There is no one I know, to the left or right, who fails to snicker or crack a dry smile when you mention Arnold "Terminator" Schwartzenegger. With his Hans & Frans accent, bloated biceps, orange crate jaw, giant-Chiclet teeth and GI Joe build, how can anyone view this man as anything but a comic book character sprung to life? No one takes Ze Terminator seriously, except maybe for that 120 minutes or so of suspended reality spent in a darkened cinema popping Milk Duds or curled on the couch clutching a bowl of popcorn and the remote. No one -except maybe the American media and Arnold's mother- could take this man, whose strongest claim to academic achievement was marrying Maria Shriver, seriously.

Trouble is, Ze Terminator takes himself seriously. Very seriously. Just as seriously, alas, as Jesse "The Body" Ventura took himself, to the later woe of the people of Minnesota. As a result, after years of threatening to do so, Arnold has decided to hurl his steroid-laden mass into the political arena. Why now? Is it the lure of endless press coverage and slots on Leno, Today, Meet the Press, and every other venue the Bush Media Empire can arrange? (Afterall, even if he doesn't win, he may at least boost ticket sales to his latest Grade C silver screen adventure). Is it an effort to try to force the public to take him seriously -like a porn star seeking respect by trying out for the job of spokesperson for the Disney Network? Is it because he is such an opportunist that he sees the recall of Gray Davis as his best shot at an otherwise impossible board, just like the other political vultures now circling California?

I say, none of the above.

What then, makes Arnold run? I believe that key people connected to the White House, if not Karl Rove or Bush himself, have asked the Terminator to run. Just a few weeks back, Arnold swore he did not plan to run -an assertion made very soon after the news began to circulate on the Internet that Arnold's father, to whom he attributes his 'discipline' was a Nazi. Not just a Nazi, but a ZEALOUS Nazi who volunteered to be a Storm Trooper (Hitler's shock troops). Although Arnold claims he never knew about his father's background, he clearly embraced his father's Nazi-ish concept of discipline ("I owe my self-discipline to training by my father"), a philosophy that dictates that developing a 'perfect' body is part of one's duty toward creating a 'master race.' This information will most surely now be leveled at Arnold like a barrage of cannon. He will most certainly also be the butt of continuous jokes, jibes, and other indignities as he preens and prances across the media stage in coming months. His chances of winning Sacramento, in the wake of the Jesse Ventura debacle, especially, are about two whiskers above nil.

So what is the point of such an exercise in futility? Why would the White House WANT Arnold to run? Because Arnold, like a great big red media bull's eye, will draw the public's fire from BUSH. In short, Arnold is being used as a decoy. Instead of hammering away at Bush as a Nazi, a buffoon, and phony, the public can turn these same sentiments, interchangeably, against Arnold. At least that is what the Rove brigade hopes. That Bush has been wisked off the stage for a month while Arnold is being maneuvered out toward the footlights, front and center, is undoubtedly part of the plan. That several key Repbulicans are, right on cue, already loudly "complaining" about Schwartzenegger's race is also part of the script, designed to focus maximum attention on Storm Trooper Arnold rather than Fuehrer George.

The fact that Arnold has agreed to this scheme is chilling proof, to me, that he is indeed his Daddy's boy. By agreeing to run in California, Arnold will make a further travesty out of America's democratic system. He will undoubtedly lose the race and what little credibility he may have had politically and he will probably lose his wife (Maria reportedly pleaded with him not to run). He will besmirch his family with the revelations about his father and, last but not least, lose a great deal of money. But, as his Daddy would have said...."I vas just following orders!"

The NASCAR candidate's election platform.

Fer sure Ahnold (and the entire recall process) will provide distraction from the dark doings in Mordor, but I wouldn't be so quick to say he couldn't win. Depends who else the Republicans are running, and how he is packaged. The R's in California (and in DC) are extremely hungry for victory, regardless of what shape it takes.

He would be CA's Jesse Ventura, and will be inheriting a mess beyond his depth. But he would give the R's a desperately desired toehold in the Golden State. Recall also that it's likely that more Republicans will show up at the election than Democrats. Ahnold could win.

But he's only a momentary distraction. Once the recall is over, attention will surely shift back to Bush.

Arnie is what's needed in politics today..FFRREesSSHH&Clean!!!!!!!!!!

and besides if things fuckup for him(elected or not), at least we'll get a laff at the Arnoldisms

Image is everything, isn't it, my dear republicans?

Compensating limited intellect by brute force has always been an appealing attitude to the budding little fascists.

People voting for Mr. Steroids are acting as consumers, not as citizens. These are the same people who buy an object in the hope to acquire its attributes (i.e. buy a big truck/suv so I'll FEEL powerful in it). They think the "big" presence of Schwarzenegger is a guarantee of getting things done in the political arena.

Wrong. Thanks for playing.

>Compensating limited intellect by brute force has always been an appealing attitude to the budding little fascists.<

Hmmmm. That's not true, but let's play devil's advocate and see where this takes us.

Steroids,

Since we have "limited intellect" according to you, it follows that you believe that those like you have "superior intellect", otherwise how would you know that "limited intellect" even existed.

So, with your "superior intellect", how come you haven't figured out how to convince the rest of mankind to see things your way? Someone with "superior intellect" would certainly find that to be a rather easy task to perform. Someone with "superior intellect" should be able to easily attract the attention of those with "inferior intellect" and sway them by some form or manner to their way of thinking. Yet you haven't. Why not?

It might be entertaining to have a weight lifter run the world's 4th largest economy, but it could also be very dangerous now that the country is teetering on the brink of another great depression. The stakes are very high. How much are you all willing to pay for this show? If California's economy goes down the rest ot the country will go with it.

"If California's economy goes down the rest ot the country will go with it."

Temporarily, yes. In the long run, no.

California's socialist policies have ruined an otherwise great state. Anytime the politicians start listening to a bunch of tree-hugging leftists for answers to real problems, automatically expect problems. I mean, they're leftists. With leftists, you're not dealing with people who can think.

I don't know why people are so easily manipulated into thinking that there is a problem with the economy when both the feds and the states own about 70% of Wall Street..

Don't fall into the trap...stay informed !

Here is a few references for your pursual that the whole thing is a contrived fraud.

http://www.rense.com/general2/cafrsur.htm

http://user.icx.net/~drherb/cafrtranscript.html

http://walterburien.blogspot.com/

"Since we have "limited intellect" according to you, it follows that you believe that those like you have "superior intellect", otherwise how would you know that "limited intellect" even existed."

See, it doesn't take a "superior intellect" to notice an idiot or a bulIy. I am sorry you felt targeted by this remark... Regarding my alleged superior intellect, you are taking a leap I never would, but thanks anyways for the compliment.

I was refering to Mr. Schwarzenegger and the people supporting his candidature. Mr. S. wit is not exactly striking, nor his ability to conduct a business successfully (Planet Hollywood has been loosing money for years), nor his political plans ("pump up Sacramento", whatever that means), nor his diplomatical aptitude (a lifelong habit of intimidation antics and vulgar language). And as a sidenote, what kind of environmental commitment will you get from a Hummer spokesperson? (uuuh the E word) Would you trust somebody with such credentials to be in charge? The guy happens to be an actor who has been active in the arena of after-school programs and it stops there. He's never tackled any real political assignment. In this regard, Clint Eastwood is better off by having served Carmel as a mayor.



"So, with your "superior intellect", how come you haven't figured out how to convince the rest of mankind to see things your way?"

Your typically republican authoritarian vision made you miss another possibility: I do not have to convince you, others and even less the rest of mankind, to adopt my vision on this issue.



"Someone with "superior intellect" would certainly find that to be a rather easy task to perform. Someone with "superior intellect" should be able to easily attract the attention of those with "inferior intellect" and sway them by some form or manner to their way of thinking. Yet you haven't. Why not?"

You don't seem to be able to depart from this "superior" thing. My posting was not about me, or an alleged superior IQ or changing someone's opinion. It was about TV-trained people being sold another image and another slogan as a governor. It was about Conan-style brute force being marketed as the universal problem solver, an attitude the current republican flavor in D.C. wants you to perceive as potentially successful. You are obviously attempting to get traction by putting words in my mouth. Again, I don't see why, in your words, I should take advantage of alleged "inferior" people to convert them into my views. You keep re-hashing these notions of pecking order, social engineering, convincing the masses, is this a conservative thing?