The Fall of the Governator: Will he be back?
Our Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger doesn’t seem to be able to translate the personal popularity he has long enjoyed in the Golden State into success for the initiatives he has put on the California ballot. This goes for conservative as well as liberal polices. In November 2005, voters rejected, albeit not as decisively as they rejected the more liberal “reforms” yesterday, four propositions he had placed on the state’s ballot for reforms favored by conservatives.
In the wake of the defeat of those conservative reforms, he tapped Susan Kennedy, a “former acolyte of radical activists Tom Hayden and Jane Fonda” as his Chief of Staff. Now, in the wake of the defeat of liberal measures, will he move in the opposite direction, firing Ms. Kennedy and tapping someone with a background in conservative activism as his top aide?
Kennedy had been deputy chief of staff to Gray Davis, the Democratic governor Schwarzenegger ousted in the 2003 recall. Thus, barely two years after his election on a reform agenda, the Republican Governor began to return to the policies voters rejected when they elected him. And yesterday, we rejected policies nearly identical to those which helped spur Davis’s downfall (and Arnold’s rise).
As John Hinderaker puts it, as “governor of California,” Schwarzenegger “lacked the will or the conviction to buck the liberal tide.“ He didn’t buck the tide; he tried to ride it. And unlike the surfers who flock to our coasts, he couldn’t keep his balance on that most demanding and fickle of waves.
His fall began in 2005 when he failed to enact conservative reforms which, among others things, would have cut the public employee unions’ power and held the line of state spending. Instead of seeing the defeat as an obstacle to be overcome and thus strenghtening his resolve to push responsible reform, he caved to those who had defeated him. Hardly the mark of a principled man. And the sign of someone lacking the determination of the action heroes he played on the silver screen, often relentless in pursuing their goals.
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Pingback by No Santa Claus for Arnie: Californians Weary of Increased Taxes, ‘Governator’ Unhappy with Voters « Frugal Café Blog Zone — May 20, 2009 @ 9:14 pm - May 20, 2009
Exactly right, he caved early on, showing to one and all that he is not a leader, but a publicity seeking, self promoter. And now a laughing stock. I went against my better instincts, as many did, and voted for Arnold over McClintock. That experience has taught me to never again support a candidate who seems electable and better than the liberal Democrat. I’m sorry Tom.
Comment by Jayne — May 20, 2009 @ 9:34 pm - May 20, 2009
um, isn’t he term limited so that he can’t run for a third term? unless he is running for US Senate in 2010..which I doubt he will. so, what is the worry?
Comment by Rocket — May 21, 2009 @ 12:11 am - May 21, 2009
I remember Arnold talking about the “Girlie Boys” in Sacramento back when he was “acting tough” and fluttering his new wings. Sounds like the Governator got beat back by mere mortals yesterday at the polls. The people of California are tired of the special interest groups (i.e, the unions) running our State. The Political Class needs to remember who they are supposed to work for – the people.
Comment by Duffy - Native Intelligence — May 21, 2009 @ 1:27 am - May 21, 2009
You can get into office “working for the people.” But the power of the office is corrupting and soon you are working for your reelection. Where is the politician who hasn’t become addicted to the office?
Comment by heliotrope — May 21, 2009 @ 8:52 am - May 21, 2009
I know CA has this crazy initiative system. If Ahnold were the man he claimed he was, he should have worked through the legislature in 2005. Of course he wouldn’t have gotten everything he wanted.
But he ended up getting nothing and simply caving to the other side.
It’s much easier being a hero on the silver screen.
Maybe if he had real balls and forced even some minor compromises on our out of control legislature things would be better now.
I too am sorry I didn’t vote for McClintock. Lesson learned, when a pol claims to be fiscally conservative and socially liberal – they always cave in on the fiscal issues.
Comment by Leah — May 21, 2009 @ 11:43 am - May 21, 2009
For all his faults, I still like the effect the words “girlie man” has on the leftists in CA. Every time I see some kind of spittle-flecked response, my first thought is “methinks the lady doth protest too much.”
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — May 21, 2009 @ 12:25 pm - May 21, 2009
I believe I have arrived. Count them, two comments on my blog post. I am definitely honored Helio and Peter. Not to bad for a heterosexual, Native American who grew up on the Santa Rosa Indian Reservation. Oh yeah, dont forget to spend some money at any Casino throughout California, or for that matter, anywhere in the grand US of A.
Comment by Duffy - Native Intelligence — May 22, 2009 @ 1:21 am - May 22, 2009