Anyone Surprised?

Arnie's declaring California's government to be in a state of "fiscal crisis" (well, that's stating the obvious). But apparently this means that he has the power to slash spending on state programs without the input (or restraining influence) of the Legislature. The Democrat-controlled Legislature, that is.

So much for checks and balances.

But anyway, this latest crisis apparently has come about because the Governator personally ended the unpopular car-tax increase, something that contributed largely to Grey Davis' removal (it seems Californians -- like all Americans, perhaps -- are cheap) and something that Arnie promised to remove during the campaign. Thus, Schwarzenegger singlehandedly nearly bankrupted California's municipal governments.

It seems to me that Arnold's not making any friends in the government by stepping on the Legislature's toes, and he's likely going to make quite a few more enemies among Californians when they realize that, while they may have a bit more cash in their pockets, it's going to end up being spent on getting themselves the services they'll be losing when the governor slashes $150 million's worth of programs.

Because we all know we should be getting everything for nothing, right?

Schwarzenegger Declares Fiscal Crisis

On another note, has anyone seen the new Marshall's commercials? I just saw one with a woman singing about all the international-vintage presents she'd bought (to the tune of "The 12 Days of Christmas"), and until the Marshall's logo popped up at the end, I could have sworn it was another one of those eBay musicals.