I must admit, the term "Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger" didn't pass the laugh test last year, even here. But either Gray Davis was so incompetent that Bozo the Clown would've been an improvement, or Arnold is a far better governor than anyone imagined. Possibly both. Things just keep getting better, in a state that had all but given up a year ago. From Reuters:
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A leading Wall Street ratings agency on Friday raised California's credit rating, citing an improving economy, the first such upgrade in four years and a move that promised to bring down the state's borrowing costs on $44 billion in debt.I'm wondering if the Democrats will be able to find someone to run against him in two years. I'm hoping for Maxine Waters. Posted by Kevin Murphy at May 21, 2004 07:38 PM | TrackBack
Analysts saw the unexpected credit upgrade by Moody's Investors Service as an endorsement of the steps Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken to bring California back from the brink of a fiscal crisis that drove its credit ratings near junk levels and had threatened to effectively shut the state out of the bond market for new borrowing.
So, Whats his secret?
1) Despite what the LA times wants to tell you, He's actually pretty smart. He's not only managed to get one date with Maria Schriver, but he actually convinced her to marry him and the went so far as to convince her to have kids. Lots and Lots of kids. I dont care how big you are or what kind of movie star you are, if youre not smart youre not keeping a girl like Maria around for long.
2) Despite what the LA Times says, He's actually a decent guy who knows the difference between bullshit and a cobb salad.
3) He's got the best official staff of any govenor in quite some time. He's also got the best unofficial staff of all time, from Mayor Riordan to Pete Wilson. What's that tell you? the man knows how and where and when to get advice.
So Whats the problem?
There is nothing more dangerous than a politican who feels his stream of income has been diverted. Arnold has shown the donors (oops! I mean voters) that this "experience that can lead" line that the political class boffs off to us at each election, is total crap. What that does is lower the cache that a potential candidate for office can offer to his donors ( ooops!, I meant voters), which means? less cash for the ex-lawyer classes.
The effect is to eventually make a situation that will require the Sacramento political class bury Arnold for their own survival. My own theory for why they have been quiet so far is an agreement between them and Arnold on campaigning for Bush.
The Dems are scared witless that Arnold will start being a real Bush booster and cause California to go into play for the republicans, or atleast cause them to spend a whole lotta money here defending it.
You could see a bit of that panic last week with Guliani in front of the 9/11 commission, where the stunt hecklers had to try to make Guliani look bad to help keep him from becoming an aide for the Bush campaign.
I believe the gloves will come off, waaay off after the first campaign stop that Arnold goes to to support Bush.
Between now and then, keep your eye on the articles that try to say that its really Maria whos running the State.
Posted by: Frank Martin at May 21, 2004 11:35 PM