday with leaders of the California Republican Party to hear their concerns that Susan Kennedy, an aide to former Democratic Gov. Gray Davis, is now positioned to learn critical details of GOP campaign strategy and political policy.

Some Republicans said they want the governor to rescind the appointment and warn that Schwarzenegger's support in the upcoming re-election campaign could be jeopardized if their concerns are not addressed.

Kennedy, 45, served as cabinet secretary to Davis and campaigned for her former boss during the 2003 recall election that brought Schwarzenegger to power. She's replacing Patricia Clarey, who will leave as chief of staff Jan. 1
(snip/...)

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110AP_Schwarzenegger_Republicans.html

Just a thought... :shrug:

regardless of party affiliation" when the person considered for the job was a Repuke . . .

:eyes:

Excuse me, Mel Gibson?

The Mel Gibson?

Is Monty Python writing the news these days? :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

:puke:

The gropenator is bad enough! We don't need someone fixated on torture in charge of one of our biggest states!

:puke:

and choose The Rock or Clooney instead? Both of those other guys are Soooooo last century.