Quotes

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. It's a big plus for Arnold. It shows he understood the message from the November election." Recalled Governor Gray Davis, on the Susan Kennedy Appointment (Sacramento Bee, 12/1/05)

“Schwarzenegger isn’t quite doing exactly what he accused Gray Davis of doing in 2003. But he’s getting closer every day.”

Dan Weintraub
(Sacramento Bee Opinion Columnist, 1-10-06)

"...his appointment of this Chief of Staff has crushed whatever was left of our volunteer base, so even if Arnold has an unlikely spectacular year, there won't be any rallying the troops come next Labor Day."

Mike Der Manouel Jr.
President, Fresno County Lincoln Club

"Susan Kennedy was Davis's enforcer to ensure state agencies implemented the deals the governor's office cut with campaign contributors."

Sacramento Bee Columnist Dan Walters
(as reported in the Wall Street Journal, 12/5/05)

“Californians spoke loudly for real change in the recall. This is a tragic move backwards."

Assembly Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy

"Migden envisages Kennedy as a kind of dual governor: "Arnold can now go out and campaign and Susan will stay at the Statehouse and get things done.""

San Francisco Examiner, reporting on BOE Member Carole Migden’s reaction to Susan Kennedy's appointment as COS (12/7/05)

"She was the wrong pick for chief of staff. First of all, she's a Democrat, and a Republican should have a Republican chief of staff. And second, she was Gray Davis' (Cabinet secretary). She was there when a lot of his policy was being developed that led to his recall. Those aren't the best credentials."

Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman on the
Susan Kennedy Appointment ( as reported in the Sacramento Bee, 12/1/05)

But the Oracle corruption issue continues to follow her. As Governor Davis' gatekeeper, she was in the key position to know if the Governor accepted campaign bribes for steering government contracts, or if bureaucrats under her bungled the process and she failed to catch it and stop them. Since our investigatory committee was halted by the Speaker before we got to the truth, and the Attorney General failed to follow up on any of the leads, the smell of corruption hangs over Davis and all of his top aides to this day. It is a smell that has no place in the California Capitol.

Bill Leonard, Member Board of Equalization on the Susan Kennedy appointmen

"People in the Republican base -- donors, elected officials, are going to have great difficulty trusting her."

Gary South, Campaign Consultant for Gray Davis