Arnold: 'Buck Stops With Me'

Two days after suffering a stinging election defeat, a conciliatory Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger took responsibility for the failure of his initiatives and said he learned that he needs more patience in seeking government reform.

"The buck stops with me," he told reporters Thursday during a Capitol news conference, referring to the clean sweep against his proposals in Tuesday's special election. "I take full responsibility for this election. I take full responsibility for its failure."

California voters rejected each of the initiatives Schwarzenegger was pushing on the special election ballot. He sought to implement state spending limits and give the governor authority to make midyear budget cuts, change the way legislative districts are drawn, lengthen the probationary period for teachers and restrict the ability of public employee unions to raise money for political campaigns.

Asked if there was anything he would do differently, Schwarzenegger said, "If I was to make another Terminator movie, I would tell Terminator to travel back in time to tell Arnold not to have another special election."

Voters also rejected unrelated measures on abortion, prescription drugs and California's energy market.

"I operate with a different mentality," Schwarzenegger said, saying he will seek to be more patient with legislators. "`I think I recognize that now more so than I did before.

"The people said, 'Initiatives are fine, but you know, go and work it out with the legislators,"' he said. "It was the law of supply and demand: There was plenty of supply of initiatives, but not the demand."

The governor's statements to reporters came after he had summoned the top legislative leaders from both parties to his office. The Democratic leaders said the Republican governor had promised to work with them on education, transportation and other problems facing California.