Posted on 11/14/2004 12:52:44 AM PST by Former Military Chick
TOKYO — For some, he’s the action hero that killed the alien in “Predator.” To others, he’s the “Terminator.” To California residents he’s Gov. Schwarzenegger — but to Arnold Schwarzenegger, the men and women of the U.S. military are the true action stars.
Jim O’Donnell / S&S
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, left, greets Capt. Jeff Petersen (at left, in uniform) of Atsugi Naval Air Facility, Japan, and Dustin Wyrick (foreground) during the Marine Security Guard Detachment Tokyo's Marine Corps Ball Friday night.
Schwarzenegger expressed that sentiment Friday night at the New Sanno Hotel, where he was the surprise special guest of the Marine Security Guard Detachment’s Marine Corps Ball.
Schwarzenegger, who has been in Japan on a trade mission since Wednesday, was invited to the celebration by Howard Baker, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, and the U.S. Embassy Marine Security Guard detachment.
“When I heard you had this celebration here today, I told the ambassador that there is no way I would miss it,” Schwarzenegger told the crowd Friday.
“It’s great to be here with the greatest of the great, and the strongest of the strong. I am honored to join you tonight, to celebrate the 229th anniversary of the birth of the Marine Corps.”
During his speech to the more than 100 Marine Corps Ball guests, the governor spoke reverently about the Marine Corps’ past.
“You have always been there on the front lines fighting to protect America and I know you have a great history of kicking some serious butt.”
He attributed America’s accomplishments as a nation to its military.
“The only reason why people become so successful in America, and the only reason why this country is so successful, is because of you brave men and women right here, you are the ones who protect the liberty,” he said. “You are protecting this great country of America and defending the American dream.”
“I want to thank all of you for the great work you are doing. You are doing a fantastic job of protecting our nation and safeguarding the stability of” the Western Pacific, Schwarzenegger said. “I only play an action hero, you people are the true action heroes.”
For the 14 Marines of the embassy detachment, it was a chance to shake hands with an American cinema icon. Embassy guard duty was being covered for the night by Seoul’s Embassy guard detachment so the Tokyo guards could attend the ball.
“It was outstanding, a dream come true,” said Sgt. Arnaldo Medina of Newark, N.J. “I am a big fan of his movies, and to see him out here was unreal. I was very surprised.”
Cpl. Dustin Collins of Malone, N.Y., the youngest Marine present, said the governor’s presence was “pretty great.”
“It was a great honor,” Collins said. “It was a real pleasure having him here. I really appreciated what he had to say about us.
But the “Governator’s” appearance wasn’t without a hiccup.
Marine Corps Ball tradition involves the presentation of the ceremonial cake, which is cut by the youngest Marine and the oldest Marine in attendance.
This part of the ball was delayed by Schwarzenegger’s appearance.
Cpl. Zachery Navo, one of the four Marines responsible for parading the cake, wasn’t fazed by the delay.
“We’re Marines — we adapt and overcome,” said Navo, who paraded the cake in front of the audience after Schwarzenegger left. “It’s not a Marine Ball until you cut that cake.”
Despite a little inconvenience, the Visalia, Calif., resident was happy about the surprise guest.
“It really was great, awesome,” to get to shake his governor’s hand, he said.
Good on Arnold and great for the Marines!
Ask him how Marines will practice their high-powered BMG rifle skills (off duty) in California after AB50 goes into effect? Ask him if he knows how to argue that AB50 could ever be considered constitutional at the federal level?
You would think that Arnold wanted California to be a high-calibre state!
You remind me of the MSM. If someone gives 100 million dollars to an orphanage, they'll always somehow figure out a way to "point out a dark cloud in the silver lining". "Now the orphans will not have care free lives due to having to hire tax accountants to manage the money."
Perfect point.
I rained on your parade, didn't I?
By signing the AB50, Arnie rained on the second amendment, and on anyone who would like to fire the BMG on a California rifle range. He didn't say anything about baning guns when he ran for office, just "reasonable" gun control (whatever that is). He could have said no. He should have said no. He probably offended more people by saying that democrats were losers recently than he would have by vetoing that bill.
He's not really up to speed on our Constitution yet, and he "runs" at the first hint of an issue that could tinge his RINO status, so how can we trust him? We can't. The stem cell research issue proves it. So does the illegal immigrant issue. The list goes on. He's a Dem in RINO clothes and not a very conservative one at that.
I think Californians should keep thinking to the right for the next election.
risk is just mad that Tom McClintock lost the election.
Doesn't it bother you when our government officials support or allow violations of the second amendment? I think AB50 should bother every patriot in California. Today, it's 50 caliber. What about next year? Before long it'll be other calibers, barrel lengths, cartridges, and so forth. It'll be taxes on ammo, bans on shooting in the wilderness, and increased limits on hunting and even on transportation of weapons. It has happened in England, Australia, and other eurosocialist states. It's starting to happen here. Arnie doesn't seem to mind.
ping
Does it bother you that Tom McClintock lost the election?
True. These types usually just turn into sore, bitter, losers, ala Buchanan and the Patsies. McClintock had zero chance of winning, except in the minds of the delusional. "Oh really?! Well if every leftist in Kalifornia voted for him he would have won, blah, blah, blah."
Doesnt it bother you that so-called conservatives will abandon conservitism just to get a movie star elected under the banner of their party name instead of a decent man who actually knows right from wrong?
California Conservatives abandoned Conservatism when they elected/Suppported Arghnold instead of McClintock.
Having said that ...
Doesnt it bother you that so-called conservatives will abandon conservitism just to get a movie star elected under the banner of their party name instead of a decent man who actually knows right from wrong?
I challenge your indirect assertion that Schwarzenegger "doesn't know right from wrong". Prove it. I also reject your indirect accusation that I have "abandoned conservitism (sic)". I haven't.
It is crystal clear to the most disinterested observer that Kerry received a hefty percentage of the vote in California this election cycle, and that Democrats have taken over what was once a Republican stronghold in that state. If I am dying of thirst in the desert, should I simply throw away a half-canteen of water I happen to stumble across in favor of trudging on and possibly making it to some chimeric green, cool oasis?
Politics is the art of the possible - always has been, always will be. And refusing half a loaf in favor of waiting fruitlessly for the entire bread truck has always been an idiot's game. That sort of thinking is what brought Senator Obama to Illinois and gave Keyes-like numbers to McClintock in California.
Tom McClintock is simply unelectable in California right now. He is unpopular, he is grossly outnumbered in the Assembly, and he has the charisma of a grade school hall monitor. I respect Tom McClintock and I agree with almost everything he says, but he will never be elected Governor or to any other high office in California - the votes simply are not there now.
Race, you go right ahead and insist on getting everything you want all at once. The rest of us will continue to support conservative candidates who have a realistic chance of winning in the current reality. And we'll see whose candidate gets elected first.
Get you banned??
The people I pinged are California Freepers who supported McClintock.
If you are that paranoid, buy a new hat.
And just what did Arghnold have to do with that statement of yours???
The point here is: YOU DIDNT SUPPORT A CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE, YOU SUPPORTED A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT IN SHEEPS CLOTHING!
Why turn this into a McClintock versus Schwarzenegger thread? And by the way, at least online I supported Arnie because the party informed us that they wouldn't support the conservative candidate. The McClintock faithful here will attest to that. No, I'm simply reserving my constitutional right to criticize a government that remains too big, too interested in the caliber of my weapons, too interested in using tax revenues to conduct dubious and immoral research, and too willing to ignore the constitution itself. Elections are about the future. This is the present. Welcome to it, such that it is. If you trust any candidate once he's elected, you're going to be sadly dissappointed. Citizens are charged with watching their leaders closely and calling them on their mistakes. This one was a huge one, and so was the stem cell research issue.
Oh really? Please explain these facts oh wise one:
Candidate Party Votes Percent
* Tom McClintock Republican 226,225 61.0%
Paul Joseph Graber Democratic 144,800 39.0%
"If the choice were between Cruz Bustamante, the Democrat and Tom McClintock, the Republican, who would you be more likely to vote for: Cruz Bustamante or Tom McClintock?"
September 25-27
Registered Voters
McClintock 49%
Bustamante 42%
Probable Voters
McClintock 56%
Bustamante 37%
So California won't vote conservative? Consider the spate of recent ballot propositions:
| Prop 227 | English only education in public schools | Passed |
| Prop 209 | No more affirmative action in State hiring or education | Passed |
| Prop 22 | Heterosexual marriage only | Passed |
| Prop 187 | No benefits for illegal aliens | Passed |
Simon lost to Davis by only 325,000 votes after the most incompetent campaign in history and while being stabbed in the back by his own Party.
Don't give us a bunch of crap about California being a liberal state until you know what the hell you are talking about. The problem in this State is a gerrymandered legislature, not the voters.
You pinged me in your Post 13, and I'm not from California. You didn't ping farmfriend in your Post 13, and he or she is from California. So your blanket statement is simply not true.
If you are that paranoid, buy a new hat.
A lie is a poor way to say hello.
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