by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright March 17, 2006
All Rights Reserved.

cting like California's governor hasn't worked for the 58-year old body-builder-turned-actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose two years in office replacing Democratic Gov. Gray Davis hasn't gone as expected. Promising to end gridlock and bitter partisanship in Sacramento, the governor finds himself fighting for his political survival with approval ratings dipping below 35%. Facing a tough reelection, Schwarzenegger is still reeling from the stinging defeat last November, where voters overwhelming rejected his right wing agenda to reinvent California. After cleaning house, Arnold reinvented himself, hiring Democratic operative former Davis chief-of-staff Susan Kennedy, slapping his Republican base. After lecturing the Democratic legislature about fiscal responsibility, Arnold proposed a whopping $68 billion public works project, hoping to out-Democrat the Democrats.

      Meeting stiff opposition from his base and unable to get a boost to his reelection bid from his Democratic friends, the California legislature rejected Arnold's $68 billion scheme, promising to bury the state in debt for generations. Squeezed between what's left of his base and two ambitious Democratic candidates State Treasurer Phil Angelides and Controller Steve Wesley, Arnold looks desperate trying to gain traction in a reelection bid looking more chaotic. Unable to strike a deal with the legislature, Arnold's reelection strategy is already in trouble. No longer part of the solution, Arnold can no longer sell himself as a fiscal conservative trying to save the state from possible insolvency. His grandiose public works' proposal pushed conservative Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakesfield) into a strategic alliance with Democratic Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles).

      When Arnold's latest lead-balloon crashed, it spelled trouble ahead for his reelection bid. No matter how much Angelides and Wesley punish each other before the June primary, Arnold's own party has grave reservations about supporting his run for a second term. “This is a real sign of how terribly weak the governor is,” said Tony Quinn, the Republican co-editor of the nonpartisan California Target Book election guide. Democrats have never been more determined to regain the statehouse next November. It's wishful thinking that Angelides and Wesley will punch each other out before the June primary. Arnold's “Strategic Growth Plan,” once again, demonstrated how he operates inside a bubble, unable to get consensus before dropping a bombshell. Before Arnold announced his $68 billion public works boondoggle, he should have had the full backing of the legislature.

      Once his conservative overhaul plan was rejected by voters last November, Arnold should have taken a hint that he faces an uphill battle for reelection. Schwarzenegger's problems stem, in part, from his overly stiff presentation, lacking the Teflon qualities that help ambitious politicians get to the top. When he took office Nov. 18, 2003, Arnold allowed the staff of former Republican Gov. Pete Wilson to set his agenda. Arnold saved Californians from Davis' massive vehicle registration tax hike, making him an instant hero. Instead of listening to his wife liberal Democrat, broadcast journalist Maria Shriver, he allowed himself to be influenced by right wing activists, eventually culminating in last November's disastrous special election. Instead of working with the legislature, Arnold thought he could railroad his agenda through California's initiative process.

      Going from one extreme [last November's special election] to the other [his $68 billion infrastructure plan] doesn't reassure either his base or crossover Democrats. Arnold's latest failure reflects his inability to get along with the legislature on both side of the aisle. “This guy has a history of bringing forward these grandiose schemes that basically melt into a puddle of water on the floor,” said Wesley strategist Gary South, drawing attention to Arnold's major flaw: his grandiosity. Instead of patiently building relationships and working with the California legislature, he chose an end run to voters through the ballot box. There's no silver lining when California voters tell the governor he's on the wrong track. “We can take out our popcorn and enjoy the show for the next three months,” said GOP strategist Kevin Spillane, hoping Democrats beat themselves up before the June primary.

      Arnold finds himself running out of time trying to reinvent himself before next November. Flip-flopping from fiscal conservative to the state's biggest spender doesn't sit well with either party. Hiring Democratic strategist Susan Kennedy burnt his bridge to his GOP base and insulted Democrats already suspicious of his motives. While there's a lifetime before November, Arnold doesn't know which way to turn now that he's antagonized his base and embraced former Gov. Davis' chief of staff to save his political hide. While there's nothing wrong in rebuilding California's crumbling infrastructure, there's something very wrong with changing his stripes this late in the game. Neither Republicans nor Democrats can stomach a governor who panders to both sides and offers no ideological consistency with which to negotiate a satisfactory deal with bipartisan elected officials.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

©1999-2005 Discobolos Consulting Services, Inc.
(310) 204-8300
All Rights Reserved.