Arnold for president?

[picasso]

Arnold

Arnold was hoping to become the next Reagan, but aside from the Constitutional problem, he does not seem to understand that Reagan's success was a triumph of style over substance. Arnold is trying to win on issues, and he is on the wrong side of them where California is concerned. If he was in a conservative state like Texas, he could probably win, not that anything he would do would really make much of a difference.

Don't think so. Arnold became governor mostly on style points rather than substance. He was perceived at the time as a no nonsense type who could just come in and clean house, his lack of experience in politics notwithstanding. It's that image that got him elected rather than any stand on issues. Also, Arnold is hardly your stereotypical conservative. He is a Republican only in the sense of being fiscally conservative and wanting smaller governments but on social issues he's quite progressive. So, I'm not so sure he'll thrive in conservative places like Texas or Alabama.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Arnold's career in politics was doomed the moment he announced he was running for governor. Let's face it: "The guy had as much experience in law & politics as 96% of the members here. He also has less education than 75% of the people here." Not anyone who wishes to can simply throw his hat into the political forum can succeed. He was elected because of his name, and also because of the public's disenchantment with then-governor Gray Davis. I have 10 times the level of education that Arnie has, yet i feel that i would be totally unqualified to be governor of any state. It takes more than charisma and public adulation to make it in today's political forum where it's constantly a 'dog-eat-dog' mentality. Even Ronald Reagan would have a hard time ever getting elected to office today.

 

[Doc Holliday]

That was my point, he got elected because he was a movie star like Reagan, but his politics are too conservative for California.

Reagan was never really a movie star. He made one good movie (King's Row) and was better known for a bit role as George 'The Gipper' Gipp and a low-budget movie where its star was a chimp (Bedtime for Bonzo). Reagan had slightly more experience in politics Arnie.....he was once president of the screen actors' guild. I know what you're thinking (Wow!! lol)....but at least it was a start. Arnie....his only political credentials are that he married a Kennedy relative (Maria Shriver, niece of JFK & RFK).

 

[picasso]

Let's face it: "The guy had as much experience in law & politics as 96% of the members here. He also has less education than 75% of the people here." Not anyone who wishes to can simply throw his hat into the political forum can succeed. He was elected because of his name, and also because of the public's disenchantment with then-governor Gray Davis. I have 10 times the level of education that Arnie has, yet i feel that i would be totally unqualified to be governor of any state. It takes more than charisma and public adulation to make it in today's political forum where it's constantly a 'dog-eat-dog' mentality. Even Ronald Reagan would have a hard time ever getting elected to office today.

JaJ,

The recent history of American presidential politics suggests that education tends to be inversely related to electability, re: Kerry vs. Bush, Mondale vs. Reagan, Dukakis vs. Reagan, etc. Whereas charisma is directly correlated with electability, same examples. Clinton had both so he had no problem getting elected and reelected. He's still tremendous popular today and my guess is that if the Constitution allows for more than two terms, he'll easily win another term over any Republican I can think of. Reagan had oodles of charisma and warmth, and then some and got two terms easily. I think he'd have no problems getting another term today.

 

[Uncle Kracker]

I couldn't think of a way to word what I was thinking... Thankfully Oliver was thinking the same thing...

The only difference, I wasn't around when Kennedy died. But I still believe he was the best we've had.

I would give Arnold my vote, and I definatly wouldn't turn the other way because of WHO he is...

 

[Doc Holliday]

Arnold also has too many skeletons in his closet to ever get the nomination for any of the two major political parties. When he ran for governor, rumours and accusations of cases of possible sexual assault (and adultry?) came to the forefront.

 

[voyageur11]

I couldn't think of a way to word what I was thinking... Thankfully Oliver was thinking the same thing...

The only difference, I wasn't around when Kennedy died. But I still believe he was the best we've had.

I would give Arnold my vote, and I definatly wouldn't turn the other way because of WHO he is...

You should read the The last day of Camelot

 

[Doc Holliday]

JustaJohn
adultery--john f kennedy fucked everything that moved
then there was clinton and monica
rhumours of sexual assault-fortunately innocent till proven guilty--
funny these alligations only rise when the man runs for anything.
you consider these too many skeletons-
what is your criteria for a president
george w was rhumoured to have used cocaine
so would you rather have a fucker or druggie in charge of the country
look at some of george w's descisions the man has to have taken something.
when arnold invades a country they will know not to fuck with him or
"ill be back"
oliver

Kennedy did screw many babes.....all were top babes, though. Not anything that moved: Jane Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe, etc. But he did it at a time when the press would keep quiet about those things. Clinton never screwed Lewinsky. She gave him 2-3 blowjobs, that's it. No one complained....but the Republicans jumped on the allegations and tried to make a coup-d'Etat out of it. Bush....yes, you're right. The guy is a total idiot. He used cocaine and he's a reformed alcoholic. Karl Rove and his team got him the presidency. I mean, stole the presidency....but that's another story altogether. As for Arnold....i like his movies. Many women came forward during his run at the governor and claimed he groped them on movie sets. Probably true, but really, who cares. However, in the political arena, those things are usually a no-no. So, unless he has a famous father who once was POTUS or a genius like Karl Rove running the campaign, he would stand no chance of getting the nomination. Same reason why Rudy Gulliani won't get it....too many skeletons and the Republicans know it. Arnie will also be a lame-duck governor in California. I always doubted a Republican governor could make it in that liberal state. He is a true politician, though. He talks good bullshit. However, the people now have realized this and are fed up with his act.......they'll give him the boot and send him back to Hollywood.

 

[Red Paul]

look at some of george w's descisions the man has to have taken something.

Just a heavy dose of self-righteousness washed down by ignorance, in my view. The president is living proof that being clean and sober isn't the answer to everything.

As for Arnold and Reagan, well, I'm a Democrat so I don't like either. But as I heard it, Reagan did have a good shot at a top-line Hollywood career except everything stalled out when he spent a few years making training films for the war effort. (Later on, of course, he fantasized quite a role for himself as a soldier in WWII.)

I saw just one of Reagan's old films, the infamous Bedtime for Bonzo, and remember him as being quite good. As a political performer, of course, he was wonderful. Thru the '80s Democrats used his selling skills as a standing excuse for the shellacking the Republicans gave us on so many issues. But have them he did. Listening to the guy, I had to fight not to believe him, even when every fact available indicated he was full of it. Oddly, Dick Cheney has the same effect on me. Of course Reagan also came off as lovable, which obviously is not Cheney's strong point.

Arnold ... well, yes, he has drive and he's shrewd. He built himself up from nothing to being one of the world's big, big deals. But he also sounds like an arrogant bully and a chiseler. That's my impression from reading about him before his governorship. Of his time in office all I know is that Californians don't like him much.

 

[Red Paul]

Well, the big bastard won. According to CNN, 56% to 39% for the Dem. A wipeout.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Well, the big bastard won. According to CNN, 56% to 39% for the Dem. A wipeout.

Did you expect anything less? He is the Terminator (or the Governator) after all. That opponent was chickenshit compared to what he faced in Predator.