Posted on 06/27/2003 5:15:47 PM PDT by El Conservador
BURBANK, Calif. - Arnold Schwarzenegger (news) refuses to terminate rumors of a run for governor while promoting his latest movie, joking that: "You haven't seen special effects like this since the California state budget."
Schwarzenegger's advisers have said he will decide whether to run after the July 2 release of his movie and only if it becomes clear that an effort under way to recall Gov. Gray Davis (news - web sites) will qualify for the ballot.
If voters decide to oust Davis, they would also have to choose a successor.
Schwarzenegger, taping "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (news - Y! TV)" Thursday at NBC Studios, was introduced to the audience by Leno, his friend and fellow Republican, as "the next governor from the great state of California."
After the taping, the two left for Camp Pendleton in San Diego County, where they surprised 1,300 Marines with an advance screening of "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines."
Schwarzenegger made the special effects quip to Marines, who gave him a boisterous ovation. He signed the body cast of Staff Sgt. Rick Langille, of Alexandria, Va. The 34-year-old was wounded when an Iraqi land mine blew up under the vehicle he was riding in April 7. "That was pretty cool," Langille said of his autograph.
During "The Tonight Show" taping, Leno suggested campaign slogans for the Austrian-accented actor as "Who better to represent a state where no one speaks English?" and "Not a good enough actor to fool you on taxes."
Schwarzenegger told Leno he is traveling to Iraq (news - web sites) over the Fourth of July to screen his movie for U.S. troops.
"There is no money over there. There's no leadership — pretty much like California," he said.
While Schwarzenegger weighs whether he'll enter the governor's race, one current lawmaker with ties to the actor said he would not support the star.
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., told the Boston Herald that he'd support the Democratic candidate over the "Terminator 3: The Rise of the Machines" star.
Schwarzenegger is married to Kennedy's niece, broadcast journalist Maria Shriver.
"Listen, Arnold is great," Kennedy said. "And I never argue with Arnold, particularly when he's holding me by my ankles upside-down. But I intend to support the Democrat.
"I'm not sure where Arnold gets his political instincts," he said. "People often say that for Kennedys, it's in the water. Arnold seems to be a staunch Republican, so I've asked Maria to check their plumbing."
Kennedy and Schwarzenegger will get a chance to iron out their differences in person next week. Both plan to attend the annual July 4 picnic at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis, the Herald reported.
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Associated Press Writer Seth Hettena at Camp Pendleton contributed to this story.
It was if like Jay Leno was Arnold's campaign manager. Cracked me up though when Arnold said that his children hang out at the mall collecting signatures for the recall.
In Teddy's case, it is in the water - scotch and water. And its also "the body in the water". Arnold would at least be amusing in what may turn out to a totally anarchic recall election - but I ain't voting for anybody that doesn't offer a concrete solution to California's money problems - one that relies HEAVILY on REAL spending cuts.
Arnold was flat out funny. He will be our next governor, like it not, the guy is an icon here. Of course Leno stole my line, on "say hello to your next governor..." I've been doing this at work for over a month now ending with "Arrrnold" or "the terminator" using Arnold's accent to boot.
Apparently now if you are NICE to Republicans you are a "fellow Republican."
Another RINO.
Oh that's just great. "The lesser of two evils" is exactly what a "centrist" or a "moderate" would say. You know what Rush says about such people? They have no opinion of their own...they just wait for the majority to make up their minds and then they go along with the crowd. Settling for the lesser of two evils is what got this country started on the long slide to Hell in which it is now ensnared. I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm ranting...because I'm not.
Arnold will not be any sort of change for California as far as social issues. He is a strong antigun force, he is pro-choice and liberal on other soical issues. His conservative streak appears in his fiscal policies. In that respect, he may be just what the doctor ordered for the state!
However, I'm afraid that this Austrian "cure" is going to propose budgetary reforms that are simply going to be too painful for residents of that state. Additionally, I fear that if the Dems maintain their stranglehold on the state legislature, all you'll get out of a recall is more gridlock.
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