Surprizing Us All

I watched FoxNews last night, but they (and I) missed President Bush's secret surprize trip to Iraq. I love a man who can keep a secret.


Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

We Gather Together

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens his will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,
Sing praises to his name: He forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom devine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be thine!

We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,
And pray that thou still our defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
Amen

California Legislative Candidates

Any of my Bear Flaggers know anything about any of the candidates running for Assembly? I see that Heather Peters (former candidate for governor) is running for AD41. Has anybody met her? Just curious. How about any other Republican candidates? I'm not interested in the placeholder candidates - those who are running for office in order to a secure membership in the county party and the state central committee. I mean real candidates.

Update: I found a page from Allen Hoffenblum's Target Book with some info.

Congratulations Cassandra

A couple weeks ago I blogged on how great an appointment Cassandra Pye would be. Apparently, Arnold agrees. Cassandra now serves as Deputy Chief of Staff.

And congratulations also to former Bill Jones Chief of Staff Mike Chrisman on his appointment as Resources Secretary. Mike was always very helpful back in the day when I was with the California Young Republicans. I'm sure he'll be great.

The Senate voted, 33 to 0, to repeal the law after only four minutes of debate

In a victory for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senate Democrats joined with their Republican counterparts Monday to repeal a controversial law that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain California driver's licenses.

Good news reported (for once) by the dog trainer.

And On the 8th Day

Some of you may know that I am a friend and big fan of Congressman Bill Thomas (R-Bakersfield) the Chairman of Ways and Means. He is the one who pushed through President Bush's tax cuts and is going to get us social security reform.

I was thinking of him as I read the reports on how whiney mad the Dems were about the extended voting period for the medicare bill. I recalled Congressman Thomas telling me about a similar tactic the Dems had used against us when Jim Wright was speaker. I've been e-mailing people and commenting on other's blogs, hoping someone could remember the incident.

Thanks to Joel B visiting the Fresh Potatoes who pointed me to Pejmanesque It happened in 1987. First they added an 8th day to the week, then they stretched 15 minutes out and out and out. Pej' writes:

The initial vote on the bill--which the Democratic majority supported--was defeated as a result of 41 Democrats defecting, and all of the Republicans standing fast against the bill. Initially, the Democrats were going to come back the next day with a new bill, but feared that overnight, word of their defeat would make them look bad. So Wright's chief of staff suggested that the House adjourn early for the day, and then reconvene again on the same day. The adjournment would create a second legislative day within the same calendar day, the Democrats could lean on defectors, and win the vote--thus erasing their earlier loss from the headlines. Wright agreed to the suggestion.

Republicans were enraged. One Republican confronted then-Majority Leader Tm Foley (who succeeded Wright as Speaker, and later served as Ambassador to Japan), and mentioned that as the Book of Genesis had stated that God had created the world in six days, and rested on the seventh, the creation of an eighth day was quite the big deal. Sarcastically, the Republican asked Foley what the new day was being called. Foley replied that it was going to be called "The Guaranteed Deficit Reduction Act."

Go and read the whole thing.

Google Hits

I just got a google hit Is George Clooney Irish? Who cares - He's Creepy.

Wictory Wednesday Roundup

I'm getting lots of out-of-state visitors. If you want to some day visit California, I've got the real deal on the most fun you could have with Things You Should Do In California.

It's Wictory Wednesday


Today is Wictory Wednesday. Every Wednesday, I ask my readers to volunteer and/or donate to the Bush 2004 campaign.

If you're a blogger, you can join Wictory Wednesdays simply by putting up a post like this one every Wednesday, asking your readers to volunteer and/or donate to the Bush campaign. And do e-mail the polipundit so that he can add you to the Wictory Wednesday blogroll, which will be part of the Wictory Wednesday post on all participating blogs:

I've made a roundup on what the Wictory Wednesday crowd is up to. Please go visit them.

And please don't forget to give me your suggestions for Things you should do in America.

Argghhh!!! reminds us that today is National Ammo Day
Backcountry Conservative lets us know what's up with the Citadel
Blogs for Bush relays info about the dopes at ABC
The BlytheBlog says we don't need babysitters
Boots and Sabers tells us about Monika's dates
Bowling For Dean is a full-time Bush Blogger
BushBlog says some people think Southerners aren't Americans
BushCheney2004 reports on the President's most important speech
The Deeper Thinker wants to e-vote
Dustin.net has moved
Egged doesn't know why people sleep
ExPostFacto talks about Down Syndrome
Freedom of Thought jokes about Canadian healthcare
The Hedgehog Report keeps us up-to-date on Gov Erlich
The Irish Lass (that's me) has a crush on Sargent Shriver
Jarhead has a new home (on the web)
Jeremy Kissel says Cornyn is taking on the filibusters
Left Coast Conservative reminds us of Churchill's words
Mark Kilmer says the Indians don't like Dean
Matt Margolis reminisces about Mary Jo Kopechne
Miller's Time (my fellow BearFlagger) volunteers for Arnold
The Ole Miss Conservative knows alot about Mississippi politics
Pardon My English tells us what's happening in Taiwan
Polipundit (the Wictory Wednesday Captain) tells why we should be happy that President Bush has no primary challenge
Reagan Country reports on Liberal Assumptions
A Rice Grad loves poker
Ryne McClaren tells about the German Moore lovers
The Sarcastic Southerner was there for the Louisiana election
Slublog shares some memos
The Southern Conservatives keeps reading the Daily Kos
Spot On's looking for Republicans in Syracuse
The Viking Pundit wants recess appointments
The Wise Man has some advise for Senator Rockefeller

I Love Sargent Shriver

You should have seen him. At the end of the ceremony, the band was playing Culyfornya Here I Come. Sargent Shriver is up, using his cane like a Drum Major's Baton, leading the crowd in singing. He was clearly so happy.

It Was a Wonderful Day

On a wonderful day like today,
I defy any cloud to appear in the sky,
Dare any raindrop to plop in my eye
On a wonderful day like today.

On a wonderful morning like this
When the sun is as big as a yellow balloon;
Even the sparrows are signing in tune
On a wonderful morning like this.

On a morning like this I could kiss ev'rybody,
I'm so full of love and good will.
Let me say furthermore, I'd adore ev'rybody
To come and dine -- the pleasure's mine --
And I will play the bill!

May I take this occasion to say
That the whole human race
Should go down on its knees,
Show that we're grateful
For mornings like these
For the world's in a wonderful way
On a wonderful day like today.

(thanks Anthony Newley)

Wasn't the speech, ceremony, everything great!?

Text of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's inaugural address:

"Mr. Chief Justice; Governor and Mrs. Davis; Governor and Mrs. Wilson; Governor and Mrs. Deukmejian; Governor Brown; legislative leadership; constitutional officers; my fellow Californians:

I am humbled, I am moved -- and I am honored beyond words to be your governor.

To the thousands of you who came here today, I took this oath to serve you.

To others all across this state -- Democrats, Republicans, Independents -- it makes no difference. I took this oath to serve you.

To those who have no power, to those who have dropped out -- too weary or disappointed with politics as usual -- I took the oath to serve you.

I say to everyone here today and to all Californians, I will not forget my oath and I will not forget you.

Let me first thank Gov. Davis and Mrs. Davis and their entire administration for a smooth transition. There's been a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation, and I thank you for that.

My fellow citizens: Today is a new day in California. I did not seek this office to do things the way they've always been done. What I care about is restoring your confidence in your government.

When I became a citizen 20 years ago, I had to take a citizenship test. I had to learn about the history and the principles of our republic.

What I learned -- and I've never forgotten -- is sovereignty rests with the people, not the government.

In recent years, Californians have lost confidence. They've felt that the actions of their government did not represent the will of the people.

This election was not about replacing one man; it was not replacing one party. It was about changing the entire political climate of our state.

Everywhere I went during my campaign, I could feel the public hunger for our elected officials to work together, to work openly and to work for the greater good.

The election was the people's veto -- for politics as usual.

With the eyes of the world upon us, we did the dramatic. Now we must put the rancor of the past behind us and do the extraordinary.

It's no secret I'm a newcomer to politics. I realize I was elected on faith and hope. And I feel a great responsibility -- not to let the people down.

As soon as I go inside the Capitol behind me, I will sign my first order as governor.

I will sign Executive Order No. 1 -- which will repeal the 300 percent increase in the car tax.

I will issue a proclamation convening a special session of the Legislature to address California' fiscal crisis.

I will issue a proclamation convening a special session to reform our workers' compensation system.

I will call on the Legislature to repeal SB60 and I will work to reform government by bringing openness and full disclosure to public business.

I enter this office beholden to no one except you, my fellow citizens. I pledge my governorship to your interests, not to special interests.

So I've appointed to my Cabinet Republicans, Democrats and Independents -- because I want people to know that my administration is not about politics. It is about saving California.

The state of California is in crisis.

As I've said many times, we spent ourselves into the largest budget deficit in the nation.

We have the worst credit rating in the nation.

We have the highest workers' compensation costs in the nation.

Next year we will have the highest unemployment insurance costs in the nation.

And we have the worst business climate in the nation.

But even though these problems are staggering, they do not even compare to what Californians have overcome in the past.

Our state has endured earthquakes, floods and fires. The latest fires have destroyed lives, homes, businesses, and devastated hundreds of thousands of acres of the land that we love.

On behalf of my fellow citizens, I salute all those who have served on the front lines of the battle. Firefighters, emergency workers, law enforcement officials, National Guard and thousands of volunteers. As we watched the firestorms raging, we saw bravery that never faltered and determination that never wavered in a fight that never flagged.

To the families of those who gave their lives and those who have lost their lives, your loss is ours. As Californians, we mourn together, we fight together, and we will rebuild together.

And just as California will come back from the fires, we will also come back from fiscal adversity.

I know there are some of you who say that the Legislature and I will never agree on solutions to our problems. But I've found in my life that people often respond in remarkable ways to remarkable challenges.

In the words of President Kennedy, "I am an idealist without illusions."

I know it will be hard to put aside years of partisan bitterness.

I know it will be hard to overcome the political habits of the past.

But for guidance, let's look back in history to a period I studied when I became a citizen. The summer of 1787. Delegates of the original 13 states were meeting in Philadelphia.

The dream of a new nation was falling apart. Events were spiraling downward. Divisions were deep. Merchant against farmer. Big states against small. North against South.

Our founding fathers knew that the fate of the union was in their hands, just as the fate of California is in our hands.

What happened in that summer of 1787 is that they put their differences aside -- and produced the blueprint for our government; our Constitution. Their coming together has been called "the Miracle of Philadelphia."

Now, the members of the Legislature and I must bring about the "Miracle of Sacramento" -- a miracle based on cooperation, good will, new ideas -- and devotion to the long-term good of California.

What we face may look insurmountable. But I learned something from all those years of training and competing.

What I learned is that we are always stronger than we know. And California is like that, too.

We are stronger than we know.

There's a massive weight we must lift off our state.

Alone, I cannot lift it. But together, we can.

It's true; things may get harder before they get better. But I've never been afraid of the struggle. I've never been afraid of the fight and I have never been afraid of the hard work.

I will not rest until our fiscal house is in order.

I will not rest until California is a competitive job-creating machine.

I will not rest until the people of California come to see their government as a partner in their lives, not a roadblock to their dreams.

Today I ask all of you to join me in a new partnership for California.

One that is civil and respectful of our diverse population.

One that challenges each and every one of us to serve our state in a joyful, productive and creative way.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have an immigrant's optimism that what I have learned in citizen class is true: The system does work.

And I believe that with all of my heart.

I have big hopes for California. President Reagan spoke of America as "the shining city on the hill." I see California as the golden dream by the sea.

Perhaps some think this is fanciful or poetic, but to an immigrant like me, who, as a boy, saw Soviet tanks rolling through the streets of Austria, to someone like me who came here with absolutely nothing and gained absolutely everything, it is not fanciful to see this state as a golden dream.

For millions of people around the world, California has always glimmered with hope and glowed with opportunity. Millions of people around the world send their dreams to California with the hope their lives will follow.

My fellow citizens.

I have taken the oath to uphold the Constitution of California. Now, with your help and God's, I will also uphold the dream that is California.

Thank you very much.

God bless you, and may God bless California.

Thank you, thank you.