California Recall: How Schwarzenegger Won The West

The CBC News Passionate Eye ^ | Dec. 4, 2003 | CBC, Toronto

[MAGEE]

In true Hollywood-style and after much media speculation, Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy for Governor of California on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Aug. 6, 2003.

California Recall: How Schwarzenegger Won the West is a political satire that tells the story of the most bizarre American election to date.

High-profile celebrity with action-hero status - it doesn't get better than that. The world was watching. But as Schwarzenegger hit the campaign trail, were we just witnessing the cult fo celebrity? Director Alex Cooke filmed this extraordinary election campaign from the moment Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy through to his victory. Cooke follows the Schwarzenegger campaign, the Gray Davis campaign and some of the funniest and brightest of the minor candidates.

135 candidates took part in this gubernatorial race, personally paid for (to the tune of $1.7 million) by Republican Congressman Darrel Issa (the owner of America's largest car alarm company and the brother of a car thief!) to eliminate Democratic Governor Gray Davis. With so many candidates-delusional hopefuls, actors, porn stars, porn peddlers, self-promoters and performance artists, as well as seasoned politicians-the circus readlly did come to town.

Cooke's cameras followed Schwarzenegger from one staged and controlled event to the next as his aides (the men in black) ran a slick and paranoid machine. Viewers witness Schwarzenegger stonewalling journalists by using scripted speeches and limiting their access to him-preferring to hide behind catchy one-liners. Meanwhile, California First Lady Sharon Davis-an enigmatic, feisty and highly articulate woman-relentlessly pounds the pavement with wit and pathos, in a vain attempt to contest the potential defeat and humiliation of her dull husband, Gray.

Acting as a metaphorical backdrop throughout the narrative fo the documentary, is backstage access to a reality game show made for The Game Show Cannel-Who Wants To Be Governor. Producers auditioned over 50 candidates, finally ending up with six contestants that included: Mary Cary, a porn star whose platform included raising taxes on breast implants and putting live web-cams in the Governor's mansion; diminutive actor Gary Coleman; performance artist Blue; and the youngest and the oldest candidates in the race. The winner of the game won $21,200 towards their campaign.

California Recall: is directed by Alex Cooke and produced by Alan Hayling for Mentorn Productions.

The program will be aired Dec. 4, 2003 at 9pm on CBC

---------------------------------------------------- In case Canadians didn't get enough of this on the American channels piped up to the frozen north, now the CBC wants to implant their version.

Did you get the phrasing used? Most bizarre American election to day; Congressman Darrel Issa, brother of a car thief; Schwarzenegger staged and controlled the event, as his aides ran a slick and paranoid machine.

Very expressive. Now the Canadians will get the REAL story as it should have been told. Hmmmm?

[MAGEE]

It would seem to me the monolithic, government run media in Canada are doing their best to indoctrinate their people into an all out disparaging of the neighbor to the south, the United States.

Much like the European despots, it would seem Canada wishes to follow with little tyrannical warlike innuendo, implemented with the back door of escape called "humor".

[fish hawk]

In true Hollywood style, CBC Toronto writes a crappy article slanting heavy to the left, of which, of course, one wants to sign there name too. Blah blah blah blah.....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for posting this!

[NormsRevenge]

Bump

[MAGEE]

I stole it from a poster over at FreeDominion, the Canadian Counterpart to this great forum. Thought some wandering Canadians might want to have a look see.