It fits in with the values of his core constituency. It offers an opportunity for those people who had been with him in the past to be with him now.

230

Like a three-dimensional chess game. . . . The key is that the messages not be too far apart.

198

For me, it was 90 minutes of wasted time. They got nowhere beyond their elevator statements. I'm not sure that's going to help people make sense of things, because these propositions are so complicated.

148

Given that the governor has a very small base and that this base would be very offended by signing this legislation, he politically has no choice but to veto.

137

This tells me that in the long term Schwarzenegger is in trouble. There seems to be a strengthening of resolve against these three initiatives.

102

It resurrects his relationship with his base - that's the first critical step toward rehabilitation, ... It puts him in a good position. ... And it advances us to the midterm elections.

101

Arnold set the bar for very high expectations, coupled with strong demands. But the expectations weren't met, the demands weren't honored, and that has voters very skittish. Most voters are showing malaise, even downright disgust.

96

It's a way to keep taxes down and a way to make sure there won't be new taxes. If it passes, what it would really do is make the legislature second banana in the budget process.

90

There's no doubt about it in my mind that the announcement was set for this particular time to generate both financial and political support for what are ... flagging campaigns, ... If there ever was a time to pull rabbits out of the hat for the governor, this is it.

76