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Arnold's Veto Message: An F*** You to S.F. Lawmaker?
October 28, 2009 7:13 AM
Arnold gives as good as he gets.
My colleague, ABC News' Teddy Davis has more:
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) is raising eyebrows in California for issuing a veto message that spells out "f*** you" in the left-hand margin of the page.
The former action star's f*** you message came when he rejected Assembly Bill 1176, legislation which would have expanded the financing powers of the Port of San Francisco.
The bill was unobjectionable to legislators of both parties: it sailed through the Assembly and state Senate on unanimous votes.
It was vetoed, however, by Schwarzenegger who said in his message that he considers it "unnecessary" to sign the bill at this time because another year has gone by without the legislature tackling big issues such as water reform, prison reform, and health care.
While the surface-level message is one often articulated by Schwarzenegger, if you look down the left margin of the page, the first word begins with the letter "f" and the last ends with the letter "u."
Read the veto message HERE.
The sponsor of the bill was Tom Ammiano, a Democratic member of the State Assembly who recently heckled Schwarzenegger when the governor made a surprise drop-in at a San Francisco Democratic Party fundraiser.
As previously reported by ABC-7 in San Francisco, Ammiano shouted "you lie!" to Schwarzenegger during the event at the Fairmont Hotel, before adding: "kiss my gay ass" as he walked out.
Ammiano, who said afterwards that he has no regrets, was upset with Schwarzenegger about the impact that his budget cuts have had on people in San Francisco.
Although it's hard to imagine that the double message was not intentional, Schwarzenegger's spokesman is maintaining that it was just an innocent accident.
"It was a weird coincidence. We looked at other veto messages and saw the left margins spelled things like 'soap' and 'ear.' Weird," Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear told ABC News.
The double message was first discovered by the San Francisco Bay Guardian.
Watch it HERE.
October 28, 2009 in Republicans | Permalink | Share | User Comments (81)
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Interesting....but I doubt it was intentional.
Posted by: SimplyAmazed | Oct 28, 2009 7:44:45 AM
I'm not an Arnold fan but I gotta say Kudos for orginality. Pifft, and they thought he was just a dumb Austrian bodybuilder!
Posted by: Trent | Oct 28, 2009 7:51:51 AM
George - this is the most interesting and important item in politics to cover? What about the Dems losing battle over the Public Option? And people say FOX News is bad... geeze.
Posted by: GetaGrip | Oct 28, 2009 7:53:14 AM
If this was intentional, the the Calif. Gov. is much smarter than I thought. Other than that, the people examining veto responses looking for "hidden messages" need to get a life.
Posted by: NFH | Oct 28, 2009 8:02:37 AM
Well that is one way to veto!!!
Posted by: jenny | Oct 28, 2009 8:06:21 AM
LOL ...That's classic! talk about your "Freudian Slips"! hilarious ...
Posted by: 1enlightened | Oct 28, 2009 8:12:47 AM
I believe CNN is doing an investigation into the spelling and meaning of each word in this veto. Go Arnold
Posted by: jeff | Oct 28, 2009 8:16:07 AM
If read backwards, this memo also confirms the 2012 apocalypse, a 2nd shooter on the grassy knoll, GWB's fingerprints on 9/11 and the secret to the Jonas Brothers success. Touche Mr. Schwarzenegger, nicely played.
Posted by: factotum1 | Oct 28, 2009 8:16:42 AM
He is correct Claifornia has other problems that these dimwits need to solve 1st
Posted by: Flip Floppin | Oct 28, 2009 8:45:30 AM
Like grammar in the state run education.
Posted by: CW | Oct 28, 2009 8:54:47 AM
OK ABC... I know times are hard and you got to stir up the ol pot-of-interest and all... but THIS is really reaching out there...
Posted by: RUKiddingMe | Oct 28, 2009 8:57:38 AM
This is a classic document. I hope Hollywood can incorporate it in the next National Treasure 3 script. Kudos to Arnold on focusing on the priorities first and I hope that includes education too.
Posted by: William | Oct 28, 2009 9:12:20 AM
This is different but shows the problem in politics they do not want to work together.
In fact it carries over into the work place you see clicks formed on teams sad and this destroies the value of the team.
No wonder America can't compete.
Posted by: ant | Oct 28, 2009 9:14:29 AM
Hilarious that Arnold would call-out the weak CA legislature for what they are. No wonder CA is in financial trouble. They don't know the word 'NO'.
It's weakness like this that has taken over in DC and is trying to bankrupt our country, giving everything away that others (the middle class) will pay for, dearly, and likely in the form of a 50-60% income tax.
Good for Arnold. If Conservatives in DC had such chutzpah, we'd wouldn't be bailing out fools with no intention of paying us back, promoting a multi-trillion $ healthcare plan or dilly-dallying over Afghanistan.
In the USA, we fight to win. This post is taking on a different slant, but let's shut down the Mexican border, fight to win in Afghanistan, empower more healthcare companies to compete to reduce costs - with strong laws against company mis-deeds, reduce taxes on businesses to allow them to expand, grow, create jobs, and generate prosperity in America.
Posted by: Shanker | Oct 28, 2009 9:15:14 AM
You've got to be joking!
I would read the statement a hundred times, and not find the cryptic phrase.
Who invents this stuff?
Posted by: Bob Hobbs | Oct 28, 2009 9:19:17 AM
Some one some where has too much time on their hands.
Posted by: ML | Oct 28, 2009 9:21:02 AM
Why are you covering this when the Health Care Bill is more important? Fox news is covering real news, as is Yahoo news. Oh, I know why, it's because the Dems are cracking apart in their support. I get it!
Posted by: livininindy | Oct 28, 2009 9:21:05 AM
Hilarious. Go Arnold.
Posted by: KC | Oct 28, 2009 9:25:39 AM
Frankly under circumstances Kentucky alumnus Larry Little said Friday Fox
and God Save!
Posted by: David Adam | Oct 28, 2009 9:29:28 AM
Whether intentional or not, it's damn funny. Good on him!
Posted by: CMS Critic | Oct 28, 2009 9:30:44 AM
clever!
Posted by: LongT | Oct 28, 2009 9:32:36 AM
OH MY GOD -- Of course is WAS intentional. Well done Arnie -- well done. I knew I liked you.
Posted by: Gauston in DC | Oct 28, 2009 9:33:52 AM
This is the ONLY thing I've enjoyed from Arnold since T2. Though I doubt he or anyone in his admin. would have the wit for it. My pulled-from-thin-air theory would be the language of the memo was suggested by Willie Brown who was visibly embarrassed and angry with Ammianos vulgar display.
Posted by: treborsf | Oct 28, 2009 9:34:15 AM
This is news??????
Posted by: sammy | Oct 28, 2009 9:57:54 AM
Well I guess that is one way to "terminate" a piece of legislation not to your liking.
Posted by: CND FOX | Oct 28, 2009 10:20:00 AM
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