tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335748440449035592.post2018068630291395285..comments2008-12-24T11:26:24.287-05:00TraderMarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241756200482130281noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335748440449035592.post-50106288111756942902008-12-24T11:26:00.000-05:002008-12-24T11:26:00.000-05:00Patrick,<BR/><BR/>First I am speaking from afar so I don't see the day to day. <BR/><BR/>That said, I have been watching the guy closely because he is not a career politician so that earns brownie points with me immediately. I thought he came in there on a high horse and thought he had all the answers - he was a bull in a China shop. But over time he has seen he needs to work with others and make better decisions. He has admitted as much. He has admitted mistakes. Those points alone put him ahead of 90% of politicians who you need to a PR person to scream at them to say "sorry" to "make face" - and who still believe internally they are near flawless. I'd ask you in your work or school were you as good 5 years ago as you are now. Most poliicians never make progress. I see (from afar) he has. He also is willing to make unpopular decisions now. I like that.TraderMarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241756200482130281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335748440449035592.post-20505769739984573912008-12-24T08:23:00.000-05:002008-12-24T08:23:00.000-05:00Hi, I live CA too, and I also remember Arnold's car registration fee giveaway. It was a huge mistake. Of course, Arnold as a politician has evolved quite a bit since then and is a much better governor now than he was early on. Maybe now he should admit to this mistake and reinstate the car tax.HeadlineChartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609246549417595975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335748440449035592.post-86599754366799611742008-12-24T00:49:00.000-05:002008-12-24T00:49:00.000-05:00Sorry Mark, but I must disagree with your thoughts on Arnold (partly because I live in CA).<BR/><BR/>Early in Arnold's term, he gave away A LOT of "good time" tax breaks. In fact one of Arnold's first acts as the "Governator" in 2003 was to repeal the vehicle liscense fee. The VHL was basically a $350 tax on every car sale/transaction in CA, and Arnold's decision has deprived the state of $6 billion annually. Granted, it was "nice" of Arnold to save car purchasers $350 on their transaction, but would keeping the VHL really have destroyed car sales? Methinks not, considering the VHL has been around since 1948.<BR/><BR/>I just wanted to point out that Arnold has basically been promising to CA residents that "you can have your cake, and eat it too" on fiscal matters. However, I will admit that when on TV Arnold is a smooth talker and.....gulp....a good actor :-)<BR/><BR/>Here's a short chronicle of Arnold's big mistake on the VHL:<BR/>http://www.novatoadvance.com/articles/2008/02/20/opinion/editorial/doc47bca57c847f2037989222.txtPatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12217554921967118634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335748440449035592.post-79137874243648352702008-12-23T17:26:00.000-05:002008-12-23T17:26:00.000-05:00Oops.. I posted here first and then read your post on ETFs below. ;). <BR/><BR/>Cheers...Pankajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13478816568647309907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335748440449035592.post-27954190750410953292008-12-23T17:16:00.000-05:002008-12-23T17:16:00.000-05:00Mark, <BR/><BR/>Did you notice that SDS and SSO, both are down... just like SRS and URE down on the same day that you had highlighted the other day.. <BR/><BR/>These ETFs are crazy and I am not touching them again ever!Pankajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13478816568647309907noreply@blogger.com