The Best Show in Town
That was some victory Arnold Schwarzenegger won in California. But now he has to govern. With a Democrat legislature it's going to be tough, but not impossible.
Like Ronald Reagan before him Schwarzenegger's acting experience will help him in California and in politics where image increasingly triumphs over substance. Conservative republicans were so hungry for victory that they swallowed Arnold's liberal positions on many social issues and voted for him.
If he can do something about big spending and large government, he will be a hero to conservatives. Besides, he can't do much on the state level about abortion, though he favors parental consent law.
Democrats will look for ways to make him fail so they can re-take the only statewide office they do not hold. Schwarzenegger will need all of his communications skills to harness the anger of voters and direct it toward those who are standing in his way.
Never has a political terminator been more needed. It's going to be the best show in town, until the presidential race heats up. And you don't even need a ticket.
I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.
Originally published October 10, 2003.
