Can Schwarzenegger Be the GOP's Cameron?
Arnold Schwarzenegger has played some great characters. John Matrix in Commando. Dutch in Predator. Conan in Conan the Barbarian. The Terminator in Terminator. But can he play the role of David Cameron, the green-tinged British Tory leader, in today's Republican Party, particularly on economic policy? He's sure trying to:
The Republican idea is a great idea, but we can't go and get stuck with just the right wing. Let's let the party come all the way to the center.... Let's invade and let's cross over that [political] center. The issues that they're talking about? Let them be our issues, and let the party be known for that.
A Schwarzeneggerian-style president would, one could imagine, increase spending on education, ramp up aid to Africa, welcome illegal immigrants, and create a new healthcare entitlement. But President Bush has already done all that stuff. It was called compassionate conservatism. The only issue where Bush has deviated from what Schwarzenegger is pushing is on the issue of climate change. And John McCain aims to rectify that with his cap-and-trade plan that's little different than what Democrats are calling for.
Interestingly, Cameron has started to focus less on green issues—having established his bona fides on the environment—and more on traditional conservative goals such as lower taxes and smaller government. (Maybe he's seen British polls that show voters skeptical of paying higher taxes to combat climate change, thinking it is just an excuse for a government money grab.) This from the Herald, Scotland's largest newspaper:
David Cameron picked up the mantle of Margaret Thatcher yesterday, echoing the former Prime Minister's speeches to signal that a Conservative government would lower taxes and cut government spending. Quoting directly from Margaret Thatcher's 1979 pre-election promise of a return to "good Conservative principles of good housekeeping", Mr. Cameron claimed that under Gordon Brown, Britain had "reached the limits of acceptable taxation and borrowing".
Tags: Great Britain | economics | Republicans | Arnold Schwarzenegger | environment
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I think Schwarzenegger is wrong on this idea of coming from the center on issues. After all, why is it that we conservatives must always compromise on our issues and beliefs for the sake of political expediency? We have all seen the results of this: bloated education that produces mediocre results, massive entitlement spending that politicians refuse to touch, intrusive regulation that make the business environment less fair, unions that are self-interested in self-preservation and not so much worried about the plight of the worker (only when it comes time to bargain for more benefits for themselves). No, what conservatives need to do is be more articulate in explaining its message. This is what made Bill Buckley, Barry Goldwater, and Ronald Reagan massively influential. Because, after all, every time Americans want to return to the government trough to be fed, in the end they are the ones who are left with an empty doggy bag with only morsels. Schwarzenegger of all people should know this, with what he is trying to force on Californians with his stupid ultimatum.
james
The Republican Party needs rather a *James* Cameron. At least Arnold knows the guy.
The reality is Arnold has been a failure as governor. He was elected in response to a huge budget deficit and electricity shortages. Today, the budget shortfalls are bigger than ever. In SoCal this summer, there's a 30% probablity of rolling blackouts. Subsequent years can be expected to be even more sketchy.
I'll give him points on courage with his early initiatives for redistricting, etc but demerits for his failure of tactics - he lost all of them and has since folded to the Democrats.
The Great Hero will leave office with the state in even worst shape than when he assumed the helm.
How can he offer convincing evidence that he can be trusted with further office?
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