By Bill Cavala A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento Whatever the final disposition of this years’ budget, it will be enjoyable to watch the apologists for the Republican Party try and explain the flip-flop on tax hikes just taken by their leader, Governor Schwarzenegger. We will be treated to endless diatribes about how is a RINO (that’s Republican in Name only for you progressives), how the real spokespeople for the GOP are central committee extremists or minor league partisans from safe seats. But here’s a harsh fact, Republican activists. It’s the President and the Governor who define the meaning of “Republican” for most voters. And, in case you haven’t looked lately, that means George W. Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger. You’re stuck with em! Was it only two years ago that Schwarzenegger defeated Phil Angelides largely on their differences over tax policy? Angelides said he’d raise taxes to resolve deficits. Schwarzenegger attacked him mercilessly for that policy. Now, as it turns out, the real difference between the two men is that only one of them was truthful (and that none of the press corps wrote that fact to inform the public). Schwarzenegger is living proof that political crime does, indeed, pay. Now, safely beyond the voters reach, he can support the largest tax increase in California’s history. For any Republican to now say their party stands for “no new taxes” is the sheerest hypocrisy. Bill Cavala was Deputy Director o ...
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By Bill Cavala A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento Whatever the final disposition of this years’ budget, it will be enjoyable to watch the apologists for the Republican Party try and explain the flip-flop on tax hikes just taken by their leader, Governor Schwarzenegger. We will be treated to endless diatribes about how is a RINO (that’s Republican in Name only for you progressives), how the real spokespeople for the GOP are central committee extremists or minor league partisans from safe seats. But here’s a harsh fact, Republican activists. It’s the President and the Governor who define the meaning of “Republican” for most voters. And, in case you haven’t looked lately, that means George W. Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger. You’re stuck with em! Was it only two years ago that Schwarzenegger defeated Phil Angelides largely on their differences over tax policy? Angelides said he’d raise taxes to resolve deficits. Schwarzenegger attacked him mercilessly for that policy. Now, as it turns out, the real difference between the two men is that only one of them was truthful (and that none of the press corps wrote that fact to inform the public). Schwarzenegger is living proof that political crime does, indeed, pay. Now, safely beyond the voters reach, he can support the largest tax increase in California’s history. For any Republican to now say their party stands for “no new taxes” is the sheerest hypocrisy. Bill Cavala was Deputy Director o ...