The Strange Appeal of Arnie (SoreLoser Alert)

The Mercury News ^ | 10-10-03

[conservativegirl]

The strange appeal of Arnie October 10, 2003

The election of film star Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor of California may look like a harmless joke. It has been treated as such by many Americans, who quip about what "the Terminator" may achieve during his period in office.

But it is in fact a tragedy for the democratic process, and proof that many Californians have so lost their grip on reality that they can vote for a man whose main claim to fame is to play the part of a robot in a film, a man who is not only wholly inexperienced in public affairs and ignorant of politics but also a suspected sexual predator and a former partial admirer of Hitler.

How could this be? How could Californians elect such a ghastly human being? They must surely be aware that their state has enormous financial problems, and that they badly need someone capable of sorting them out. California is not some tin-pot entity but the most populous and richest state in the Union.

It is true that California is not necessarily typical of America, far less of the rest of the Western world. Parts of the state, such as the northern city of San Francisco, were solidly against Schwarzenegger. But there were still enough Californians to vote for this former bodybuilder and political know-nothing.

Some of the explanation must lie with the aptly named Gray Davis, the outgoing Democratic Party governor, whose reckless spending policies have landed California with its giddying financial problems. Davis represents the old order of failed mainstream politicians. If he had done his job properly, voters would not have turned to Schwarzenegger.

The ability to remove a failed politician is a valuable freedom.

The trouble is that Californians have plumped for the Austrian hulk. It is not altogether fanciful to equate this rejection of the mainstream with the embrace of fascist politicians by voters in pre-war Europe.

The Germans who elected Hitler should have been at least dimly aware of what they were getting, yet they thought their problems so serious they did not mind. California's difficulties are not remotely comparable with those of Germany in 1933, and, of course, Schwarzenegger cannot be reasonably mentioned in the same breath as Hitler. But the electorate's embrace of a conspicuously flawed outsider does bear some comparison with what happened in Germany.

If Schwarzenegger had merely been inexperienced and ignorant in the ways of politics, but also full of constructive proposals, as well as highly intelligent, one might have understood, and even approved of, what the Californian electors had done. There is always an argument for a new broom - provided it is the right sort.

But Schwarzenegger's shortcomings evidently went a lot further than a lack of political savvy. Over the past few days, Californians have been provided with enough evidence for them seriously to question "the Terminator's" judgment, and even his integrity.

Fifteen women have come forward to claim they have been groped and abused by him over a period of 15 years. Some of these women may have been jumping on an anti-Schwarzenegger bandwagon, but it is impossible to believe that they were all fantasists.

Then there were his remarks many years ago about Hitler, which can hardly be written off as merely ill-judged. What normal or decent person would have praised the German monster in public as "a good public speaker"?

Had Schwarzenegger the reputation of a saint, and were he manifestly an upstanding person, Californians might have legitimately taken these revelations with a pinch of salt. As it is, they should have deepened doubts, and made them resolve not to elect him.

Even his evasiveness throughout the election campaign, and his avoidance of almost all discussion of policy, did not alarm the millions of people who have voted for him. What did it matter what he believed in, so long as his face fitted? It is this decision to ignore the evidence - or perhaps to accept it but not to take it at all seriously - that is so terrifying. The real world, in which imperfections are counted, is set aside. Schwarzenegger, the filmic hero, the pretend slayer of his adversaries, the robotic victor who feels no pain, is voted in - not the flawed human being and rookie politician actually on offer.

Comparisons with Ronald Reagan, another actor who became governor of California, are wide of the mark. Reagan was fascinated by politics from his youth, a committed Democrat until the 1960 presidential election, and the leader of the actors' trade union. In 1964 he delivered a rousing speech in support of Barry Goldwater, the Republican presidential candidate, and was noticed by party bigwigs, who persuaded him to stand for governorship in 1966.

And Reagan, apart from being an experienced and committed politician, also carried little of the moral baggage that weighs down Schwarzenegger, though he was certainly no saint.

I hope I am wrong, and that Schwarzenegger turns out to be a diligent and competent governor. But there is no reason on the evidence to suppose this will be so. It will be a staggering surprise if Arnie solves California's financial difficulties and acquits himself with dignity.

California is not America. But its choice of this flawed man does not bode well for any of us. A bored and disenchanted electorate which feels betrayed by ordinary politicians votes for a fantasy hero who will not engage with the real world. The people, it seems, are not always to be trusted. - The Independent, London

[conservativegirl]

The dims are losing it. I love it.

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[GulliverSwift]

a tragedy for the democratic process

The writer doesn't mean that. Really means to say "a tragedy for the Democratic process.

[Restorer]

It is not altogether fanciful to equate this rejection of the mainstream with the embrace of fascist politicians by voters in pre-war Europe.

Actually, it is altogether fanciful to make such a comparison.

[brianl703]

"The people, it seems, are not always to be trusted."

[Callahan]

So a pro-gay, pro-affirmative action, sexually permissive politician married to a Kennedy is "like Hitler" to these people. What do they call the actual conservatives?

[Always Right]

But it is in fact a tragedy for the democratic process, and proof that many Californians have so lost their grip on reality that they can vote for a man whose main claim to fame is to play the part of a robot in a film, a man who is not only wholly inexperienced in public affairs and ignorant of politics but also a suspected sexual predator and a former partial admirer of Hitler.

At least most Californians were smart enough not to believe the media lies like this one.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

This was not necessarily written by a democrat.

[newgeezer]

So a pro-gay, pro-affirmative action, sexually permissive politician married to a Kennedy is "like Hitler" to these people.

Excellent point!

What do they call the actual conservatives?

The last one I can remember, they called "Bob Dornan."

[Sofa King]

"It is not altogether fanciful to equate this rejection of the mainstream with the embrace of fascist politicians by voters in pre-war Europe."

*YAWN*

You can tell right here there's going to be nothing of substance in the rest of the article.

[per loin]

of course, Schwarzenegger cannot be reasonably mentioned in the same breath as Hitler.

Does this bozo even read what he is writing?

[skeeter]

How could Californians elect such a ghastly human being?

Funny, this is what I was saying last November, word for word.

[muawiyah]

Despite his "main claim to fame", Arnold has also written best selling books (of scientific merit too!) in both German and English.

His first movie, "Pumping Iron", was a clear exhibition of a first class mind.

California is lucky to have an intellectual of this caliber available to devote the rest of his working career to straighting out the mess made by the professional political class.

[Sofa King]

Oh, and another thing:

"Then there were his remarks many years ago about Hitler, which can hardly be written off as merely ill-judged. What normal or decent person would have praised the German monster in public as "a good public speaker"?"

Anyone who knew what they were talking about, actually. It's a well-known fact that Hitler had a very forceful personality, and that he was an excellent public speaker. That's how he rose to power.

[G.Mason]

Oh no!

The Africans are upset?

How will we ever hold our heads up?

Excuse me whilst I toss this in the $h!t can.

[camas]

who do you think wrote the article??

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Repeat the big lie often enough (now, who is really an admirer of Hitler?)

[G.Mason]

Excuse me for butting in"

©2003. All rights strictly reserved. Independent Online is a wholly owned subsidiary of Independent News & Media. Reliance on the information this site contains is at your own risk.

[jmaroneps37]

"The Germans that elected Hitler...."
This is a wonder sign! It proves that the ratmedia still does not understand the world and still can not accept the fact that they can no longer shape the world to their own sick image.

[Reagan Man]

>>>California is lucky to have an intellectual of this caliber ...

It's always good to have a sense of humor too. Hahahahaha