"I Really Want Some Of Those Guys To Stay."

When Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed Prop. 93, some considered it the result of some deal on health care or some other quid pro quo. I thought it was much simpler than that.

Schwarzenegger has a good working relationship with Fabian Nuñez and Don Perata. He for the most part gets what he wants out of that relationship. Why would he want to change it for his last two years in office? The pessimist's view would be "Why would he want to housebreak someone else when these two are already housebroken?" The optimist's view is "He's moving forward on his agenda, why rock the boat?"

Arnold has now confirmed this, by the way.

Schwarzenegger said he has developed a "trust" with sitting legislative leaders and hopes to continue to work with them. The governor said he felt a loss when former Senate leader John Burton was termed out of the Legislature.

"I just got this groove going with this guy and we got to understanding each other and all of a sudden he's being ripped away," Schwarzenegger said.

The governor said he and current lawmakers would be better able to tackle major issues facing the state, from the budget crisis to the state's need for $500 billion worth of infrastructure improvements.

Besides, he said, "I really want some of those guys to stay."

It's a selfish view from the standpoint of Schwarzenegger (should the governor really be picking the majority leaders in the opposite party?), but perfectly coherent. He wants to continue the working relationship. In the short term, it's up to the voters to decide if that working relationship is good for California. I think the sum total of this site could be "Exhibit A," but your mileage may vary.

(As a side note, interesting how this experience vs. change question continues at the state level, no? Of course, we must wonder about the right kind or the wrong kind of experience.)

UPDATE: George Skelton channels me. And he essentially endorses Arnold's take. As I said, your mileage may vary.