Can Schwarzenegger Be the GOP's Cameron?

Schwarzenegger needs rebranding in California

Leading commentators on the California budget mess have a rebranding idea for Schwarzenegger: EX-GOVERNOR. Google "Dan Walters" and "Sacramento Bee" or "Daniel Weintraub" and "Sacramento Bee".

The judgment of citizens in California is that Schwarzenegger has been a massive failure as governor and his image is turning into something worse, if you can imagine it. He's gaining the reputation of as something of a joke, a lightweight, a fraud -- a man of gimmicks.

And that fact that he commutes almost daily on a private jet from Sacramento to Los Angeles while pushing legislation increasing taxes and regulations on the family car in order to "end global warming" makes most folks think the biggest warming problem in California is the evident over heating of Schwarzenegger's soft brain tissue.

PrestoPundit of CA @ May 21, 2008 01:20:09 AM

Probably not gonna happen

Word on the street here in Hollywood is Arnold has found the process of governing the ungovernable extremely frustrating and has no aspirations beyond the Governor's office. Good or bad? I'm not sure.

As to the guy who's angry at him for governing from the center, Heard Fareed Zacharia on the radio today making an excellent point about redistricting making seats so safe that the only pressure comes from the extremes of both parties, so now our lawmakers govern from the extremes in, rather than from the center out (which was Reagan's approach, let's remember). I think he's got a good point. Governing from the extremes has wasted a lot of time and created a lot on unnecessary ill will in this country.

Laaz of CA @ May 20, 2008 20:33:26 PM

terminate the terminator

Arnie is the last thing repubs need. In fact he is everything wrong with the party. Despite all the bluster there is no bill too large nor spending to embarrassing that he won't sign on to. Just like Bush and fellow repubs in the House and Senate.

The repubs need a new party with completely new leadership that espouses fiscal restraint and a small government bias. Earmark writers need to be shamed in the public square.

Arnie and the like are pretenders.

Patrick of CA @ May 20, 2008 20:22:31 PM

Schwarzenegger as a new-style Republican

I think Gov. S. is right to say that these should be GOP *issues*. However, that is a far cry from assuming that they need to propose Democratic party *solutions* to these issues. I'd like to see the two parties seriously debate the nature of appropriate solutions to these problems.

Mark B. of NJ @ May 20, 2008 20:18:35 PM

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?

Whitehall of CA @ May 20, 2008 20:01:21 PM

james

The Republican Party needs rather a *James* Cameron. At least Arnold knows the guy.

of CA @ May 20, 2008 19:36:22 PM