Posted on 07/06/2005 8:26:42 PM PDT by Crackingham
A year after Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California, he stood with the political world seemingly safe in his colossal grip, hailed as a reformer of ambition and ability, carrying the hopes of the state's voters on his broad shoulders.
Midway through his second year, however, and the former Hollywood star and one-time Mr Universe has found that the mantle of Californian politics is becoming more of a burden. The Republican governor's plummeting popularity has forced him to call a special legislative election to push through his troubled reforms.
Just 37 per cent of Californians agree with Mr Schwarzenegger's decision to call the election, while an independent poll revealed that the governor's approval rating had also plunged to 37 per cent. In perhaps the worst showing yet, last week's poll showed him losing his proposed re-election bid in 2006 to both leading Democratic challengers.
The governor had previously enjoyed ratings above 60 per cent during his 19-month reign, buoyed by significant bipartisan support and personal popularity since his defeat of Gray Davis in the second recall election in United States history.
But his honeymoon has come to an end, with the governor facing jeers and hecklers earlier this month when he called the referendum. Last week, he was booed at the swearing in of Los Angeles' new mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa.
The November referendum will address three issues: stronger state spending restraints, higher standards for public school teachers and the redrawing of legislative districts.
Critics argue that the election is merely personality politicking by a governor desperate to hold centre stage in an era where image is king. The pollster Mark DiCamillo said: "[Schwarzenegger's] decline seems more like a decline in his political strategy, his dealings with the legislature and his decision to call a special election.
"He's become in many voters' eyes a more partisan, polarising figure than he was when he first got elected."
The governor's popularity plunge began in January, when he announced plans for a "great battle" with the Democrats, who control the state legislature. Mr Schwarzenegger's style of "swagger and substance", and his branding of Democrats as "losers, addicts and stooges", and infamously "girlie men", did not help bipartisan relations - or his public support.
Opponents had also attacked the governor's aim to raise more than $50 million (£28 million) in campaign contributions, much coming from the same special-interest groups whose influence he had pledged to rescind. Two weeks ago, the governor was forced to return a $10,000 donation from an Ohio contributor under a fraud investigation.
Well, even if he is a one-term governor, at least he did rid the State of California and the world, of Gray Davis.
I'm glad he did it, but no one should ever take on the cesspool that is California.
I think we can safely put those plans for Arnie's presidency in the waste bin!
He said he was there to blow up boxes and not to rearrange them.
The compromising of the budget by the Democrats and the tens of millions being raised and spent against the governor must mean he is doing lots of things right.
I sure would like to see him be more bold and out there more not taking all the negative publicity in silence.
Whew! My heart sank because I thought this was going to about Arnold Palmer!
I thought the real "Arnie" (Palmer) was ill.
lol. This article is written with exactly the negative spin the author wishes it.
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