Governor... potholes: San Jose crews destroy part of road for staged event

[Newsjock]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/05/27/GOVERNOR.TMP

Governor digs fixing potholes
San Jose crews destroy part of road for staged event
Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer
Friday, May 27, 2005

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger traveled to a quiet San Jose neighborhood Thursday, and -- dogged by protesters -- filled a pothole dug by city crews just a few hours before, as part of an attempt to dramatize his efforts to increase money for transportation projects.

The choreographed press opportunity -- at least the governor's fourth recent event involving transportation issues -- seemed aimed as much at thwarting the demonstrators who have followed Schwarzenegger for weeks as grabbing new attention for his proposal.

... Porrovecchio and his business partner, Joe Greco, said that at about 7 a.m. they became fascinated watching "10 city workers standing around for a few hours putting on new vests,'' all in preparation for the big moment with Schwarzenegger.

But their street, he noted, didn't even have a hole to pave over until Thursday morning.

more

[AlCzervik]

1. oh dear god i give up! When will it set in that his job

is actually not a movie roll and the states employees aren't extras on his set?

[MisterP]

3. he even called nurses "stage dressing" in the hospitals

he's gonna melt down like the British turncoat in "Indiana Jones and the (Second-to-) Last Crusade"

[central scrutinizer]

23. Arnie, your proctologist's nurse just called

Good news - they found your head!!!

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. my god he could have come to San Diego and do it for real

we have a sinkhole that has not been filled, and so many potholes I sure am glad to drive a 4 by 4

[NorCalDem]

4. Bay Area

specifically Berkeley is F'ing horrible. Not all his fault though, those damned Earthquakes make rippled roads in a jiffy.

[Protagoras]

5. Some day if he grows up to be president

He'll be able to blow up countries in order to rebuild them too.

[jobycom]

6. To quote Nelly: He's going down, down, baby

This guy is a joke. When he has to use tax dollars to make a pothole so he can fill it so maybe people will start liking him again, he's finished.

[DRoseDARs]

7. The city needs to sue him personally for the taxpayer money spent n/t

[carnie_sf]

8. We've got plenty

of real potholes on 16th Street in SF

[yorgatron]

9. that was the street i live on!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3733772

[yorgatron]

10. BTW,there's nothing really wrong with the pavement here

couple of cracks here and there,but no real potholes.
P.S. talked to a couple of S.J.P.D. and they hate the guy!

[catzies]

20. I love this quote from someone on your street (from the article):

"It's a lot of money spent on a staged event," said Matt Vujevich, 74, a retiree whose home faced the crew-made trench that straddled nearly the whole street. "We still have the same problems. Everything's a press conference."

[alcibiades_mystery]

24. But can Governor Pothole set foot on a public street in San Francisco

especially in the Mission?

:rofl:

[Demeter]

35. Governor Pothole Is A Fabulous Designation!

It's going to be history!

[0rganism]

36. That's what I was wondering... how hard is it to find a real pothole?

If Californians actually have to get a road crew to dig up the street to make a pothole, you must have some pretty kick-ass roads.

[Rainscents]

11. Oh, man... is this guy insane or what? Destroying the road just for

photo-op? :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[truthisfreedom]

12. whoever is handling ahh-nold is either asleep at the wheel or working

against him. one debacle after another.

[Richard Steele]

13. Life imitates art...and Ahnold imitates fiction imitating life.

Why doesn't he just leave the real world alone, and do his staged stunts from a Hollywood set?
It would be more honest, and much less expensive.

Anyone remember that old SNL sketch where the premise was that Reagan's masters told him his presidency was a really long film production?

QUOTE: "Just as long as we don't have to re-shoot that scene where I get shot. I didn't like that, no sirree!"

[gemutlichkait]

14. Well for those of us who read our AAA magazine

It stated clearly that the people voted in the special election by 61% on a proposition that gives the governor the percentage of the sales tax for road repairs out of the transportation dept. Funny the only thing I remember was signing a petition to help the teachers! I was sucker fooled. Now Arnold wants to say this is "special interest" and we need to use the sales tax (remaining 39%)to fix the road. Just use the money you took in the first place. Oh yeah I forgot. you just got back from Texas

[d.l.Green]

17. AAA? Where have you been? Evil, evil...goto www.betterworldclub.com n/t

[catzies]

19. Welcome to DU, and all California was "sucker fooled," as you put it

:hi:

[Gyre]

15. Destruction of govenment property

for a publicity stunt. What a putz!

[PartyPooper]

29. Isn't it "illegal" to destroy government property?

I heard this story on TV this morning. And, it was abundantly clear that the perpetrators were trying to hide this "pothole" farce from the public.

[cascadiance]

30. Of course there will be a denial of responsibility for this..

And claim that workers did it on their own to "give themselves work", much like it wasn't the president's or any other of his staff's idea to put up "Mission Accomplished" sign on the aircraft carrier down here and was totally done by the soldiers here too.

[olddad56]

16. ARNOLD IS A KNUCKLE DRAGGING NEANDERTHAL NAZI GOON.

[GregW]

18. He only showed up 'coz someone mentioned pot

[K8-EEE]

21. Valley Girl K8-EE Sez: HASTA LA VISTA ARNOLD!

OMG as if this goon isn't hated enough....if you're looking for potholes, come to the Valley, you doofus!

Please God, please, no more bad-actors-turned-bad-politicians in CA!! ENOUGH!! He's getting terminated in 2006, and I can't wait.

[CabalPowered]

22. We need to draft Warren Beatty n/t

[cascadiance]

25. Now that he's cleaned up "Laguna Seca Way", the racers can come back

and know they can jam in this neighborhood without damaging their stolen parts laden rodders on a pothole. Might prevent some more cars from being stolen to be used to replace tires and wheels, etc. that they lose! Thanks Arnold! I needed that. Had my car stolen a year ago here in San Diego and lost a wheel and tire on a pothole on my new car more recently too!

Now if you can stop spending my tax money on tearing up the roads and launching special elections and put it to use more constructively, I might be happier!

[slackmaster]

26. Hey Arnold! We have some REAL potholes down here in San Diego

Sure could use your help filling them.

My ex-wife used to live in Conway, SC. That's the seat of Horry County, inland from Myrtle Beach. Lovely old town.

Every summer they have a Pothole Festival in Conway. The townspeople chip in for materials and spend a weekend filling potholes and eating regional cuisine.

[slaveplanet]

27. where's someone with a video cam

when you need one. Seriously , couldn't anyone catch this roadcrew in action? It would make for great ammunition if it were posted on the web.

[cascadiance]

28. Also would be cool to catch road crews changing their vests...

to get ready for their photo op.

[maxrandb]

31. Governor digs fixing potholes San Jose crews tear up part of road for stag

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/05/27/MNG9UCVOCH1.DTL

On Edit: Headlines last two words are "staged event"

This I don't "effing" believe.

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger traveled to a quiet San Jose neighborhood Thursday, and -- dogged by protesters -- filled a pothole dug by city crews just a few hours before, as part of an attempt to dramatize his efforts to increase money for transportation projects

The choreographed press opportunity -- at least the governor's fourth recent event involving transportation issues -- seemed aimed as much at thwarting the demonstrators who have followed Schwarzenegger for weeks as grabbing new attention for his proposal

{snip}

Porrovecchio and his business partner, Joe Greco, said that at about 7 a. m. they became fascinated watching "10 city workers standing around for a few hours putting on new vests,'' all in preparation for the big moment with Schwarzenegger.

But their street, he noted, didn't even have a hole to pave over until Thursday morning. "They just dug it out,'' Porrovecchio said, shrugging. "There was a crack. But they dug out the whole road this morning.''"

can I say :wtf: "Over"

He has city workers dig a hole just so he can fill it???? Have we entered the Twilight Zone? Or is it more like the "Orwellian Zone"

I mean I know this is California, but is everything this "ass pickle" does staged like a movie? He needs to be stopped before he becomes Ray-Gun.

He seems to be taking a page right out of * and Rove's playbook. everything with these "effers" is a Broadway Show. Flashy, entertaining (maybe), but in the end IT'S STILL A PLAY!

Our largest state, and our country are being run by spoiled little kids playing "dress-up".

[wicket]

32. What a JACKASS!

Sheesh! I know some Repubs out in Cali who were big supporters of the recall- I wonder what they think of their boy now??

[knowbody0]

33. what a goon

he seriously nauseates me

[catzies]

34. Dupe

:)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1504076

[baldguy]

37. What, no product placements?

They could have had Ahhnold enjoy a Cold, Refreshing PEPSI-COLA® after all that hard work.

[struggle4progress]

38. This'll make a great campaign commercial.

<edit:> The sponsoring group: Potholes for Schwarzenneger