Bustamente now ahead of Schwarzenegger in CA link to my comment below. The appointment of Buffett was a really stupid move. It's like telling everyone in California: we're taking your house, your rents, raising the price of food, and we know best. And as I said HERE, the unions will do anything to keep their ill gotten gains and will back Bustamente to the hilt if it looks like Davis is toast. They are at least two million voters who WILL vote. Late Add; from the Contra Costa Times

The Oracle of Omaha may need a new crystal ball after Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday rejected comments by his adviser Warren Buffett that California property taxes should be increased.

The suggestions from billionaire Buffett that Proposition 13 may need to be scrapped unleashed a political firestorm, since the initiative is revered by California voters. Buffett provided Schwarzenegger's opponents with political ammunition, raised questions about the actor's solutions for California's financial disasters, and forced Schwarzenegger's campaign into damage control mode. The comments also opened the door for a renewed debate on the role property taxes should play in the state's revenues.

I agree with Bill Quick, in that Buffett will be an historical figure by Wednesday of next week. Nothing is as important in California as Prop 13 tax relief, and this was incredibly dumb. In Arnod's defense he has been a long time supporter of Prop 13 and spoken on numerous occasions in support.

"Mr. Buffett doesn't speak for Mr. Schwarzenegger," said Rob Stutzman, spokesman for Schwarzenegger's campaign. "Arnold Schwarzenegger has supported Prop. 13 for 25 years. ... Arnold is an admirer of Howard Jarvis and has referred to him as the original tax terminator." Jarvis and Paul Gann were the prime movers behind Prop. 13, the tax-slashing initiative approved overwhelmingly in 1978. Entire Article Here.

Sacramento Bee opines that Arnold is a political amatuer making dumb mistakes, and implies he's going to make more. So far he's got a sex pervert (Rob Lowe) and a Tax Pervert (Buffett) on his staff. What next? Bloomberg reports that there is slippage from the Gallup Poll taken earlier in the week and that Arnold has taken a big hit.