CA GOP PARTY TO BUSH – NEXT TIME PLEASE CALL AHEAD…

You know times are tough for President Bush when both Governor Schwarzenegger and his own Republican Party don't want anything to do with him.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that President Bush will be in California this week for a ribbon-cutting event and a fundraiser.

Q: Where will Governor Schwarzenegger be?
A: As far away as possible.

At a time when the Bush Administration is mired in Karl Rove-induced CIA controversy and the Iraq quagmire, other Republicans are standing tall with their President, but not Governor Schwarzenegger. He’s ducking for cover.

According to the Chron - A White House emissary, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the governor is getting bad counsel from his advisers. It will appear, "at a time when the president needs the support of a Republican governor (that Schwarzenegger) is turning his back" on Bush, the GOP leader said. (San Francisco Chronicle, October 15, 2005)

Not to be outdone, the California Republican Party spokeswoman went so far as to suggest that the President should be doing more for the state.

"I don't expect Gov. Schwarzenegger to be hanging out with George Bush in California. We're facing some very serious issues in the state -- and unless the president of the United States is coming to town to hand over federal money to the governor to help us solve our problems, I don't see why the governor would allow himself to be distracted with the president's fundraising trip," she said.

Wasn't this the Governor who was going to be the "Collectinator" for federal aid for California? Now with the President's poll numbers in the toilet, the Governor can't be "distracted" by another Presidential visit. When the President visited the Central Valley back in 2003 things sounded great:

State Sen. Chuck Poochigian, R-Fresno, one of the sponsors of the Wednesday fund-raiser in Fresno, said the Bush stop also capitalizes on the momentum generated by Schwarzenegger's victory in last week's recall election. "There's mutual advantages to that relationship that benefits the new governor, and benefits the president," he said. "There's so much enthusiasm as a result it has the feeling of a trend. That's positive." (San Francisco Chronicle, October 16, 2003)

We sure don’t feel that “positive” energy from the CA GOP today…