'Collectinator' promises magic, but Washington isn't Hollywood

[LVT]

Schwarzenegger gets mixed reception
'Collectinator' promises magic, but Washington isn't Hollywood
Marc Sandalow, Washington Bureau Chief

Friday, February 18, 2005


Washington -- Were it a Hollywood movie, California Democrats and Republicans would faithfully unite behind Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's call to set aside their partisan bickering and work in harmony for the good of the state.

Alas, Washington is not good with Hollywood endings.

Behind the feel-good rhetoric of Schwarzenegger's latest Washington visit stands a brick wall of partisanship that reflects a deep ideological schism that talking alone may not overcome.

The primary reason that the state's 33 Democratic and 20 Republican representatives are rarely together in the same room is not that they don't get along. It is because they don't agree.

"We're not 'girlie men,' '' scowled Rep. Tom Lantos, D-San Mateo, recalling Schwarzenegger's label from last summer's Republican convention for those who oppose President Bush's economic plan. "We are fighting for our principles.''

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/02/18/MNGN5BDOG31.DTL

[Merlot]

1. "We are fighting for our principles.''

good. keep fighting.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. Well, the Democrats better fight for something!