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.
Arnold was faced with a Democratic legislature who would not work with him.
When I look at Trump, yes - you are correct. He has leveraged the tools available to him in a dog eat dog environment. However he didn't create that culture, he adapted and excelled in it.
When I look at Arnold, he did what he could and achieved excellence in his profession, however due to malleable he succommbed to socialist influence and became a miserable joke of the leadership that he seemed to promise. I believe it was easy for that to happen with Arnold because it was not very different than he was raised to embrace culturally.
I do not believe that is the case with Trump.
But hell, I could be way wrong here. I won't argue that point! :)
More Colombian Huila coffee coming up...
Excellent point, but then what rat legislature works with a Republican governor or President? None
Well if elected Trump will only have to face a RINO legislature. I think he’s up to it.
Check your dates. I think he was here by 1965.
I think he was always whipped by Ma-reee-a.
I don’t know if he would govern like him, but Trump most definitely campaigns the same way, that’s why there are a lot of us in California who worry that he will end up as the same kind of compromiser.
Not at all. Read this part:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.—That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, —That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
I’m quite familiar with what it says. So now I ask again, what is your solution?
No. I said "language like that could get you a punch in the face".
My question is in a race between Clinton and Trump in the general, who would you vote for?
My reasons for not liking Trump is because he IS NOT A CONSERVATIVE!!! You Trumpets are so in the tank for that charlatan that you actually believe real conservatives, not just CINO's like you, would vote for a communist because they don't like Trump? What a stupid little boy you are.
Quit being so obtuse. I just posted it for you.
Perhaps a quote by Claire Wolfe will illuminate it for you: “America is at that awkward stage. It’s too late to work within the system and too early to shoot the bastards.”
Quit trying to be so clever. It’s not working for you.
Now I get it. You’re one of those thick headed yankees. Should have known...........
You can’t answer the question because then you would have to punch your own self in the face! Now say I will vote for Trump! Check mate cowboy from a Lil ole girl!
No need to call names because you refuse to or can’t answer my question. I kind of figured this would prove futile. Hence why I said earlier, this ought to be good.
Want me to let you off the hook and volunteer to you what my solution is?
Donald's current wife is from Eastern Europe; Arnold married one of the Kennedy clan. Trump's children seem well-behaved and successful. I don't even know whether Arnold has any children.
What is Arnold's take on illegal immigration, and on mass importation of Muslims and seeding them into small towns? What is is Arnold's position on the trade deficit with China, on the loss of American manufacturing, on lowering federal tax rates and going after fat cat Wall Street traders? What does Arnold feel about allowing US allies to acquire nukes, instead of just North Korea and Iran?
Oh, that's right. He's not running for President. Because he can't.
So why should we care that a washed-up German bodybuilder who was a failed governor, is supporting RINO (formerly employed by one of the Wall Street firms) Kasich?
More GOP-e propaganda. Screw 'em.
I read that at the time he ran for Governor of CA, he was pulling in $30 million / yr from his business ventures. Which is not chump change but is not Trump territory either.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.