Why did California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger pick Abel Maldonado to the new lieutenant governor of California?
This is truly joyous news: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today said he would appoint Republican state Sen. Abel Maldonado to fill the vacant lieutenant governor’s job, perhaps setting off a partisan squabble over his confirmation. Arnold announced this on the Leno show, taped earlier in Burbank, and the Gov’s office confirmed it. I am one happy camper. This is perhaps the best news progressives AND Democrats have gotten in this state all year long. I live in SD-15, and Abel Maldonado is, sadly, my State Senator. He is a joke of a Senator, a “moderate” politician when it is convenient for him, a conservative one generally speaking. He only won re-election last year because he and Don Perata cut a terrible deal in 2007, where Perata promised to stop a Democratic primary challenge in exchange for his vote on that budget deal. But more importantly, this seat – SD-15 – is one of the two seats we need to reach 2/3rds in the State Senate. And like SD-12, it is a majority Democratic seat. The cur
From latimes.com: Schwarzenegger taps Abel Maldonado for lieutenant governor The Republican has crossed the aisle on some key votes and also aspires to being elected to the job next year, making his confirmation by the full Legislature less than certain. Reporting from Sacramento – State Sen. Abel Maldonado, a moderate Republican from Santa Maria who has parted with his caucus on key votes at the request of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, has been chosen by Schwarzenegger to be the next lieutenant governor. Schwarzenegger, a fellow Republican, made the announcement Monday at a taping of “The Jay Leno Show.” If confirmed by the Legislature, Maldonado would replace John Garamendi, a Walnut Grove Democrat, who was recently elected to Congress. The governor called Maldonado “a terrific, loyal man that has worked very hard in public service.” He added: “But he’s also into bipartisanship and post-partisanship, so he can cross the aisle. He makes de
