Arnold Watch

[gr8fuldaniel]

We could use this thread for "All Things Arnold", since I havent seen a generic thread for Arnie. "The Govenator" has been making waves lately. He has pretty much declared war on Labor Unions. Broken campaign promises. Accepted donations from special interests. Who pays for his hollywood lighting and sound? The jury is out on who is footing the bill for his commutes from his real home to his defacto home, the Sacramento governors mansion. Which just isnt suitable for human habitation, apparently. Air Arnold (An airplane towing a protest banner) has been following the Guv around the state. Then we have the Nurses. God Bless the Nurses. All this, and yet some would argue: The man is made for Presidency.
What do you think?

Heres the latest:
Today
Arnold takes one from the Grand Old Party play book. Fake news at taxpayers expense:

L.A. Times 'News' Video Extols Gov.'s Plan Critics say the state used taxpayer money to promote a proposal to alter meal break rules, which could benefit Schwarzenegger donors. By Dan Morain, Times Staff Writer SACRAMENTO — Using taxpayer money, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration has sent television stations statewide a mock news story extolling a proposal that would benefit political boosters in the business community by ending mandatory lunch breaks for many hourly workers. The tape looks like a news report and is narrated by a former television reporter who now works for the state. But unlike an actual news report, it does not provide views critical of the proposed changes. Democrats have denounced it as propaganda. Snippets aired on as many as 18 stations earlier this month, the administration said.

I think the mainstream media paints, too rosey a picture, of Arnie.
They dont show the throngs of protestors, they report "Dozens" when the truth be told, its hundreds of dozens.
What do you think in your neck of the woods?

[SVMc]

Quote by: gr8fuldaniel What do you think in your neck of the woods?

I've chalked up Ahnuld's election to the popularity of celeberties, but I'm still dumbfounded as to how someone who's best known screen line is perhaps:

Quote by: In Response to What is the best thing in Life? To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women!

How was Ahnuld ever considered a good person to lead anything besides breaking down walls and shooting large artillery?

[gr8fuldaniel]

I couldnt resist this cheap shot

Quote by: SVMc, How was Ahnuld ever considered a good person to lead anything besides breaking down walls and shooting large artillery?

I think a lot of people (most?) have an ego-maniac that secretly wants to be an alpha-male,. Arnold would be a poster boy for that. No smoldering christianity or goody two shoes here! Arnie plays the carnivore. A man of appetite and power. Who said "Power is the ultimate aphrodesiac" ?
A lot of women are pretty shallow. They may value muscle mass over intellect and a good heart. Whatever it is, the body is only a vessel to carry the important part of a man.

[SVMc]

Quote by: gr8fuldaniel Who said "Power is the ultimate aphrodesiac" ?

Henry Kissenger (at least Google thinks so)

Quote by: gr8fuldaniel A lot of women are pretty shallow. They may value muscle mass over intellect and a good heart.

Just to be fair, I think a lot of men wanting to be Uberman would have a lot to do with that vote as well.

[Catch 22]

Arnold got elected because he had good name recognition, had tons of money, the media practically cummed whenever he spoke, and was something other than the gray davis (old corrupt boring democrats) cadre. He really has no ability to govern but in a campaign that was only a month long and full of anti davis sentiment, it's not surprising that the well coordinated campaign of the governator worked.

[gr8fuldaniel]

Bottom line? Arnie borrowed 30 billion (15x2) to "fix" the deficit. Gray Davis could have done that. What is so politically superior about that?
Arnie let Ken Lay off the hook (1st thing) for pennies on the dollar. GWB, shunned pleas for investigation of Enron strong arming us. Gray Davis was not the villian, but he gave the contract to GW Bushs buddy "kenny-boy lay". That makes Davis the bad guy?
GWB was in business with Lay back in Texass. Pulled the same con job as Lay, too. Dumped his stocks from Arbusto(?) before it tanked. So now W is an accomplice to the crime in Calif., through his in-action. So the real problem with the recall election is the Rep. spin machine, making Davis a scapegoat. Dirty politics!! :eek: I am Shocked :eek:

[RickSp]

Changing the subject just slightly - the other day I happened to channel surf into one of the past century's truly great bad movies, "Red Sonya", starring Bridgit Nielson, before silicone. I happened to tune in as Red Sonya was surrounded by a bunch of real bad guys with big swords. Just as it appears that Red Sonya will be chopped to bits, out of nowhere bursts the Governor of California in a loincloth, a breast plate and really big sword to save to day. All too surreal.

It appears that Arnold is not doing as well saving California as he was with Red Sonya.

[fushigi]

Has anyone heard any news about the attempts to amend the constitution and allow foreigners to run for president? Last I heard Orrin Hatch or some geriatric GOP trog was trying to get the amendment pushed through.

[gr8fuldaniel]

Bush sr. seems to think its a slam dunk. I dont think it can happen through legit means. If, however, our current warlord in chief declares a national emergency he would have dictatorial powers to declare the Constitution........."quaint". See Declared State of Emergency in USA since 1933?, thereby paving the way for whoever the old men of the "Establishment" deem suitable. It prolly wont be some chickenhawk like bush the lesser. Of course, I hope I am completely mistaken about all of this.

If it were up to the people:

This is a USA Today poll for Dec 2004
Heres the article that included it: USA Today

[gr8fuldaniel]

My mother is a registered Republican (Voted for Kerry), she recieved 2 phone calls drumming up support for this event. I didnt get any calls. I live in the capitol city and I am sure millions of phone calls went out to promote this (?) Pep Rally (?).
Who is paying for the Private Security to keep out Taxpayers? Who is paying for the millions of phonecalls on Taxpayers dime?

Posted on Wed, Apr. 13, 2005 Few turn out at `Thank you, Arnold' rally By Dion Nissenbaum Knight Ridder Sacramento Bureau SACRAMENTO - Efforts to generate grass-roots support for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's ``Year of Reform'' agenda fizzled today at the State Capitol at a tepid rally that drew anemic support. With private security guards stationed along the Capitol grounds to fend off counter-protesters, only a few hundred Schwarzenegger supporters turned out for a ``Thank You Arnold'' rally hosted by Hollywood actor Tom Arnold. ``You know he's doing a great job when you piss off the far right and the far left,'' Arnold told the crowd gathered in the shadow of the Capitol dome. The small turnout was in stark contrast to the thousands of anti-Schwarzenegger activists who have organized boisterous protests across California at his political fundraisers. After weeks of being battered by critics and slumping approval ratings, Schwarzenegger is working to get back on message and present a coherent message about his agenda. The Republican governor last week dropped his public pension overhaul plan to focus on the other elements of his ballot measure package: Redistricting, a new state spending cap and revamping rewards for public school teachers. Schwarzenegger allies leading the signature gathering campaign for the proposals organized today's rally in an effort to demonstrate public support for the governor. Organizers said they expected 1,000 people to turn out. Instead, about 300 supporters, including a healthy contingent of Republican legislative staff members, took part.

So, 300 including paid staff, are supporting the meathead. After millions of phone calls. I want a recall. Its stuff like this that makes me doubt the election results.

[gr8fuldaniel]

2 Funny

[gr8fuldaniel]

This is a real picture of him, 2 weeks ago on Maui

edit to add:
Nowadays he is burning his kids clothes if he doesnt like them.
Is this guy qualified to run a household, let alone a state?

He wears a girdle, yet has the nerve to call others "girlie men"

[gr8fuldaniel]

Correction: In last post I mentioned him burning his kids clothes if he didnt like them. Actually he burns their clothes if they dont put them away. Sounds like a raving lunatic. He is teaching his kids to destroy other peoples things. Shouldnt he lead by example. This is abuse and Maria Shriver condones it.

[DoloresIbarruri]

Quote by: gr8fuldaniel This is a real picture of him, 2 weeks ago on Maui edit to add: Nowadays he is burning his kids clothes if he doesnt like them. Is this guy qualified to run a household, let alone a state? He wears a girdle, yet has the nerve to call others "girlie men"

Arnold Schwarzeneger is a steroid queen. That picture posted above shows the aftermath of a steroid queen. Also his surgery. Steroid queens usually end up with a shredded heart. Also, he does quite very much look like an old, aging "queen." (heheh)

I'm scared of men that go to video stores to pick up DVDs of Arnold to watch. I always wonder what their "motives" are. ;-)

[gr8fuldaniel]

Remember the rare coin scandal in Ohio?
Guess what...

SF Gate Coin dealer contributions went to Schwarzenegger By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS, AP Statehouse Correspondent Friday, June 3, 2005 California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger won't return $10,000 in contributions he received from a coin dealer at the center of an Ohio investment scandal, a spokesman said Friday.

[righthand]

Quote by: gr8fuldaniel Remember the rare coin scandal in Ohio? Guess what... SF Gate http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...n185729D83.DTL Coin dealer contributions went to Schwarzenegger By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS, AP Statehouse Correspondent Friday, June 3, 2005 California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger won't return $10,000 in contributions he received from a coin dealer at the center of an Ohio investment scandal, a spokesman said Friday.

Poll finds Schwarzenegger ballot measures under fire
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsAr...ENEGGER-DC.XML


Thu Aug 25, 2005 6:31 PM ET ...By Jim Christie

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's job approval rating is falling and pulling down support for his ballot measures seeking to overhaul the state government, according to a report released on Thursday. The Republican governor's approval ratings are at a low point, with 50 percent of likely voters disapproving of his performance, and 41 percent backing him, said the report of survey findings by the Public Policy Institute of California. Nearly six in 10 Californians said the state was headed in the wrong direction, the report said, underscoring a "sour mood" before the special November election called by Schwarzenegger.

A majority of voters across age, income, education, racial and ethnic groups and in every region of California, oppose the special election and would prefer to postpone its ballot measures until the state's next scheduled election in 2006.

The measure proposing that retired judges and not lawmakers would draw legislative districts was opposed by 49% of voters and supported by 34% while 17% were undecided.

[Savant]

Funny thing about the recall and democracy:

If Grey Davis had been alowed to run after his recall, statisticly it is most likely that in one vote, Californians would have approved the recall, and in the next they would have still chosen Davis....

[SteveA]

Quote by: Savant Funny thing about the recall and democracy: If Grey Davis had been alowed to run after his recall, statisticly it is most likely that in one vote, Californians would have approved the recall, and in the next they would have still chosen Davis....

That's rather doubtful. Even with Arnold (the Gubinator elect) splitting the Republican ticket away from McClintock, Bustamonte (Davis's sidekick) would have still lost even if McClintok and Arnold had split the votes evenly. Davis wouldn't have gotten relected because there have been many attempts at recalls in the past and Davis managed to be the second governor in the entire history of the U.S. that was recalled - not an easy feat.

The sad part is that Arnold popped into the race with the media backing him and took what would otherwise have been a McClintock victory, away. I'd have much preferred to see McClintock in officer (he's been in the legislature for over 20 years and has a proven track record of supporting limited government in most senses). I think the-powers-that-be didn't want to see him in office and ran Arnold at the last minute once it was obvious who would likely replace Davis.

[Savant]

If Arnold weren't running at all, the recall of Davis wouldn't have worked (IMHO), but if Davis had still been on the ticket the Democratic party line voters would have known whom to vote for and he would have been right back in his office.

Which is probably why recallees are not allowed on the ballad. It would show what recalls do to our democratic process.

It can actually be a strategy. If you know your opponet will win wth say.. 55% of teh vote, let him/her do it. Then start a gripe session aka recall, get the idiots who opposed you to vote it through and whatch your fragmented opponents try to run against your 45% of the vote.

Remember for the most part, democrats spent all of their energy fighting the recall, not promoting a new contender. In the end, Arnold gets voted in with far fewer votes than Davis. Genius!

[Cephus]

Arnie's biggest problem is that he caved all over the place when he got to Sacramento. He was elected as an outsider, someone who said he was going in to do a job, wouldn't run for re-election, wouldn't get paid, he was going to do what needed to be done, politics be damned. If he had stuck to his guns, things would have been fine but he's fallen apart and started to kiss political ass and that pretty much killed him.

There are things that need to be done in California that run contrary to every political interest in Sacramento, but without which, the state is doomed. We need a governor who is going to go in, do what needs to be done, popularity be damned, and not worry about their own political career. Arnie was supposed to do that. Too bad he turned out to be such a girly-man.