The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Electing AAAHNOLD! Schwarzenegger that is, candidate for governor of California in the October 7th recall of the governor contest. Since the movie action hero announced his candidacy some weeks ago, he has dominated the headlines in what appears to many to be a very strange election even for the United States. What is a recall election? It is a part of the constitution of many states, especially west and south, which allows the voters to recall or get rid of an office holder who disappoints the electorate. If you elect a cat and he turns out to be a rat, vote to recall him and elect someone who will do better. Recalls are one outcome of the populist movement in the 19th and early 20th century which attempted to purify democracy. The idea is that the voter is supreme, so elect everyone from governor to dogcatcher, including judges who are also subject to recall if they don't behave. There have been a number of recall elections in the U.S.A. but none for governor, even in California which has had the statute on its books since 1911. The reason is Democrat Governor Gray Davis, narrowly re-elected last year in a negative and bitter campaign, is now sitting at a 90% disapproval rating in most surveys. Presiding over the nation's most populous state, Davis is blamed for California's $38 billion deficit, more than all other states combined, a 7% unemployment rate, with businesses disappearing to surrounding low-tax states, blaming high taxes, ballooning worker's compensation levies, and sky-high energy costs. For the first time, California is on the verge of a net out-migration of people as jobs disappear and welfare lists grow. Davis blames the opposition on a Republican right wing conspiracy and he vows to fight for his "progressive agenda" Ð abortion rights, gun control, education reform and health care, none of which he can steer through the badly split California legislature. Getting a recall vote was not easy. California with a population of 33.9 million (10 million more than Canada) required nearly 900,000 registered voters to sign the petition. Organizers got 1.3 million signatures and the vote was set for October 7th. With no shortage of candidates, 135 at the last count including porn king Larry Flynt, Jerry Springer, Garry Coleman (different strokes) who is running but voting for Arnold, and dozens of would-be politicians, some loony, some not. As one California writer said, "In California, you know what they say about politics. It's show business for ugly people." The race, referred to as a circus by outsiders, really only has five candidates with any visible support Ð Arnold, a moderate Republican, Cruz Bustamente, the current democratic Lt. Governor who ditched Davis and entered the race, Ilianna Huffington, author, political commentator, and right-wing Republican turned left-wing radical (her website is overthrowthegov.co), a conservative state senator, and a Green Party candidate whose policies are very much like Canada's NDP. Huffington is an interesting case study. A Greek immigrant with an M.A. in economics from Cambridge, Ilianna married Michael Huffington, who had inherited millions from his Texas oil-baron father, and helped him get elected to Congress in 1992. He spent a record $5.4 million and won, then in 1994 spent another record $30 million of daddy's money, narrowly losing the Senate race to Democrat Diane Feinstein. Why did he lose? As one L.A. reporter said at the time: "I have never met anyone so vacant. When you look in his eyes all you see is the back of his head." Huffington later switched to the Democrats, came out as a transsexual cross dresser and began sponsoring gay activities, divorcing Ilianna in the process. For a time he considered putting his name on the ballot. Ilianna, who has been called "the most upward mobile Greek since Icarus" changed from Conservative wife to radical Democrat. Of her nine books the latest is "Overthrow the Government". She calls for citizens to riot in the streets, break laws and get rid of the government. In the debate with Arnold and the others mentioned, she came across as a loud, opinionated and obnoxious airhead. She and the Green party candidate are polling 5% of the vote. The five candidates' debate, the only one Arnold agreed to, was fascinating and dominated by the action hero. Bustamente apologized for the debt and said he would erase it by selective temporary taxes. Arnold's response: "You people should attend an addiction clinic. You are addicted to spending. You spend, spend, spend, then you tax, tax, tax, and the jobs are gone, gone, gone" Arnold easily fended of attacks by Irianna, suffered no criticism from the others and gave a masterful closing statement. He said he came to California penniless, now has lots of money, a wonderful career, a great family Ð and he owes it all to California. "I want to give something back," he said. If in politics, image is everything, Arnold stole the show. Tall, powerful and handsome standing beside the short, fat Bustamente, it was definitely no contest. Arnold Shwarzenegger is not just another pretty face running in a state that has often elected celebrities Ð Ronald Reagan, George Murphy, Sonny Bono, and Clint Eastwood. His community service record is unmatched by any candidate. A tireless worker and executive in Special Olympics (started by his mother-in-law in 1967) Arnold also founded the Inner City Games Foundation in 1995, now called Arnold's after school all stars. The foundation provides activities for inner- city children after school, giving them positive alternatives to drugs, gangs, and violence. He also organized and campaigned for proposition 49, passed last year by the voters, providing state funds for all California schools to set up after school programs for all children. Chair from 1990-1993 of the President's council on physical fitness and sports, Arnold Shwarzenegger has received a multitude of awards, honorary doctorates and the like for his community and charitable work. Is his lack of elected political experience a hindrance or help? One could regret that California has someone like him and we don't. I'll Be Back!!
