Schwarzenegger - The Stimulus Package is "Terrific"

[Turborama]

Run time: 02:21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3lPK7H4kt4   Posted on YouTube: February 22, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: February 23, 2009 By DU Member: Turborama Views on DU: 865

 
While some Republican governors with presidential ambitions struggle to balance their state's budgetary needs with their own ideological opposition to the stimulus package, others don't find themselves feeling nearly as constrained.

Appearing on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger giddily embraced the idea that more money would be available for California should his GOP colleagues -- like Govs. Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana -- refuse stimulus funds.

"Well, Governor Sanford says that he does not want to take the federal stimulus package money. And I'll say to him, I'll take it," Schwarzenegger said. "I'm more than happy to take his money or any other governor in this country that doesn't want to take this money. I'll take it, because we in California need it. I think it's a terrific package. I think if you ask a thousand people for their opinion, what is their ideal stimulus package, you will have a thousand different answers. So everyone's is a little different. I think he's done a great job and I think California benefits tremendously from that $80 billion of tax benefits there, for around $35 billion. There are other advantages: $45 billion of money that go to transportation, to education, to health care, all those different areas. There's even some money that could benefit our revenues or, I should say, our budget itself...."

From: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/22/schwarzenegger-to-gop-gov_n_168918.html

[cooolandrew]

1. Rich folk paying taxes it doesn't hurt it ultimately puts more money in everyones pockets cos money>

flows. You give ordinary people opportunity via government they ultimately buy rich peoples stuff. Paying the fair share is a win win.

[LaPera]

3. Arnold should become a democrat - The republicans hate him and

he often supports usually democratic views & ideas....I think with some fine tuning he could be a Dem.

[rollingrock]

2. South Carolina?

since when does anyone care what they think?

[MindMatter]

4. It make you wonder just how stupid the people are there

when their Governor can come out and act the way some of the Republicans are carrying on. These guys have plenty of money for any war or any defense system or any banker, but when it comes to doing something to get ordinary Americans some jobs ...

I am having trouble believing that the residents of SC and LA are really that stupid. Somebody please tell me they aren't.

[rollingrock]

5. Either that or it was Diebold

I can't believe anyone in their right mind would vote for those pigs, especially that nutcase Jindal guy.

The man is insane.

[GrimReefa]

6. Calling them stupid isn't helping our case

The Democratic Party wrote off southern whites a long time ago, and we basically haven't talked to them since the 1960s. We've made a lot of progress, as evidenced by our successes in North Carolina and Virginia, but we have a long way to go in a lot of places. There is a strong populist tradition in the South - let's not forget that Huey Long was the Governor of Louisiana - but the Democrats have lost their way as far as populism goes. I mean, John Kerry is pretty much the antithesis of populism.

The Democrats need to reclaim the populist banner in order to win again in the deep south. Dean and Obama have the ball rolling, but it will take a lot of effort to reverse decades of Democratic neglect in that part of the country.

[MindMatter]

13. I didn't say they were stupid

I said it makes you wonder how stupid they are when a politician feels comfortable standing in front of the people in the worst economic times in 90 years and says he won't accept any help -- not even extension of unemployment benefits.

The Governors certainly think the people are stupid, that's for sure. I hope to be proven wrong.

[wildbilln864]

10. not all of us are that stupid here....

but too fucking many here are! :cry:

[balantz]

7. Arnie saying it's good should be cause for concern. n/t

[democracy1st]

8. so you believe Jindal,Sanford and the other foxes in the hen house ?

[balantz]

9. What do you mean?

I posted in the Jindal video thread but didn't watch it. I just made a comment about him is all. I don't watch much MSM so I don't know what the people "in the hen house" said.

I do wonder if the stimulus is just a drop in the bucket that continues to pay the barons and may have little effect on helping us much. But I don't really know. Things wil get much worse and we need some real big direct help IN OUR POCKETS.

I just don't trust Arnie a bit and his saying it's a good thing makes me wonder some more.

[democracy1st]

11. California is in bad shape and I remember Arnold making fun of taxes and calling democrats girly men

point I was trying to make is this guy is trying to save his hide. The other two not only supported everything Bush pushed for the last 8 yrs, but they are also singing the same old cut taxes tune the GOP has been pushing for 30 yrs.

[Piewhacket]

12. CA Dem... I watched this interview today..

Arnold had a VERY BAD start when he took office, basicly had
Pete Wilson scum on staff and was too inexperienced to see
that he was being played for an idiot, which is what he was.
:nuke:

Some people still want him hanged for gutting Worker Comp and
Consumer protections, among other things. I might be one.

Yet I've followed him since the 60's and I NEVER ONCE ever entertained
the thought that he was stupid. He isn't stupid, he's very bright
and astute. He learns. He adapts. He is Arnold.

So (staying one step ahead of the hangman) he made serious staff
changes and moved into the center and has been cooperatively working
with CA Dems. Thus he has earned some respect from me.

I watched this interview today. I found myself somewhat proud how he
handled himself. CA is in a big mess, I doubt there is enough money,
CA is going to suffer no matter what he does. But he's focused on
helping California and willing to work with Dems to do it.
Whether he is on the right track, or even whether there even IS a right
track out of this mess, after this interview I felt reassured and kinda
glad it was Arnold who was standing on deck.