Posted on 03/27/2016 4:57:40 AM PDT by Kaslin
They're both iconic figures in American culture who are known by their first names. California's former governor is Arnold. The GOP presidential front-runner is The Donald. We Californians who lived through Arnold's two terms in the governor's office have watched The Donald's presidential campaign unfold with a sense of deja vu.
Donald Trump starred in the TV show "Celebrity Apprentice." Arnold Schwarzenegger will replace him. Both men can boast supersize personalities and bulging bank accounts. Both bombasts ran for a top office with no political experience whatsoever -- which turned out to be a plus, as they tapped into a tidal wave of voter resentment. Both are more pragmatic than ideological.
Schwarzenegger's supporters thought he could not win a GOP primary -- and he didn't have to, because he ran and won in California's free-for-all recall election of 2003. Trump's front-runner status in the 2016 primary -- also the beneficiary of a crowded field -- likewise has confounded the professional political class.
Over the past week, I talked to four former Schwarzenegger aides (only two of whom would say anything on the record) about what Trump and Schwarzenegger have in common, how they are different and what Schwarzenegger's tenure might tell us about a Trump presidency should he win in November.
One former adviser, Adam Mendelsohn, who wanted nothing to do with a negative assessment of Schwarzenegger's time in office, told me he sees "absolutely no similarity between the two" men. All appreciated that the biggest difference is that Trump is running for president -- as a naturalized citizen, the Austrian Oak is not eligible to be president under the Constitution -- and there should be a higher bar for the man who wants to have his hand on the nuclear button.
Looking back, Schwarzenegger's first term was highly successful in many ways.
True to a campaign promise, Schwarzenegger renegotiated terms with major tribal casinos, which netted state coffers a $1 billion windfall. He also ushered much-needed workers' compensation reform through a reluctant Legislature by threatening to put a measure on the ballot if Sacramento did not pass a bill.
Later, the Governator overreached when he placed four different ballot measures before voters. When Californians rejected all four, Schwarzenegger's aura of invincibility crumbled.
Many had feared that if Schwarzenegger failed to live up to his promise, it would be because he needed to be liked. And that's exactly what happened. Schwarzenegger told voters he heard their message and promised to work with the Legislature. That signaled a lurch to the left. He won re-election. In term two, Schwarzenegger enacted a landmark law to curb greenhouse gases, a move very popular among Democrats. On the way out the door, Schwarzenegger issued a pardon that shaved nine years off a 16-year term for voluntary manslaughter, which benefited the former Assembly speaker's son.
Schwarzenegger entered politics with the sort of great American success story that only an immigrant can tell. He dreamed of becoming an American, and he did. He worked hard. His belief in the free market steered him to the GOP. He worshipped conservative economist Milton Friedman. He had tried to push through meaningful pension reform and pare back state spending. But saddled with a Legislature loaded with Democrats, even with his sharp political instincts, he did not succeed. When conservative political neophytes fail, their path to salvation is to list left. And there he stayed.
Trump has fewer conservative credentials. He supports the use of eminent domain to seize property for private development. He has lavished money on Democratic candidates. If he should win the White House and find himself flailing in the polls, then he would know where to go.
It is instructive to note that for all they have in common, Schwarzenegger chose to endorse not Trump but Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Schwarzenegger spokesman Daniel Ketchell told me it's because Kasich knows how to work in the center.
Former Schwarzenegger aide Sean Walsh, however, thinks Schwarzenegger chose Kasich over Trump precisely because Trump is too much like Schwarzenegger. Let me add another trait The Donald and Arnold share: They're both salesmen first. And salesmen usually aren't around when you need to fix the refrigerator.
Lol!
The key is they are both successful. Period.
The only thing they have in common is they are both quite famous. That is about it.
Bravo Sierra, cba. They both have monster egos to feed. The method of feeding them is irrelevant.
Does anyone think Trump has a need to be liked?
Poll: 25 percent of federal employees would quit under Trump presidency
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3391513/posts
[Such as IRS workers who targeted the Tea Party? Let’s cross our fingers!]
[Sums it up nicely.]
Cat’s out of the bag. They are playing dirty pool ...
Top conservatives gather to plot third party run against Trump
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3409672/posts
Conspirators outed ...
54 Private Jets at Meeting to Stop Trump
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3407016/posts?page=61#61
[Link list on post 61]
Donald Trump’s 2016 NRO Critics Were President Obama’s 2009 Fan-Boys
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3387252/posts
Arnold is a smart businessman, but he never was much of a conservative.
I had hopes for him as well, then saw how he mishandled California. Caved to the liberals.
[Then he proudly raids Trump delegates in Louisiana.]
Top conservatives gather to plot third party run against Trump
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3409672/posts
BUSH BRO JOINS CRUZ...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/03/08/jeb-bushs-brother-neil-joins-ted-cruzs-finance-team/
54 Private Jets at Meeting to Stop Trump [Sea Island Kingmakers]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3407016/posts?page=61#61
[Link list on post 61]
Reminder — Donald Trump's 2016 NRO Critics Were President Obama’s 2009 Fan-Boys [2016]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3387252/posts
‘Trump is KKK!’
‘Trump is Hitler!’
Trump has a 0% chance to win against any Democrat, so this article is empty.
Why vote for a “reformed” Democrat invading the conservative movement?
Let me save you some time. I don’t like Trump; never have, never will. He’s a NYC yankee loudmouth braggart. Plus, I believe that he’s totally full of it and won’t do any of the things he’s gotten all his fan boys so giddy about.
I believe you are not only wrong, but a threat to the resistance. You will vote Hillary.
If so, it would be a disaster.
Check out Apprentice to get an idea on how Trump will govern.
Only one real way to find out how anyone will govern....
Running a business and acting are different skill sets
I’m glad you value you opinion so highly.
As a Trump “fan boy”, I don’t think he is full of it. He doesn’t need all of this. He is putting his very life on the line. I worry he doesn’t make it to November.
As far as being a “NYC yankee loudmouth braggart”, what’s wrong with that? After all, the current gaggle of law school graduates has done such a great job. (Nobody has a better trained “tone” than lawyers).
I look at Trump’s enemies list, and it is very telling; DNC, RNC, MSM, BLM, Soros, Illegals and Muslims.
Maybe you’re right and he just doing all this for the heck of it. I don’t think so.
‘... won’t do any of the things ...’
That’s SLANDER.
You did not intend it, but you parroted it.
I’ll post why that is slander to ‘all’ to save you time.
Many Trump bashers slander Trump.
For example ...
“Won’t do anything he promises ...”
Here’s what obliterates that Slander ...
[quote]
As far back as 2000, in his book, The America We Deserve, [Trump] condemned illegal immigration, said that illegals needed to leave the country, and insisted we should put the interests of Americans before those of immigrants (even legal ones). By 2011 in the chapter, ‘It’s Called Illegal Immigration for a Reason,’ in his book Time to Get Tough, Trump came down very hardline on the border, saying we need to build a wall, greatly increase border patrol agents, deport illegal criminals, stop giving anchor babies citizenship, etc. So, yes, I think his calling for the border to be secured for the last 16 years is long enough for me to trust that he will actually do it, especially considering all the heat he’s taken for his position. — FenwickBabbitt
I do worry about the Schwarzenegger and the Jesse Ventura analogies. I just have to think that Trump’s business background is a bit more executive experience than acting, weightlifting or wrestling.
meh
Deb Saunders is a token ‘conservative’. She hasn’t said common sense anything in years
Even if Trump doesn’t keep any of his campaign promises, I look back at the last 20+years to see that the GOP has kept very few of their promises. So I’ll vote for Trump on the fly.
Another way I look at Trump is that Donald knew when he entered the prez race that he would have to go threw the political meat grinder. Even with all the prez perks, few Americans would voluntarily do this. So I think he is running because he loves America and if he loves America half as much as he loves himself, I’m confident I will agree with most of his decisions.
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