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More Parsky Watch Parsky Watch - The Magazine Take the Parsky Watch IQ Test Visit the Parsky Watch Store	Back to Parsky Watch archives Fading away in the glow of Arnold’s election Parsky Watch #53 October 16, 2003 PARSKY’S SLOW FADE TO BLACK Boy, no wonder Gerry Parsky was always, shall we say, “unenthusiastic” about the Davis recall: he was afraid of sharing the sandbox with a Republican Governor. We think he actually enjoyed the absence of any statewide Republican elected official – less competition for control of the CRP. As Satan quipped in Paradise Lost, “Tis better to rule in Hell than serve in heaven.” Well – welcome to Heaven, Gerry. Ah-nuld hasn’t even been sworn in as Governor yet, but he’s already sucking Parsky’s power away, like kryptonite on Superman (no disrespect meant to the Man of Steel). As you know, GP quit his CRP posts to focus his dubious energies on the President’s California re-election campaign (with friends like that, Mr. President, who needs enemies?). A big, big part of that task involves raising enormous sums of money – which, as PW readers know, is not GP’s strong suit. The perks of being the President’s Main Man in California are manifold, including designating who holds fund-raisers for the President, who speaks at presidential fund-raisers, who works on the President’s state re-election efforts, choosing the membership of the California delegation to the Republican National Convention…you get the picture. Regarding the latter, ordinarily each candidate for the GOP nomination submits a list of delegates to the Secretary of State. It is those folks who are actually chosen when voters cast their vote for a particular candidate. Since President Bush is the whole ball game in 2004, anyone who wants to be a delegate must go crawling to W’s main man in California, Gerry Parsky. Or, at least, that used to be the case. Now that there’s a new Governor in town, it looks like Gerry going to being losing that and the other prerogatives to Arnold and his transition director, Rep. David Dreier. And it doesn’t end there. Schwarzenegger and Dreier are also absorbing suzerainty over Parsky’s last fiefdom – picking federal judicial nominees. That responsibility belongs more properly with the state’s GOP congressional, and we’ve no doubt Dreier agrees So, Gerry, enjoy being the President’s main man in Kah-lee-for-nee-ya while it lasts. After all, in light of the recall results, what do you have to offer the Bush re-elect that Governor Schwarzenegger doesn’t – in spades?