Total recall
Recent polling throughout the United States indicates that lessthan one-third of the American people would choose ArnoldSchwarzenegger as the governor of their home state. However,Schwarzenegger continues to fare well; during the course of thepast week the California recall election has heated up and comedown to a two-man race.
Democratic governor of California Gray Davis has experienced anupswing in the polls that indicates he still hangs on to a slightchance of victory. However, Schwarzenegger’s public relationswar might advance the actor into the governor’s office.
Schwarzenegger’s launching of a negative ad campaigngreatly distracts governor Davis from focusing on policy issues.And the ability of the Republicans to drastically outspend theDemocrats in advertising once again plays to the favor ofSchwarzenegger. In spending thousands of dollars on a costly adcampaign against the current governor, Republicans have foundthemselves in the driver’s seat in California.
But, if Arnold Schwarzenegger is serious about becoming aneffective governor, does he not need to show some form ofintellectual grasp on the economy? I have reservations aboutSchwarzenegger’s personal ability to govern a state that hasseen an economic firestorm in the past three years. Rather thansaying that he would “drive his hummer through theproblem,” I hope that he would offer an economic reliefpackage for California and its citizens.
I’m not the only one who detects the holes in Mr.Schwarzenegger’s campaign. The Davis campaign has insisted ona debate with Schwarzenegger concerning state issues like theeconomy only to be rebuffed. In response to Schwarzenegger’sunwillingness to hold a one-on-one debate, governor Davis asserted,”I don’t know what Mr. Schwarzenegger is afraid of, Imean, I never participated in a Mr. Universe contest. I weigh maybe165 pounds on a good day.”
Schwarzenegger’s people countered with the assertion,”Gray Davis didn’t want to debate Arnold Schwarzeneggeruntil Gray Davis realized he was dead in the water.”
Debates aside, Davis’ chance to remain governor lies inhis ability to bring together a solid Democratic coalition. Hisassociation with former President Clinton has proven an advantagefor the Davis Campaign. Plans to showcase Davis’ ties to theformer president are based on the fact that Clinton carries anextremely high approval rating throughout California. Clintonscheduled himself for an appearance with Davis during the latterpart of the week in order to drum up support against therecall.
In turn, the Republican Party responded to Clinton’sendorsement by offering its total support to Schwarzenegger. Mostimportantly, the former Republican candidate for governor two yearsago, Bill Simon, offered his support in the campaign against Davisas well.
My problem with the California recall does not have to do withthe legal victory of the Schwarzenegger campaign. Rather, mylargest concern deals with the mockery that Schwarzenegger made ofthe political system. I thought in America, we elected people onthe basis of their credentials. Instead of putting “TheTerminator” in the governor’s chair, why don’tthe people of California find a person worthy of restoring orderand dignity to the people of California?
In other words, I do not buy the recent media blitzSchwarzenegger calls a campaign. I am sure that Arnold himself hasgood intentions as a husband and father. Still, being a Hollywoodmovie star does not qualify the man for public office.
A desire to restore American politics to a sense of dignityneeds to occur throughout America. The willingness of people toallow themselves to become influenced through ideological rhetoricgreatly hampers the ability to achieve a functional level ofgovernment.
Still, American politics centers itself around ideologicalbattles that are less concerned with what’s right or wrongfor the American people, but rather the final outcome of winning orlosing. At this point, it is evident that you might as wellcongratulate the governor Schwarzenegger. He has proven himselfcapable of staring in a multi-million dollar action movie showinghis pursuit of the governor’s office in California.
