LA Weekly - Arnold Terminated?

[realFedUp]

http://www.laweekly.com/ink/05/22/news-bradley.php

Arnold Terminated?
Democrats move in for the kill on weakened governor
by BILL BRADLEY
April 22-28, 2005

Arnold Schwarzenegger could well be a one-term governor. Unbelievable as that seemed at the beginning of the year, which the action superstar entered as arguably the most popular governor in California history, it may end up that way.

snip

Insiders acknowledge that the governor has not established a “template for overall reform,” as one puts it. In the absence of that, Schwarzenegger looks like he is scapegoating a popular profession for education problems. Fingers are pointing at Education Secretary Dick Riordan, the former L.A. mayor. “Name one thing he’s done besides insult that little girl,” says a top Arnista, referring to the bizarre incident last year in which Riordan told a child at a reading-promotion event in Santa Barbara that her name meant “stupid, dirty girl,” then told the shocked crowd that he was joking. Riordan is expected to leave his post in the near future.

The reapportionment initiative is also on the dealing block, with the governor now said to be content to have redistricting done by an independent panel after the 2010 Census (which Democrats are agreeable to), rather than mid-decade as he originally demanded after his embarrassment in last November’s election, in which he failed to take any Democratic legislative seats. The reality, as some insiders admitted weeks ago, is that it would have been impossible to do any new redistricting before 2008, and reapportionment was always the least-popular issue in Schwarzenegger’s “reform” basket.

Only the spending-control initiative seems at all sacrosanct for Team Arnold. But even there, insiders acknowledge that the ballot description of it as a measure that could cut education funding makes its prospects perilous, as Schwarzenegger polling indicates.

[David__77]

1. The writer, Bill Bradley, shamelessly shilled for him in the past.

This "progressive writer" lost his way in seeing this Schwarzenegger as anyother other than a Wall Street "populist." Clearly, this is no Hiran Johnson--this is a Pete Wilson on steroids.

[realFedUp]

2. many Democrats supported Arnie during the recall

writers and politicians alike. Arnie basically
spewed movie lines, avoided telling voters what
his concrete plans were and said he wouldn't take
special interest money. Arnie basically lied
and the voters bought it and him, despite the
stories of him groping women without their
consent. I really have no respect for anyone
who bought this guy's act. He's a B movie actor
at best and know we know he's a liar at worst.

So Dems who are whining now...I don't want to hear it.

[Pushed To The Left]

5. The recall was ridiculous!

I honestly believe that Schwarzenegger's popularity and celebrity status had more to do with Davis's demise than Davis's budget problems.

[Ernesto]

6. "Davis's budget problems"

brought to you by texas repuke energy crooks while chimp & dick silently enjoyed the carnage from the sidelines

[SoonerShankle]

12. This Dem can whine, because...

I didn't vote for the Governor. I voted "No" on the so-called recall.

I, along with many of my democratic friends, saw right through the Governor's act.

I believe you are targeting those dems who fell for the Kennedyesque Republican? ;-)

[Kikosexy2]

3. He...

f*#ked up by pissing off teachers, law enforcement, nurses, librarians, unions, etc. with his "reforms" and initiatives. The Groper is totally clueless to the needs of Californians and come 2006 it's time to say "Hasta La Vista Baby!"

[Last Lemming]

4. When he was campaigning with Bush

--and I believe he telegraphed the message that 'when he "stooped" to campaign for Bush' he stood at the podium of one of those pep-rallies, looking over the crowd from the podium and you could see him thinking, as the people cheered, yes, "this will be mine. They owe me this. This is where I belong."

Not enough crowd control recently

[yurbud]

7. pictures of him and Bush should be in all ads against him

Do we want a governor who will tear down our state and give it away to corporate interests the way George W. Bush is doing with our country?

[yurbud]

8. PHOTO: Whose bitch is Arnold?

http://mysite.verizon.net/myk15/arnoldlaybush.html

[yurbud]

9. PHOTO: ARNOLD INSIDE

[mrdmk]

10. I am not buying this paragraph

<snip>
Is Schwarzenegger known for humility? Calls were placed to his home and office, but did not result in quotes for this story, another sign that his trademark ebullience is ebbing. In the past, he would spar with critics rather than retreat behind the castle walls only to venture forth in carefully managed events. That seems longer ago than it is.
<end of snip>

From the start of Schwarzenegger's campaign, he had managed events and all the media attention one could desire. He did not want to go to the debate (such as it was) unless he had the questions in advance (which he got but nobody else did).

[Born_A_Truman]

11. I hope so!

I still can't believe he is the governor. I think there's alot of buyer's remorse going on -- but I never bought into him from the beginning.