Progress on (CA) State Budget Stalls as Talks Give Way to Rancor

[Rose Siding]

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's weekend blitz ridiculing California Democrats brought state budget negotiations to a halt Monday as partisan tensions escalated in the Capitol and legislators said a final agreement could be weeks away.
...
In a matter of days, a budget agreement thought to be within reach has devolved into a shouting match and a national spectacle over the "girlie men" comments. And a central Schwarzenegger goal — an on-time budget without the "summer slam-fest"— has eluded him amid a tone more combative and partisan than at any point in his eight-month tenure.
...
Schwarzenegger's strategy of challenging the Legislature through attempts at public humiliation carries risks, according to some political analysts. Unlike in the first battles of his term, the governor is not trying to persuade the public to pass ballot measures or sign petitions for an initiative.

When it comes to the budget, it is the insiders — California's legislators — who decide. And many are claiming to be insulted by the governor's provocations.

"This is part of a negotiation strategy to make sure the legislators understand his strength," said Elizabeth Garrett, director of the USC-Cal Tech Center for the Study of Law and Politics. "And there's a veiled threat in this: 'I can use this to help you, and I can use it to hurt you.' Why he would do it at this time is a little bit perplexing."
...
"Do I understand his hurt feelings? No," Ackerman said. "People say a lot of things during negotiations and campaigning and it shouldn't upset anyone, especially John. I think the governor made clear he wanted to get his budget as close to on time as he could, and if people weren't going to negotiate and cooperate in good faith he was going to take it to the people. That's exactly what he did."

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-arnold20jul20,1,3363040.story?coll=la-home-headlines

I'm not sure which side this puts Ackerman on in the Cheney/Leahy conflict. The winner, though, is Grover Norquist. In the RS interview, Clinton said of him:

He (Norquist)made a serious error a few months ago by committing candor. He was actually quoted in the press as saying that his great goal was to bring the same bitter partisanship to state capitols throughout America that had brought to Washington.

[Tempest]

1. John Burton had a great line

John Burton said "You don't kick someone in the crotch and then come back looking to shake hands."

Or something like that.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. Let's see now, Austria has given us such "great" leaders as....

Hitler, Waldheim, and Schwartzengger and now the Austrian Postal Service has given him as stamp to boot. It speaks volumes about this sad, little, homeland of Hitler.

:puke: