Total Recall....Vote for Arnold!

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Yago - Perhaps things are different in Europe in that respect, and I suspect that it is. But the media drives politics here and seldom is it concerned with the issues. Almost everything is about the best image that these guys can project to the public. That's why Arnold is doing so well right now because all the cameras are in front of him and all he has to do is say the right things and look great (with his pretty wife at his side) and say he is "the people's govenor." Really. Listen to him on the issues and you hear nothing of substance.

He knows he has to be fairly far left given how CA politics is very diverse. For instance, he is for some gun control, is pro choice, supports more funding for education and knows that the elderly needs healthcare relief. These are all liberal issues. But he won't say how to get from point A to point B. That's the problem with politics here. Bush ran on a platform of reforming education. But he left Texas with a horrible record of educational reform. The cost for classes for college students has gone through the roof and the public system still ranks in the bottom 10 of all states. How can that be?

Well, the cameras are in front of him and he goes to a public school and reads to the class. It is a media spectacle with everyone watching and they say: "Look he cares about the children learning to read." He must be for education.

That's the thing with Aronld, you can say you are for anything but to make it happen is another thing completely. I'm not talking about spending more money or creating a new agency. That's the easy part but really the hard part is coming up with ideas that improve the issue. We don't have anything like that because the media could really care less. It is all about the media. The same media companies that make Arnold's movies are covering his run for govenor because they also own the news outlets. The media is the message and Arnold is just another part media's message.

[ August 10, 2003, 22:14: Message edited by: Chandos the Red ]

 

Well, if it comes hard to hard, I wouldn't know if I could resist to give that candidate my vote, but I was only referring to the article quoted above, and it's longing for more sobriety and politics based on traditional liberalism, which obviously fits my views. But maybe I have misinterpreted the article, judged the book by it's cover and read what I wanted. On the other hand, I don't think that American votings don't go down without being a big media-event. Particularly when it's California, which knows how to party. If media-clips are the right thing to base a vote on, is a whole different question.

 

it doesn't matter what kind of actor he was, it matters what kind of politicaian he is and how he will handle his new job (if elected)

 

Arnold's great and all, but he's not giving examples of what he is going to do. Then again, neither is anyone else except for the porn star who says she wants to make lap dances tax deductable because they relieve stress. I feel sorry for the dolts who are going to actually vote for her.
Its the same old talking points from everyone. Arnold keeps mentioning his wife. Boy, he really wants to head off the tabloids on talking about the sexual misconduct and stuff from awhile back. And know what? I still have not heard one of his opponents talk about his use of steroids. But it will come up.
From what I can tell so far, the only candidate that in my opinion is that is remotely qualified right now is the former olympian. and how sad he is so unknown that I can't remember his name. He has a proven track record in business.
Sure Arnold has business experience, he has political experience in getting propositions signed. But he, along with others still have not told us what he is going to do.
I'm still kinda torn on the whole recall issue as a hole. Yes, Gray Davis has done a terrible job. He is the "CEO" of California. If this was a business, he'd be out on his butt. But, this has been going on for roughly five years now. So why did we vote him back into office a second time?

 

Elios - Yes but if Davis was the CEO of a large corporation they (the board) would probably give him several million to leave and a pension of about a million a year, plus moving expenses and a membership in at least one country club of choice. Who says government needs to be run like a business?

 

Could it be, that Schwarzeneggers Styrian roots come hunting him ? It may be an idyllic landscape but a lot of people there have a certain reputation. I have the feeling, that in California, they're going to focus on the dirty laundry of his ancestors and compatriots.

 

DMC - The rumor is that Buffet is saying that those in CA need to pay more property taxes. I'm sure that will go over well with most of you. As for Davis, the little I know of him and based on your comments I would think he would do well in TX, since he sounds similar in character and competence to our current governor -- handpicked for us by the prez, of course.

 

We could start another thread on what is wrong with public education, but I would say that the content is just too watered-down. Colleges spend the first year teaching students the skills they should have learned in high school. But I thought that CA ranked pretty high. Texas is ranked in the bottom 10 states, last I heard. Property taxes here have gone up about 10 percent a year over the last three years - no joke - and the schools are still of very poor quality.

 

I don't know if I would vote for Arnold or not -- I certainly wouldn't do so based on the fact I like his films. But I do resent to implication that because he is an actor, and a very physical one at that, he must be stupid. Now, I'm no bodybuilder, but I don't think size and strength = stupidity. Talk about stereotypes! If he can hold his own in debates and come up with a logical platform -- he's ahead of the game on some candidates I've seen!

 

You took the words right out of my mouth!

 

So to revive this one in honour of the Govermentor Arnold.

Any thoughts from Californians perhaps in particular?

I have to say good luck, as I really do think he'll need it.

 

Well, at least Sacramento might get a few action films out of all this!

It should be interesting to see what happens. The downside for Ahnold is that he cannot leave the Republic while he is in office.

Under the Californian Constitution, the Lieutenant Governor assumes all the powers of the Governorship when the sitting Governor leaves the territory.

This means that the Democrats (the left-wing party) will hold all their legislation, that would vetoed by Ahnold, until the moment he leaves. Since the Democrats have majorities in the Assembly, Senate and the Lieutenant Governor is a Democrat himself, legislation can be "pushed through" quickly to spite Ahnold.

Don't you love the Wild West!

 

We shall see. Let's not judge him before we see his actions. After his first moves we will bash him to death

 

EDIt

I'm not Californian so I suppose it isn't that important to me. However, like posted earlier in this thread, Arnold's past behavior was used against him in a character attack. It wasn't succesful. I'm curious to see whether the lack of that success will have any impact in the long term on the way campaigns are run, like the article posted earlier hoped for.

[ October 08, 2003, 15:32: Message edited by: Laches ]

 

You know everyone is complaining about Arnold's groping and sexual misconduct. But all this happened in the past. The latest in 2000, was it, was involving some woman who is notorious for flirting and coming on to guests. Which to me is not too credible anyways. There has been at least three of the women have been linked to Gray Davis is some way or another.
Also, where were all these people complaining about Clinton? He did it while he was in office. And literally "in the office"
All in all, it doesn't seem to matter, does it?
Just curious, anybody outside the US hear about this?

 

Just had to add: Anyone recall the movie "Demolition man"? (No, not an Ahnold movie...)

The line about the "Schwarzenegger LIbrary" and about his popularity causing changes in the constitution ( I think...) now give me shivers.

 

Do you really think something that happened 2000 is in the far past Elios? I would think that to be quite recent, to be honest I thought most of those charges against Arnie were alot older than that. I also like your wonderful attitude towards women, it is the good ole fashioned: "come on! She wanted it! She wore a short skirt! She flirted with me, she wanted everything I did to her!". Cause I mean, if a woman doesnt want to be molested she better wear a burkha or something so a guy knows right?