Isn't there still a quota system for immigration into the US from various nations? Was there a quota for immigration from Austria? Was there a waiting list of people who had applied for immigration? Did any of these people find that their applications were not approved, perhaps because the quota from Austria was somehow already exceeded?
Arnold's opponents may be desperate but there seems to be a measure of desperation on the part of people who refuse to see the truth about Arnold.
Every "principle" which Arnold holds seems to be based on some compromise.
Women should be allowed to "choose" and so he supports some forms of pre-natal homocide.
Some people are afraid of ugly, military-looking rifles, so he supports outlawing the right to keep and bear arms with respect to some arms.
Even the fiscal conservatism which is supposed to be his main attraction is a compromise based on doing things "for the children" only if there is a budget surplus. True conservatives know that any budget surplus is the result of over-taxation.
I would say that there is much desperation associated with Arnold's campaign.
I sure don't see it. It's one thing to disagree with his views, but don't confuse that with tactical errors or desperation plays.
He's playing it very safe, and so far it's working.
Without going to Google to look it up and relying on memory, I believe Scharzenegger arrived in '68 and he became a citizen 15 years later-----in the early eighties, well after this published book made a public record of how he had spent his time here. The number of years, plus the public nature of this "revelation" put to rest the nonsense that he didn't abide by the rules.
(In addition, the 15 time period addresses your concern about Schwarzenegger somehow getting to the head of the line and violating some quota system.)