GOP activists to rip Schwarzenegger

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Republican activists in California are poised to denounce every major action Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken in the last few months – from appointing a Democrat chief of staff to proposing a massive statewide building plan.

Drafts of five resolutions – which declare their grievances with the governor – were circulating last week.

“The governor’s had a free ride from the conservatives ever since he’s been in office. … That’s over,” said Mike Schroeder, a Corona del Mar attorney, who participated in conversations about the resolutions.

The most radical resolution gives the governor a March 15 deadline to fire top aide Susan Kennedy – who served in Gray Davis’ Cabinet and is openly lesbian – or risk losing the party’s endorsement for governor.

The resolutions, according to Republicans involved in writing them, will also denounce the governor’s budget, criticize him for appointing more Democrat judges than Republicans, attack his plan to increase the state’s minimum wage and criticize the governor’s $222 billion plan to build roads, water projects, levees and other public needs.

Activists admit that it’s unlikely that Schwarzenegger will lose his Republican endorsement. However, they say the resolutions themselves may be adopted by the party and the significance of them even being drafted symbolizes the growing disenchantment with the governor’s actions. Losing support could put his re-election bid at risk as Republicans feel less incentive to raise money for him, or to support and vote for him.

The resolutions will be reviewed at the state Republican Party Convention in San Jose on Feb. 24 by a party committee. Delegates are expected to vote on them Feb. 26.

“Most people have trouble caring if he gets re-elected or not. They’re having a difficult time seeing that he’s different from the opposition. He needs to give them a reason to care,” said Schroeder, a former party chairman.

Schwarzenegger’s office said he is looking forward to meeting with the party leaders and volunteers at the convention and reiterated the governor’s Republican credentials. “This is a governor who repealed the car tax, passed workers compensation reform and continues to pay down debt,” said Adam Mendelsohn, Schwarzenegger’s communications director.

This kind of rebuke is not unique to political parties, especially Republicans. In 1991, activists at the party convention tarred, feathered and hanged an effigy of then-Gov. Pete Wilson after he proposed a budget that would raise taxes by $7 billion to patch a $14 billion deficit.