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.
Well I’m 5.6 decades and a yankee. Two out of three aren’t bad!! :)
GOP, DNC are the same. I call it the DCe and it's rotten to the core. I don't believe that Trump will change any of that because he's been a crony capitalist for his entire career. Furthermore, I think he'll actually grow government and make things even worse for the middle class.
There’s a big difference between a uber-capitalist and a muscle head who’s father followed democrat party ideology under Adolph Hitler.
Please you’re delusional and an ass out moron.
We'll see because Trump is going to win by a landslide against the Chappaqua Witch!
Crony capitalist is a better description for Trump. How can you blame Arnold for his fathers activities in WWII? As I stated in a previous post, I give Arnold more credit for his success because, unlike Trump, Arnold wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
Bye bye Shelia.
Cruz supporters are Jerks. You will be gone soon from here. I’m always right about these things.
He talks the talk but I don’t believe that he’ll walk the walk. Sorry old pal, but I just ain’t gonna trust a yankee to clean up the mess that the yankees made.
But the bottom line is, this system is busted. Even if he does walk the walk he may stop the left/socialist/communist swing of the pendulum for a couple of years but that’s it. It’s going to take a lot more to get this country on the road to constitutional correctness than a loud mouth from NYC.
He is an imperfect weapon but the only one available. There will be collateral damage. But the whole thing needs to be destroyed. This is political jihad.
You started it, sweetheart. it would appear that you can dish it out but you can’t take it.
Now run on along before you end up calling me name that gets you a timeout or banned.
Put down the beer bozo.
Weak. If you’re gonna run with the big dogs you gotta be able to piss in the high bushes.
It would be best if you stayed in the puppy pen for now.
So what’s your solution? This ought to be good.
Projection...you have to piss from all your am beer. Piss poor! I bet it’s cheap crap too.
I’m in a battle of wits against an unarmed man/woman. This is a slaughter and I’m feeling kinda sorry for you.
Nothing new. Read the Declaration of Independence.
How’s that?
Pretty weak generalization.
You said you would punch me in the face for saying you would vote for Hillary. My question is in a race between Clinton and Trump in the general, who would you vote for?
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