Gov. Schwarzenegger Is An Asshole

I'm not sure if there's a better way to say it, but Gov. Schwarzenegger is an asshole, and so are the people behind the scenes who are pulling his strings. And so are the California Democratic lawmakers who just handed everything California Republican lawmakers have wanted for decades on a silver platter. Wait, California Democratic lawmakers are even bigger assholes. Let's make sure we replace them with real Democrats come their respective elections. Can I get a witness!

Spain performing "Untitled #1" Live On French TV 1996

Let's Not Reelect Darrell Steinberg & Karen Bass

In reaching a deal on Gov. Schwarzenegger's California budget plan yesterday, California's Democratic lawmakers have done more than betray California's "real" people; they have betrayed the ideals of their party and shown what really matters to them: greed and profit.

In Darrell Steinberg's (D-Sacramento) words, they made cuts "in many areas that matter to real people", automatically recognizing, despite himself, a deep chasm between what he calls "real" people, the millions of people who depend on state services to survive (not only welfare recipients, but students, government workers, and many others) and the "fake" people who serve our government in California, who would never be affected by these cuts, but who would certainly be deeply affected by the tax hikes they oppose.

Darrell Steinberg went on to say "this is a sobering time". Sobering in exactly what way, Mr. Steinberg? Is the possiblity of raising your taxes quashing your 17-year greed high?

Karen Bass is no better. What happened to your "high" ideals, Karen?

Any Democrat who ends up voting for this atrocious budget plan should be ashamed of themselves. I hope you can sleep at night.

Charlie Haden Family And Friends at Montreal Jazz Festival

I'll be singing with Charlie Haden Family and Friends Wednesday, July 8 at the Montreal Jazz Festival. Hope to see you there!

Gov. Schwarzenegger & California Republican Lawmakers Are Unpatriotic; In Addition, They Hate America And Everything It Stands For

With the final decision in California today to send out IOUs instead of checks to everyone from state workers to students receiving financial aid, I wonder to myself, where is Gov. Schwarzenegger's sense of personal sacrifice? Why isn't he giving up his salary to help the state get out of debt.

A few days ago I received a comment from "Anonymous" to one of my blog postings which read, in part,

"Schwarznegger (sic) inherited a huge deficet (sic). He was making progress - without raising taxes - until the recession hit. But I know, this is making you angry."

I think the commenter is assuming that I think raising taxes is a bad thing. My response to him, which I'll paraphrase here, is if you truly loved your country, wouldn't you want to support it monetarily? Wouldn't you want to pay your dues? Surely you don't expect to live in the greatest country in the world, reaping the benefits you reap, and not give something back?

It is irresponsible for Gov. Schwarzenegger and his Republican friends to try to balance the state budget by gutting essential programs but not by raising taxes. Not even trying to compromise with Democrats. Not only is it irresponsible, its unpatriotic.

Kudos to the Democrats for having the backbone to not cave in to the Republicans and their spiteful and selfish demands. Republican lawmakers see an opportunity to pass legislation they would never in normal circumstances have any chance of passing, and being the opportunistic cowards they are, they are taking this opportunity at the worst time, the middle of the worst financial crisis in California in over a decade.

If California Republican lawmakers don't want to support their government why don't they try moving somewhere else! Let our state get back on track!