Well, the Daily Google was a wonderful idea, but given my (non-)copious free time, it was a bit…overly ambitious, shall we say. Therefore, this article series is now called the Weekly Google, and hopefully, it will be a bit more reliable in its release. Pardon our dust and all that. :-)

This week, we look into a topic that the East Valley Democrats will be addressing more regularly as November approaches: the Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the heck of a job he’s been doing for California.

Let’s start with Ahnold’s supposed strength: the budget. I say supposed because even some conservatives are amazed at his penchant for borrowing and spending:

Only a few years into the current boom, some states are already making the same mistake of overspending. In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed a budget increase for fiscal 2007 of 8.4 percent, which follows a 9.7 percent increase in 2006. This is the same governor who, in 2003, said, “if you spend, spend, spend, then you have tax, tax, tax, but all of a sudden you say, ‘Where are the jobs?’ Gone, gone, gone.”

In seeking reelection this year, Schwarzenegger has found a new interest in “spend, spend, spend.”

Not that he’ll “tax, tax, tax,” of course. He’d rather go into debt, debt, debt — to the tune of $68 billion of bond debt alone.

Then again, Mr. Economy can’t even keep his own campaign in the black. The Schwarzenegger campaign already owes $400,000. I’m sure that when you’re a multi-millionaire ex-superstar, you don’t have to worry about where your next $100-per-fillup Hummer is coming from, but running for office costs real money, as does running a state.

Of course, in the wake of his initiative debacle, he needs to buy back some good will. A pity he means to do so literally, with the taxpayers’ money, over the next two decades. These cynical efforts have shown some small success, but for a man who once loomed over California politics like a colossus, his still-anemic %40 approval rating shows that the majority of Californians see through this desperate change of kabuki masks. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that the Governator spoke proudly of “kicking the butts” of California’s nurses, teachers, police officers and firefighters.

Well, at least now we know he’s better as an actor than as Governor.

The Blue Phoenix
It’s time to rise

Below the fold I’ve listed this week’s votes in the House and Senate, and how our local reps voted on each. If you think another rep should be included (i.e. is in the area serviced by the EVDC) drop me a note and let me know.

Read the rest…

Thank you Senator Feinstein!

The last two days have been amazing.

Early Thursday afternoon, we broke the news that Senator John Kerry would lead a filibuster against Judge Sam Alito if he could get 41 Senators to sustain the filibuster. Three hours later, CNN confirmed our story.

…

But even as Karl Rove was doing his dirty work, progressive activists like you were calling your Senators urging them to support John Kerry’s filibuster.

And one by one, Democratic Senators began to turn around.

http://democrats.com/alito-48

At the start of the day, only Dick Durbin and Debbie Stabenow supported Kerry and Kennedy. Just before noon, Hillary Clinton’s office called to say she supported us. Then Harry Reid came on board, along with Barbara Boxer, Russ Feingold, Ron Wyden, Chris Dodd, and (I think) Chuck Schumer.

Most importantly, we even picked up Dianne Feinstein, who just yesterday said she opposed a filibuster.

Bold type theirs, italics mine.

This is simply amazing news. Senator Feinstein has really come through after some initial, disappointing opposition to the Alito filibuster, and I believe she deserves our praise for her willingness to oppose this radical transformation of the Supreme Court. Bravo.

Update: Senator Feinstein makes the statement on her own site.

The Blue Phoenix
It’s time to rise