I’ve intentionally avoided writing about the California recall election for several reasons. Perhaps most importantly, even I, a political junkie if there ever was one, find the ordeal too stupid to get worked up over. The whole thing gives circuses a bad name.
So as the most of the civilized world knows by now, Arnold Schwarzenegger believes he should be the chief executive of a state that rivals the size and budget of a medium-sized country. Whether Californians elect him or not, however, I’m disappointed he threw his hat in the ring.
It’s not because I’m troubled by Schwarzenegger’s inexperience, his undefined issue positions, his poor acting skills, or his unwillingness to articulate how he’d address a state with severe fiscal crises. It’s because he’s already demonstrated a willingness to rely on the worst political rhetoric imaginable — clichés from his own movies.
In his highly anticipated appearance on Jay Leno last night, Schwarzenegger offered voters these gems:
* “Do your job for the people and do it well. Otherwise you are hasta la vista baby.”
* “When I go to Sacramento, I am going to pump Sacramento up.”
* “Say hasta la vista to Gray Davis”
* “I’ll be back.” (which he said at a post-Leno press conference)
I mean, really. Putting politics aside for a moment, is this really what we need in a gubernatorial candidate?
I can picture his first State of the State address now. “It’s a deficit, but it’s not a tumor.”