Well, it’s been almost seven long years since the voters of California placed their economic and political future into the hands of Arnold Schwarzenegger. With the State in far worse shape than when he inherited the Davis mess, one could make the case, easily, that when he declared himself to be "post partisan" his chance at becoming effective as Governor ended.
We can all have a romantic vision of post partisanship, but it doesn’t work, and never will. Politics is bloodsport. We are never, ever all just going to "get along". My chief complaint with this Governor is that a man with business experience and a supposedly center right disposition could get his ass handed to him over and over again by leftist legislators with nary a clue on how to run an economy or a government. Arnold had truly been a girly man during his term. He’s got one chance left now to make amends and not leave California hanging over a cliff.
This is the year to shut the State government down in order to make the budget work. There’s no revenue, and there has been no reform of State spending. Taxes can’t be raised unless the Governor wants to violate his campaign promises again, and further taxes will with 100% certainly smother any chance we have at an economic recovery.
Can you play hardball, Governor? So far, we have every reason to doubt that you can. "The best we can do" isn’t going to cut it this time. Shut the government down if Democrats won’t play ball to get the budget balanced. Leave some revenue streams in place for the elderly and disabled while you negotiate. And let’s try not to get completely rolled this time, again. Time to shed your girly man image sir. This is your last opportunity.