Team Arnold: Schwarzenegger's a strong candidate, but he's no shoo-in

Opinion Journal ^ | 08/08/03 | John Fund

[Pokey78]

They say everything leaks in politics except the airtight Bush White House. Add to that Arnold Schwarzenegger, who kept his announcement that he's running for governor of California so close to his chest that he stunned his own staff with the news. George Gorton, his political adviser, stood in the parking lot of "The Tonight Show" studio last night after the announcement and showed a reporter a statement he had prepared that began, "I have decided not to run

[A CA Guy]

It's in the bag for Arnold.

[Taiwan Bocks]

This is big news, even on Taiwan TV news.

[MJY1288]

I think so too, Gray Davis is DOA and Arnold has the people of California behind him.

I wish him well, taking over that mess is no walk in the park. Hopefully his optimism will rub off on the people of California and spark an economic recovery.

[microgood]

Vote for Arnold. If you want to live.(amazing how far the news reaches)

[davisfh]

"It's in the bag for Arnold."

I agree with you though I know that CA is only substituting one liberal for another. The difference, though, is that they are substituting an amiable liberal for one who has a mean and contentious nature.

[Roscoe Karns]

"I see you, Gray Davis. You can not
hide from me. I will snap your girly neck with my mighty pectoral muscles!"

[section9]

Interestingly enough, methinks that Arnold would have thought of the need to put out position papers by now. All he really has to do, for the time being, is to propose to cap increases in spending for a period of time, which will signal to Wall Street that he is serious about the bond market. That's key. California must have to offer killer rates to get people to buy their bonds. Hideous.

Second, have the Club for Growth brainstorm a "growth package" of tax relief for small businesses, startups, and relocators. Make an issue of getting offshore jobs back to California. Promise to seek overseas investors to relocate to CA.

Hit the Mommies with rigorous education program. They like that. Push "English Plus", as Bush did in Tejas, while emphasizing the importance of Spanish as a second language. Throw in mandatory physical education, one hour per day (that brings in the "bodybuilder" angle). That will play well in the large portion of the CA electorate that is becoming concerned about uncontrolled immigration.

Arnold has to flesh this thing out within the next week. This guy is no amateur. I think he has what it takes.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[A CA Guy]

This is fun and needed.

[A CA Guy]

He is a business guy and will force Sacramento to turn pro-business which is very pro people and quality of life for California.

[A CA Guy]

He is a business guy and that is a big plus for California.

Plus if he goes on a crusade to expose all the special interest of different politicians and brings that to a conversation with the CA public, there could be a big change in Sacramento as well.

At least we hope for the best.

Too bad Arnold wouldn't have the balls to take 187 back to court as the CA Gov., because Gray did not defend it in court which caused parts of 187 to be void at this time.

[A CA Guy]

We will see Davis in some rehab or in a car chase on some freeway within 6 months.

[He Rides A White Horse]

Gray Davis is toast.

[He Rides A White Horse]

"We'll have the tabloids go after him," a top Democratic strategist confided to Bill Bradley of the LA Weekly.

Of course they will. Bolsheviks never met anybody they didn't want to have a file on.

[MJY1288]

I hope so, He will need the people of California to lean on the state legislature to agree with this approach. It's very hard to convince a bunch of Liberals to trust in the determination of those who they have previously considered incapable of self-reliance.

It's their belief that those who have been successful, should provide for those who have not. Rewarding incompetence is a recipe for disaster no matter what the situation

[He Rides A White Horse]

It'll almost be like some ancient wedding between two warring factions.

A marriage between the Democratic and Republican Party, administering the foreign country known as "California".

[A CA Guy]

It's also very hard to change peoples votes who are beholden to the government (state or federal) for their livelihood.
I think as many as 1 out of 6 people work for some sector of the government and they go out and vote their paychecks.

Most difficult to overcome.

[goldstategop]

You're right. The public employee unions do NOT like a guy who can't be bought.

[A CA Guy]

They are all about keeping and growing their power and influence.
You want to hear the teacher's association (union) scream?
Stop allowing illegals to be educated in public schools for no cost and the numbers of students in CA would decrease by at least 1/3 at this point.

We in fact DON'T need all the teachers and administrators we have. They know this as well and they are being complicit in their behavior.

[microgood]

This guy is no amateur. I think he has what it takes.

I totally agree. Go Arnold.