Stuck Between a Rock and a $68 Billion Bond

Policy aside, last night's speech was a piece of shrewd political maneuvering. The LA Times looks at how Gov. Schwarzenegger made life harder for his Democratic rivals. Neither Democrat could much fault Schwarzenegger's calls for vast public construction projects, a higher minimum wage, cheaper prescription drugs or a freeze in university enrollment fees — even if they questioned the timing or details. By and large, he was pushing ideas long championed by Democrats. And for the Republican party faithful (and legislators) there is little to do but hope to focus the direction of the massive bond toward a conservative bent. Some conservatives were already grasping at the 6 percent debt service cap as the lone sign post that the governor remained a fiscal conservative last night. The reality is that right now, the California Republican Party needs the governor. Period. As GOP strategist Bill Whalen said months ago, "The Republican Party is like the San Francisco Giants. With their superstar, they’re a good team, but without him, the team is suspect." Listening to Republican legislators last night inside the "spin tent," many seemed ill at-ease with the proposed bond but unwilling to step on their party leader's toes. Also in the tent, Duf Sundheim, chairman of the Republican party, stood watching the speech, arms-crossed and eyes focused. He dutifully answered questions about the bond, the minimum wage hike and other seemingly-Democratic proposals, while expressing both skepticism and hope ( "the devil is in the details" is officially the most overused phrase of the State of the State spin room).