In a time when fiscal responsibility from politicians seems to be a thing of the past, NBC’s “Today Show” and ABC’s “World News with Charles Gibson” criticized California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for his proposed budget cuts in his effort to save California from reaching total financial ruin.
The June 3rd “Today Show” featured numerous opponents of Schwarzenegger’s budget cuts, but nobody supporting or defending them.
The segment began with a clip of the governor stating: “Our wallet is empty. Our bank is closed, and our credit is dried up,” a fact that does not seem to bother NBC, as they mourn the proposed solution to this problem: the cutting of what they deemed “essential services.”
“The governor is talking about slashing programs to help the poor, including health coverage for 1 million children,” NBC reporter George Lewis lamented after the chair of the state legislature's joint budget committee, Democrat Noreen Evans, claimed that “what the governor's proposing is really eliminating the safety net for Californians at a time when they need it most.”
Lewis made no attempt to press Evans for what she or other Democrats proposed to do to save the state from “running out of cash” as Schwarzenegger warns.
Amidst video of state health workers chanting “No more cuts!” Lark Galloway Gilliam of the Community Health Council told Lewis the budgets were “unheard of, unreasonable, and borderline irresponsible.” As strong as those charges were, once again, NBC didn’t provide anyone in rebuttal.
“Today” then played the empathy card with a family who, under the proposed cuts, would not be able to pay for their son’s ADHD treatment.
Reporting that “other essential services will suffer,” Lewis turned to Lou Paulson, the president of California Professional Firefighters. Paulson claimed that “we are going to be putting folks in potentially dangerous situations with less resources.”
Lewis explained that “In last month's Santa Barbara fire, local fire departments contributed 400 extra trucks to the battle. But in the future, with department budgets cut, that aid probably won't be available” without offering any proof of that claim.
NBC was not the only network offering sympathy for California. ABC’s “World News with Charles Gibson” on June 2nd, teased: “Governor Schwarzenegger's dire warning to California. The poor, the hungry, the very young, all facing painful cuts,” and “the harsh new reality facing 37 million people in California.”
Reporter Laura Marquez called the proposed budget cuts “extremely painful,” and then used verbs to match: “$5 Billion stripped from education. 1 Million low income children dropped from public health care. 500,000 Families thrown off welfare.”
The reasoning these services were “on the chopping block” was the “virtual impossibility” of raising taxes in California due to Proposition 13, which requires the approval of two-thirds of the legislature in order to raise taxes in the state.
Marquez gave no other reasons for the budget cuts, nor any defense of them. In fact, the only guest on the segment was Political Science professor at UC Berkley, Bruce Cain, who brought up the possibility of a federal bailout for the state: “I don't think the federal government can turn its back on California, because it's so large.”
His assertion was let stand, without counterpoint or mention of possible negative effects that would come with federal bailout.
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What a surprise! The
June 3, 2009 - 12:55 ET by fitzfongWhat a surprise! The parasite class using ABC and fellow parasite NBC to "make the case" that it's healthy for the host to continue to have its blood sucked even when there is no blood left to suck.
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill
Are employee pensions "essential services"
June 3, 2009 - 12:55 ET by V the KNot hearing anything about cutting state employee pensions or benefits, nor eliminating any Afro-American/Transgender/Womyn/Revolutionary Radicalism Studies programs in the UCAL
It is exactly this...
June 3, 2009 - 12:59 ET by ontheright...entitlement mentality that has gotten this country into the position we find ourselves today.
The bleeding hearts at the MSM outlets and those Hollyweird types need to open their own wallets and support/fund the 2nd, 3rd generation wellfare leeches and the entitlement sub-class.
Timing
June 3, 2009 - 12:59 ET by KC MulvilleThe time to turn the boat around is before you go over the waterfall, not halfway down the side.
The consensus, as far as I can tell, is that California tied itself into contractual knots, especially with the public worker unions. Now there are cuts. What I'm curious about is whether the cuts are being made to the same contracts that drove the state into hock in the first place. If the cuts are being made to the same contracts, all that's happening is that California is shrinking back to what should be its natural size - but that's unlikely.
What I suspect is happening is that instead of cutting public service contracts, California is instead cutting welfare first. If so, there should be hell to pay.
bringz out da 'ostages!
June 3, 2009 - 13:00 ET by katainkentyeah that didn't take long. And the SCM is dutifully helping in the negotiations.
___________________________________________
Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past - George Orwell - 1984
CA as the example
June 3, 2009 - 13:09 ET by Sergeant ROCKIf CA is the model from which we can see in advance the results of Obamunism, where will the 'bail-out' money come from when all 50 states end up in the same situation?
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
Hmm, maybe they should talk
June 3, 2009 - 13:12 ET by Mitchell BlattHmm, maybe they should talk about fixing the safety nets for taxpayers?
And maybe they should talk about how "irresponsible" billions of dollars of deficit spending are?
China's going to force us into bankruptcy.
June 3, 2009 - 14:56 ET by TailgunnerChina, as the ones who hold most of our notes, will foreclose.
They'll make Iran's Ahmadinejad the major stockholder.
Venezuela's Chavez will get control over all US oil-and-gas leases as oil exploration and drilling bans will be immediately, completely and totally lifted forever,
Kim Jong-un will replace Obama as American President-for-Life,
and China's going to put the rest of us to work making rubber dogsh*t and other cheap goods for export to their Wal-marts.
NOLO PUGNARE ME OCCIDERE
What Obama giveth with one hand he taketh away with both hands.
At least the Otters have
June 3, 2009 - 13:19 ET by MaratAt least the Otters have been spared from the cuts!
At Last
June 3, 2009 - 13:22 ET by MAS1916At last the voters of California must confront the reality that the leftists they put into office have bankrupted their state. California voters believed for years that they could enjoy all manner of public services and send the bill to someone else. Now.. the bill is coming home to them and they (of course) don't want to pay it.
This is not dissimilar to the tax problems facing the federal government as well as many other states. These folks are now getting pretty creative about extorting citizen's money via taxation. ( for the top ten silliest taxation ideas, you can look at : http://firstconservative.com/blog/political-humor/political-humor-creative-taxation )
Ultimately, though, the voters of California have brought this upon themselves through their ignorance of how an economy works. The federal government had better not bail out the state until the state starts seriously cutting programs.
California has a Republican
June 3, 2009 - 13:30 ET by Another Dead KennedyCalifornia has a Republican governor. The left is not entirely to blame this time.
In case you hadn't heard,
June 3, 2009 - 13:44 ET by fitzfongIn case you hadn't heard, Schwarzenegger is a Republican In Name Only...aka a RINO...a leftist pseudo-Republican. In other words, the left is entirely to blame this time.
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill
Oh right, a leftist
June 3, 2009 - 13:56 ET by Another Dead KennedyOh right, a leftist pseudo-Republican who campaigns with, supports, and endorses fellow republicans.
Me stoopid. Me don't no what I talk about.
Look at his record, taht is
June 3, 2009 - 14:13 ET by Dan The Man 2Look at his record, taht is how you can tell a RINO. But, in teh land of fruits and nuts all you can do is elect fruits and nuts.
That's right, a leftist,
June 3, 2009 - 14:18 ET by fitzfongThat's right, a leftist, pseudo-Republican who endorses cap-and-trade legislation, blocks oil drilling, bends over to the wills of the Democrat legislature, the California "Teachers" Association and other State Employee Union thugs and RAISES TAXES. His campaigning for John McCain, another economic illiterate and pseudo-Republican, simply underlines the fact that Schwarzenegger is a leftist.
Me stoopid. Me don't no what I talk about.
Recognition of your problem is the first step to treatment.
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill
Still blaming McCain for the
June 3, 2009 - 14:30 ET by Another Dead KennedyStill blaming McCain for the election?
Last I checked, McCain ran
June 3, 2009 - 14:35 ET by fitzfongLast I checked, McCain ran a lousy, incoherent campaign and lost. Self-explanatory.
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill
Right at the moment.....
June 3, 2009 - 14:40 ET by Tailgunner...McCain looks like Reagan compared to anyone in California.
NOLO PUGNARE ME OCCIDERE
What Obama giveth with one hand he taketh away with both hands.
Maybe NBC and CBS are
June 3, 2009 - 13:28 ET by Another Dead KennedyMaybe NBC and CBS are willing to donate the money our state requires to keep these programs going. But let's not give Arnold too much credit. He took over for Davis who had been crucified (and bounced from office) for threatening an enormous raise in state taxes. Arnold won the recall election, kept taxes low while continuing to spend, which ultimately led to our state's bankruptcy. Now the sales tax has gone up a percent, auto registration has doubled (which doesn't sound bad if you're not a Californian, but my registration will now go from $240/yr to $480), and services are being drastically cut. Anyone have a band-aid? A big one?
Hummm what would you expect....
June 3, 2009 - 13:38 ET by jdripperAt a time when their numbers were tanking and they were averaging less then a million viewers per show NBC gave Ketih Olberman a raise. Yepper they are some real bright boys and girls at NBC when it comes to fiscal sanity.
Jack
"If at age 20 you are a conservative then you have no heart. If at age 30 you are a liberal then you have no brains." Sir Winston Churchill
PUNISHMENT.
June 3, 2009 - 13:38 ET by TailgunnerThis is a microcosm of the progression (sorry) of socialism.
The productive citizens of California have long been the enemies of their own government.
They just didn't realize it. (Gray Davis was one of the few exceptions.)
As long as they paid up and voted more or less politically correct, Californians weren't harassed too badly.
But let them vote against gay marriage, expanding social benefits ad infinitum to illegal aliens and also to welfare migrants from other US states, or deny the state the funds demanded of them and the real threat of socialist states-force and intimidation-emerges.
Socialists scare their citizens into new taxes by threats to cut schools, fire and police and release prisoners.
These services, mandated by their constitution, are usually only a small fraction of a bloated government budget.
But after being thoroughly repudiated at the polls, California is making a determined effort to carry out their threats and punish those who angered them by daring to say no.
Police and fire shortages already endanger millions in major California cities.
Schools are at the breaking point by a combination of unions and illegal aliens.
Yet California has targeted these constitutionally mandated responsibilities for further cuts while protecting the nonproductive left-wing constituencies who are bankrupting them.
The only services the state of California thinks are 'essential' are billions in social and medical benefits for illegal aliens.
It's a tragedy that a formerly popular and beloved personality like Schwartzenegger is now the despised face of a socialist people's republic like California.
This is usually the point where the walls are built, the razorwire and watchtowers go up, and border guards set up checkpoints...at the outbound lanes.
NOLO PUGNARE ME OCCIDERE
What Obama giveth with one hand he taketh away with both hands.
Cut baby Cut!
June 3, 2009 - 13:41 ET by lbcdawnCan a lesson be learned?
June 3, 2009 - 14:20 ET by Georgia GirlI wish that people would take a good look at California (and the automotive industry, for that matter) and follow the dots...Obama's policies are setting in motion the same thing exact results throughout our entire wonderful country. America, I hardly recognize ye.
Enough already! The liberal mindset of "cradle to grave"/show me the money/lack of personal responsibility does not work. All it takes is time to see how profoundly messed up it is.
Government is only responsible for one essential service...
June 3, 2009 - 14:27 ET by R D Helm...and that is to ensure the protection of the rights, freedoms and liberties of its citizens.
Nice to see the citizens of at least one state have finally decided to say no to more taxes.
-Dave
Some can move back to Oklahoma.
June 3, 2009 - 16:22 ET by sevennorth dakota has great employment. Oh they also drill for oil.
Modest proposal
June 3, 2009 - 16:25 ET by Joe BlogsSo long as we have the strongest military in the world, no one can make us pay our debts. Basically, our assets are whatever we can take -- Mideast oil, South African diamonds, South American mineral riches and agricultural land, and Thai prostitutes, for instance. It will be decades before anyone can challenge us. I say, let's go all out for empire and enslave the world, just like in that evil alternate Star Trek Universe.
Your agonizer, Mr Kyl.
Before I went back to law
June 3, 2009 - 17:27 ET by mostlymoderateBefore I went back to law school, I worked at the California State University for 3 years in the Information Technology department. It took 3 people to do every task. Fill a printer with a new toner? Three people. Walk across campus to pickup a new laptop? Two people, in campus golf cart, 2 hours to pickup laptop. I can't even imagine how much money is wasted on people that don't want to work.
joe blogs
June 3, 2009 - 19:11 ET by Joe BlogsCalifornia is filling up with really dumb people from the third world. You gotta plug em into the economy somewhere so you give them union protected jobs in public transit, education, and government. There, they do things like clean out BART cars for $60 an hour or sell juice boxes and burritos to undergrads for $25 an hour with full medical, and the option to retire at 50.
"California has a
June 3, 2009 - 22:28 ET by RR GOP"California has a Republican governor. The left is not entirely to blame this time."
Yeah, so? And JFK got us into Vietnam, Johnson escalated the war there and even the American Communist hippies were protesting against him.
I swear I should register Dem just so I can say to the Libtards, "Hey, I'm a Dem, but I think BHO and his Commie buds are pretty messed up!"
Somehow I don't think they'd accept that into their personal universes.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
Cut every service now!
June 4, 2009 - 11:56 ET by attorneygirlI live and practice law in California.
Our state legislature is a joke. They spend, spend, spend.
My advice now? Cut, cut, cut.
Cut any and all services.
Read the California state budget. The three largest items in our state budget are: 1) prisons (full of illegals); 2) entitlements (welfare); and 3) education (poor quality because of lazy teachers who are unionized).
So, prisons, entitlements, and education.
Cut!
My message to Arnold: Get a big fat red pen and cut.
It's about time.
Cut.
Maybe then all the folks milking the system will leave the state.
And state agencies will have to learn to actually work. It's what we in the private sector must do. Why can't the state?
Hey hi ag... I agree with
June 4, 2009 - 12:06 ET by bigtimerHey hi ag...
I agree with you all the way!
Plus the cost of all the illegals in various venues too....
..and then there are the greenie weenies who have really hurt so many businesses in so many ways...farming to name one.
Glad to see you back...been awhile.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart