Why Arnold won't win

SFGate.com ^ | 8/11/03 | Louis Freedberg - SF Chronicle editorial writer

[NormsRevenge]

DON'T EXPECT Arnold Schwarzenegger to stroll into California's governor's mansion.

Why? He is too much of a celebrity, and has too much charisma.

Despite what you've been told, Californians no longer want charismatic celebrities as their governor. At least they haven't for the past six gubernatorial elections spanning two decades.

[Paco]

"If voters today didn't feel the state was in a mess, they'd be more willing to take a chance on Arnold." My Lord, how did California get in this position in the first place? It's all of these "policy wonks" that have caused the problem...compared to them, Arnold is a breath of fresh air.

Liberals have been the force that has given Hollywood "airheads" legitimacy. Can you say Martin Sheen, Garofolo, Asner, Robbins & Sarandon et al. You've legitimized these "political heavyweights" and now you're going to pay the price when Arnold is elected. Only Arnold is a no BS guy and he can't be bought. This is what scares you libs the most.

[Plutarch]

If you and I were as wrong on our jobs as this writer is on his, we'd lose our business or be fired.

But this guy will still be drawing a paycheck October 8th, when Arnold is ensconsed in Sacramento.

[Bulldog1967]

"...most dynamic, most alluring nation-state in the world."

This guy needs to get out more!

[hobbes1]

Horowitz says it best...

I am less amazed at conservative Republicans who still don't get it (because that's actually what Republicans are famous for) and are still in the race. As previously noted, even if a Republican candidate like Tom McClintock or Bill Simon could win the plurality to become governor, which they can't, their administration would be a disaster -- for them, for Republicans and for their conservative cause. If conservatives want to make California a conservative state they need to lay a lot more groundwork for that to be possible

[George W. Bush]

Arnold's best hope is to appeal to young people and others who've never voted before...

I agree. This article is pretty shrewd.

Arnold has to pull off a short-term Ventura-style campaign. He won't be elected by the regular voters. He can only win with new voters. Still, he is playing a very strong hand, more so since McClintock and Simon are likely to split the establishment Republican vote.

[Uncle Hal]

Typical liberal dribble from the leftist SF Chronicle. Nothing from this liberal rag surprises me.

[Congressman Billybob]

This is a screed, not an analysis. This San Francisco writer is putting out what he hopes will be true, but with no relationship to reality. Actually, Schwarzenegger IS a policy wonk. The stories coming out now about how he always had a long-range plan, and how he succeeded and became a millionaire BEFORE he ever appeared in a movie, all demonstrate his abilities to plan, organize, and then achieve the objective.

To date, he's applied those skills to business and movies. They are precisely the skills needed to cut the Gordian Knot of California fiscal policies. My first article, "Ah-nold Will Win," posted on FR 2 July, was way ahead of the lamestream media on the outcome of the California recall election.

My next article on that subject, "Nuts and Bolts in California," discusses the unique mechanics of this race, and why those will bring about that result. (I'll post the second article on FR as soon as it's on the UPI wire.) That article, too, is way ahead of the lamestream media, but then that's not very difficult to do.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "Not Just a Cheery Fire." I did not post this one on FR.

[NautiNurse]

They've consistently rejected flamboyance in favor of grayness.

LOL! Grayness, brownout, blackout, and finally Grayout...now they are ready for change.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The Chronicle is working hard today!

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[hobbes1]

Arnold will be elected by the regular voters.

All of the new voters, will break Arnolds way.

the Pragmatic Republicans will go his way.

The Democrats not aligned with various unions will be up for grabs. Once Gray Davis is hung on Bustamontes neck like the Albatross he is, Arnold will be humming the Rime of the Ancient Mariner all the way to Sacramento.

The Rope...
(The recall is not about Davis being a bad governor, it is about Davis lying about the states fiscal health to get re-elected (repeat ad nauseum for one or two weeks)

then...

(If Gray Davis lied about the states fiscal health, by extension, so did the Lt.Governor....unless he was just completely unaware of what was going on...)


making Bustamonte either a Liar, Like Davis, or Incompetent, in either case he is inextricably tied to Davis' failure, making him all but unelectable.

[joey'smom]

I agree with Hildy 100%. And after listening to Gary Coleman on Greta's show, even HE has more brain-power than Gray Davis.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

When in doubt and struggling to make your liberal point, blame Prop 13;

Nothing encapsulates the change more than Proposition 13, approved by the voters in 1978 as Jerry Brown's first term came to a close.

[libertarian guy]

I'm not yet convinced that I want to see Arnold in Sacramento. He's to liberal on many social issues that I hold dear; gun control (he likes it), abortion (likes that too)

I just have not decided yet that I can support him with a good conscience.

[anniegetyourgun]

In hard times, Californians like their governors to be hard- working policy wonks.

HAHAHAHA....hell, most Californias couldn't even tell you who their governor is!

[wasp69]

But when it comes to choosing governors, Californians -- for two decades at least -- have been deadly serious.

I am going to charge this guy for a new keyboard and monitor. That has to be the funniest line I have read in a long time.

[You Dirty Rats]

Let these people keep painting Ah-nald as a muscle-bound idiot. When they hear him speak in detail on important issues, people will realize the large difference between the false portrayal of him and the real man.

For those that missed Congressman Billybob's July 2 bullseye:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/939395/posts

"I haven't been in the business as long as you. But I'm a quick learner. And now I'm going to give the people what I think they want."

- Ben Richards, "The Running Man".

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

The reporter should know that California's *Governor's Mansion* is a museum.

Many of us use the term as an euphemism, sort of like "governor's seat."

[gaspar]

He's just whistling past the graveyard.

[=Intervention=]

Yes they are! Don't you know that anyone who stands up for an ideal is automatically working for the opposite ideals of one's enemies! Hoo yah! Down with ideals! Triangulation is the whole of the law. Moderation is the answer to all of our problems, right?

[mrs tiggywinkle]

**Many of us use the term as an euphemism, sort of like "governor's seat." **

:o) I know. I was just picking on the San Fran reporter.