Second, he's a pro-choice Republican, and I dont think he's smart enough to be governor.
"California Republicans hope to cast the `Terminator' He favors legalized abortion...gun control measures, gay adoption and his wife is a Democrat."
-- http://www.q.co.za/2001/2002/11/19-schwarzenegger.html
"Pitching an idea he admits makes him sound more like a liberal Democrat than the Republican he says he is, Schwarzenegger argues that if parents aren't around or able to do the job, taxpayers need to step in."
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ca/story/4687278p-5704684c.html
"GOP primaries in California tend to favor conservative candidates, and Schwarzenegger describes himself as "very liberal" on social issues. His wife is Kennedy cousin Maria Shriver. Republican insiders differ on whether the nomination is his for the taking"
http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/11/18/arnold.future.ap/
The 55-year-old movie star and political activist instead contributed $1 million of his own money [to promote] Proposition 49, otherwise known as the After School Education and Safety Program Act, would ratchet up state spending for before-and after-school programs from its current $117 million a year to $550 million by 2004. The goal is to provide a program for every public elementary and middle school in California."
"Arnold insists that he just wants to make a contribution, make a positive impact on the system. He claims not to have ambition to run for office himself. Much has been written about [him] being married to an ultra-liberal. "What I liked about Maria was her healthy outlook on life in general - very smart, great sense of humor, driven, athletic. I have the ideal companion." His wife also helped him change his view about women. "When I left Europe," he laughed, "my ideal woman was the one who stayed at home and followed her husband. But I grew up and got re-educated here and understood the value of women doing their own thing." So much so, in fact, that he recently told USA Today, "At home, Maria is the Terminator!"
--http://www.8ung.at/arnold/bio.htm
"There was 24-hours-a-day care," Schwarzenegger said. But it's overcrowded and on thin ice financially, its director told Schwarzenegger. Critics counter by pointing out that population growth and inflation will bring in more state revenues no matter how tight the budget, making the trigger meaningless. "You can't have it two ways," said Schafer. "He's trying to sell it that it's not going to raise taxes and not hurt other programs. Unless you figure out where the money comes from, you will hurt other programs." Opponents of the measure know they're fighting an uphill battle. Programs for children have enormous appeal, and Schwarzenegger, whose advisers told him he would have a much better shot at statewide office if he can boast of getting his proposition passed"
--http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ca/story/4687278p-5704684c.html
"To start, Schwarzenegger can't run for president. He wasn't born in the United States... At a San Francisco Chronicle editorial board meeting, the actor demonstrated that he knew the nuts and bolts of his measure. He's pro-choice. He uses the Democrats' argument that after-school programs will save tax dollars by keeping kids out of jail and prison. He decries the "divisiveness" of partisan politics. When he talks about strong leaders, Schwarzenegger cites John F. Kennedy..."
--http://www.townhall.com/columnists/debrasaunders/ds20021021.shtml
"As South told me, Schwarzenegger "defined himself as a social liberal....[in additional to supporting abortion and gun control] Schwarzenegger also is pro-gay rights, pro-immigrant and supported Clinton during the impeachment... Most of this kind of talk is aimed at shocking Republicans. Schwarzenegger criticized Davis' handling of the California energy crisis as being marked by uncertainty (an assessment shared by many) and said Davis hadn't kept his campaign promises. But he said nothing personally denigrating about the governor. In fact, he said of Davis, "I hope he does a great job so there's no reason for anyone to run against him. Because that's the ideal thing." I call that gracious."
-- http://www.robertscheer.com/1_natcolumn/01_columns/031301.htm
"He said he was strongly influenced by free market champion Milton Friedman in the early 1980s, but then pointed out that his father-in-law, liberal Democrat Sargent Shriver, is "a big hero of mine...a great motivating force."According to Talk, Schwarzenegger is also "impatient with the religious right" and "holds liberal positions on immigration and gay rights." Embracing another position that could alienate even centrist Republicans, Schwarzenegger was also an outspoken critic of the Clinton impeachment. "That was another thing I will never forgive the Republican Party for," he told George magazine in November 1999. "We spent one year wasting time because there was a human failure. I was ashamed to call myself a Republican during that period." ‘I believe in sensible gun controls...I’m against assault weapons,’ said Schwarzenegger. Reminded that Ronald Reagan and the late Rep. Sonny Bono (R.-Calif.) also came out of show-biz to succeed in Republican politics, Cordoba said, "They were entirely different kinds of people. Reagan had been speaking for conservative causes and issues for years before he ran for governor, and Sonny was a mayor [of Palm Springs] and a leader for the [anti-illegal immigration] Proposition 187 before he ran for Congress." Outgoing CRA President Sergio Picchio agreed. "He’s not good on the life issue and not good on guns, and CRA will never endorse anyone who doesn’t share our values and principles, period." "If we are going to back someone for the sake of being a celebrity," Picchio added, "why not [actors] Dean Jones or Robert Conrad, who at least share our principles?"
--http://www.humaneventsonline.com/articles/04-23-01/gizzi.html
What do you think his opinion on the BIG issues would be? Do you really think he would be against illegal immigration and english only initiatives? He's a tough guy, but could he stand up to media scrutiny? Even though Ah-nuld is a legal citizen, his anti-illegal immigrant stance would be played as "hypocritical."
I believe that a lot of his opinions were formed by his wife's 'help', and his desire not to rock the boat-marriage wise. When it comes to social issues, (the most important issues in Kalifornia) he's shooting blanks.
It would be better for all of us if we had a REAL Republican with BRAINS, BALLS and a competent campaign staff to run in 2006. With Ah-nuld, you'd get the 'R', but still live like you had a 'd' in charge.
The man is a complete phony.
In a quick search, this was all I could find for dirt on the man, but it's probably good enough to either torpedo his campaign or make us look like hypocrites for supporting him.
I don't think that would help our long-term future, to be honest.
D