
Senate candidate Carly Fiorina blamed politicians in Washington when asked to clear up her suggestion that California file for bankruptcy, and said the "simple" solution to the Golden State's economic woes is to grow the economy and cut spending.
Fiorina (R-CA) has been the subject of mocking from both parties for the remarks she made earlier this week to business leaders, with her rivals for the Republican nomination to challenge Sen. Barbara Boxer saying it shows her lack of political experience.
Yesterday a radio host in Fresno asked Fiorina - who was chief executive of Hewlett Packard until a few years ago - what she really meant.
Here's her reaction, after 1300 KYNO-AM host Alan Autry asked her to explain herself:
I find it so interesting that a bunch of politicians jumped on it and said 'Well, my gosh, that's legally not an option.' That's true, it's legally not an option. That's cold comfort to the voters and the citizens of California who know that by any commonsense definition, this state is bankrupt. When you can't pay your bills you are bankrupt.
Fiorina added: "We need to kind of get real here, and get real in Washington that we're in a serious situation and the only things we can do about it are grow the economy and cut spending, grow the economy and cut spending. ... Pretty simple."
Listen to the exchange:
Also on the show, Autry, the former mayor of Fresno and a former Green Bay Packer, endorsed Fiorina's candidacy.
You can listen to the show in full here.
Dorn76
February 12, 2010 1:57 PM
Yes, Californians need to get serious and pay attention to the viable candidates.
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Viva!America!
February 12, 2010 2:04 PM
Fiorina, come up with ideas that can be legally done.
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PeachesNYC
February 12, 2010 2:05 PM
"the former mayor of Fresno and a former Green Bay Packer, endorsed Fiorina's candidacy."
Wow, bet that endorsement is a real get. As a former Californian, I cannot believe anyone there would consider voting another GOPer into office. They have completely destroyed the state by refusing to work with Dems on any desperately needed tax hikes thanks to Prop 13. It is completely undemocratic and just plain irresponsible. Another example of the tyranny of the minority. But I doubt even a Dem gov would have the courage to try reforming it.
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lousgirl84
February 12, 2010 5:08 PM in reply to PeachesNYC
I live in California and I can almost bet we won't elect another Rethug for a long long time. I didn't vote for Aahnold but I know a lot of folks who regret their decision to do so. I blame it all on Darrel Issa. He started the whole recall of Gray Davis
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Clear
February 13, 2010 12:12 AM in reply to lousgirl84
Copy.
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Zell
February 12, 2010 2:05 PM
She's right. Californians have to stop the petty partisan and political bickering, and start actually concentrating on the real problems facing the state. Such as the recent infestation of demon sheep.
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elle a
February 12, 2010 2:23 PM
what kind of answer is "grow the economy and cut spending"
why can't she give specific suggestions as to how she intends to do that?
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Matt Jones
February 13, 2010 7:01 PM in reply to elle a
What kind of answer? The only kind most Republican pols can give without exposing the whole sham - their full answer is, "grow the economy, cut spending and fuck the poor, the elderly, and anybody else who doesn't agree with our Megacorp buddies".
But that last bit didn't test well in the focus groups, so they leave it out... :)
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Mom, Esq.
February 12, 2010 2:30 PM
Steve Martin said it best:
You.. can be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes! You can be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes! You say.. "Steve.. how can I be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes?" First.. get a million dollars.
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DrToast
February 12, 2010 2:38 PM
California is not bankrupt. The government of California is.
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
February 12, 2010 5:30 PM in reply to DrToast
No, it's not. It's insolvent. You are "insolvent" if you either cannot pay your bills as they come due (cash flow insolvency) or if your liabilities exceed your assets (balance sheet insolvency.)
Bankruptcy is a legal state that may, or may not, occur as the result of involvency. Insolvency is a precondition to bankruptcy but not all insolvencies result in bankruptcy.
But hey, why would anyone expect the former CEO of a Fortune 100 company and an aspirant to the United States Senate to know something that arcane?
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DugFmJamul
February 13, 2010 1:10 PM in reply to DrToast
Short but to the point and well said!
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jah627
February 15, 2010 10:26 AM in reply to DugFmJamul
...and by the way: She was FIRED
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precisioncontrol
February 12, 2010 2:39 PM
Maybe I'm the crazy one, but I felt her bankruptcy comment was on-point. California's budget deficit is over 50%. That's utterly ridiculous. Is Carly's "simple solution" correct? Of course not. She couldn't run HP and can't run California. But her framing of the problem is correct.
The real solution is to change California's Constitution such that it's easier to add or remove laws than it is to alter their Constitution itself. Matt Yglesias linked to a helpful piece on this some time ago:
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lousgirl84
February 12, 2010 5:11 PM in reply to precisioncontrol
Exactly and we need to end the 2/3rds majority which the thugs put into place to stop any legislation from going forward. For such a great state (and it is a great state), we certainly screwed up and need to make some major changes in the next election.
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DugFmJamul
February 13, 2010 1:20 PM in reply to lousgirl84
California has the highest state income tax in the nation and it still spends more than it takes in.
The first place California needs to stop spending money on is illegal alien benefits, in-state tuition comes to mind. California needs to punish all cities with fines that have declared themselves to be so-called sanctuary cites.
California needs to open off shore drilling for oil and create many more desalinization plants and sell excess water to dry states like AZ and NV.
The private sector jobs just by doing the above would help boast California's economy and increase taxes to the State treasury.
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PQuincy
February 15, 2010 8:27 AM in reply to DugFmJamul
DugFmJa, your statement about California income tax rates is only partially true.
It is correct that California has one of the highest marginal income tax rates for incomes above $1m.
However, a few states have higher marginal rates on lower incomes, and quite a few states have higher rates on low incomes -- e.g., Colorado's flat rate of over 4%, compared to CA's lowest bracket of 1%.
Most assessments that consider all tax revenue put California among the states with higher taxes, but nowhere near the top, in part because California property tax rates are quite low (capped at 1%, plus 2/3 voter approved special districts that rarely add more than 0.1%). Since the greatest beneficiaries of low property tax rates are corporations and wealthy homeowners, the property tax system is considerable counterbalance to the high marginal tax rates on income.
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PQuincy
February 15, 2010 8:21 AM in reply to precisioncontrol
Precision, would you care to provide data on your odd claim that "California's budget deficit is over 50%"? To use your own words, "That's utterly ridiculous!"
California's general fund is spending about $91 bn in 2009, and is running an estimated deficit for 2010 of about $8 bn -- largely the result of decreased tax revenue.
Since when does $8 bn add up to 50% of $91 bn -- not to mention the substantial amounts that are part of the non-general fund budget?
Various parties -- mostly associated with the Republican party -- continue to repeat outright lies about California's finances, such as that "California has the highest taxes in the country" (not true even at the state level, where CA is about 12th, and even less true if you include California's fairly low property taxes).
The debate over how to improve the state's fiscal condition would be a little easier if one side was not constantly stating untruths.
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precisioncontrol
February 16, 2010 4:18 PM in reply to PQuincy
It was an error. I heard it somewhere and repeated it without first substantiating the claim. I'd appreciate, though, if you wouldn't assume bad faith about my comments!
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mcc
February 12, 2010 2:42 PM
MICHAEL SCOTT: I DECLARE BANKRUPTCY!!!
(Later)
OSCAR: Hey; I just wanted you to know that you can't just say bankruptcy and expect anything to happen.
MICHAEL SCOTT: I didn't say it, I declared it.
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geofu54
February 12, 2010 3:00 PM
Carly, stop making an ass of yourself already.
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ohyeathatsright
February 12, 2010 3:21 PM
I say this as a Californian, we need to raise taxes.
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agio
February 12, 2010 4:05 PM in reply to ohyeathatsright
You need to repeal Prop 13 and implement a more realistic property tax structure, and the legislative bar to raising taxes that enables a small cadre of rural conservatives to hold the rest of the state hostage (I say this as a former Californian.)
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ohyeathatsright
February 12, 2010 4:50 PM in reply to agio
The drive from LA to SF is always a nice reminder of that.
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DugFmJamul
February 13, 2010 4:35 PM in reply to ohyeathatsright
You're always free to write California a bigger check at tax time!
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ohyeathatsright
February 15, 2010 12:55 PM in reply to DugFmJamul
No way. I cut my checks directly to local programs and non-profits that have repeatedly seen their funding cut due to fiscal irresponsibility in Sacramento.
Primarily my support is for at-risk/foster youth programs. The local program I most vehemently support just had their funding cut in HALF. We're not talking about big numbers either. It was slashed from about 130K year operating budget to just over 60K. It's a 24/7 shelter that now simply can't be staffed for 60K, much less food, clothing and bedding for the residents.
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newyorkjoe
February 12, 2010 3:44 PM
If it's the politicians' fault that CA is broke, then Fiorina will fit right in if elected. After all, as its CEO, she drove Hewlett Packard to its knees.
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chimpale
February 12, 2010 3:47 PM
You know the scene in "Goldmember" when Scotty comes into the room and he's missing a lot of his hair and Dr. Evil does a double-take and gasps?
That's sort of the way recent pictures of Carly Fiorina have affected me.
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agio
February 12, 2010 4:05 PM
"Grow the economy"==Carlyfiorina dreamin'.
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JNagarya
February 13, 2010 12:13 PM in reply to agio
I hate that sound bite. Every time a Republican't spews it, I want to poor water on their head, to see if it will grow them a brain.
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wygk
February 12, 2010 6:11 PM
Yes, let's get real...
As CEO of Hewlett-Packard, Carly Fiorina lost 60% of shareholder value (while competitors like Dell were growing), and eliinated 18,000 jobs.
Let's get real: Carly Fiorina is incompetent. She was FIRED by the HP board of directors. Please read what people who worked under her at HP have to say about her at http://www.carly-fiorina.com
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TM
February 13, 2010 6:34 AM in reply to wygk
I'm glad the rest of the world is getting a chance to view how brilliant this woman is. When she ran HP she singlehandedly demoralized the entire organization. Many people at work wanted to hurt her. They hate her guts. She's a jackass who has never done anything but know the right people.
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Jonathan Edelstein
February 13, 2010 12:07 PM
All she needs to do to solve the budget deficit is unscramble her name: "Rent, O California!"
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DugFmJamul
February 13, 2010 1:06 PM
The RNC keeps supporting RINOs the base of the Republican Party refuses to support much less want them representing their interests in Washington D.C. or California for that matter.
With that being said Ms. Carly Fiorina should drop out of the Republican Senate race in California and throw her support behind Chuck DeVore a true Constitutional Republican. Chuck's definitely not a RINO like Ms. Fiorina.
1. Ms. Fiorina believes in whatever is good for Global Corporations is good for America, wrong! Global Corporation's interest should never ever trump our U.S. Constitution--period.
2. Ms. Fiorina believes in John McCain's Amnesty for illegal aliens. Amnesty should be in the form of permanent residency only and never-ever in the form a path way to U.S. Citizenship where illegal aliens would earn the right to vote.
3. Ms. Fiorina does not believe in securing the Mexican Border with the National Guard, thus she would never vote on the constitutionality of the Mexican Invasion.
4. Ms. Fiorina has never explained to Conservatives what the Constitution means when it states, "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government".
Chuck DeVore is the Constitutional Republican that believes in restoring the Republic and the Constitution to it's rightful place in Government. Its time for all good Citizens (regardless of Party) in California to support a candidate like Chuck Devore, someone who will be a champion of the Constitution in the Senate and not trample on the Constitution or their oath of office when the situation benefits their party's own self-interest.
I believe Chuck Devore is that "champion", not Ms. Fiorina!
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PQuincy
February 15, 2010 8:36 AM in reply to DugFmJamul
I'm interested in your point 4: "4. Ms. Fiorina has never explained to Conservatives what the Constitution means when it states, "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government"."
I always thought that this provision prevented any state from instituting a monarchy, or an aristocratic form of government in which a small minority would rule the state. Beyond that, however, "republic" or the Latin "res publica" is not terribly specific about details. A republic (as understood since the 17th century) could not have a king, nor could political authority be based exclusively on birth (hereditary aristocracy). The method of lawmaking in a republic must include voices from diverse parts of society, and operate on the principle of the "common good." But beyond that, "republican form of government" is a pretty wide-open guideline.
Still, nowadays I think most people would agree that a "republican form of government" should rest on a combination of representation and majority rule through voting.
So, my question is: in your judgment, is a supermajority requirement for all fiscal legislation then in keeping with a "republican form of government"?
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DugFmJamul
February 15, 2010 1:23 PM in reply to PQuincy
I fully intend to answer you concerns but I have to mow the lawn right now, back at you in 6 hours...smile
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jah627
February 15, 2010 10:33 AM in reply to DugFmJamul
You should run for governor yourself. Get these brilliant ideas out onto the airwaves and who knows how far you could go? Maybe even lead the "Mexican Invasion" yourself? Charge!
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DugFmJamul
February 15, 2010 1:18 PM in reply to jah627
If I was President I would relocate all 16 million illegals from Mexico to various training camps along the border. Train and educate them to retake their country back from the corrupt politicians and families the rule Mexico. And when these Mexican Patriots are trained and ready, invade Mexico with their own people that their government expelled to the U.S.!
Wouldn't that be sweet revenge? VIVA LA MEXICO!
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