Arnold Schwarzenegger,  California,  Election 2006,  Politics

Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Governor of the People?

January 30, 2006 /

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger addresses the media during a visit to Seaside High School in Seaside, Calif., Friday, Jan. 27, 2006. The governor is pushing for new, modernized classrooms for California’s students.

George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times: A Leader Can Get Lost Following the People

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has always said he wants to be “the governor of the people,” executing their commands. But there is a problem with that notion. Too often, the people don’t have a clue.

Oh, they have a clue about what they want. They know where they want to wind up — but have little inkling of the route or the fare. Nor what’s feasible and what’s fantasy.

Frequently they’re confused. That’s partly because they’re misled by demagogues — and also because, being human, they try to avoid pain by living in denial.

“Voters are conflicted,” says Mark Baldassare, pollster for the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California. “They want almost everything. They want to continue to spend more money and tax other people. Or borrow.

“There’s not a whole lot of fiscal discipline in the public.”

That’s why Americans are carrying $2 trillion-plus in consumer debt.

In that respect, Schwarzenegger is the people’s governor. His latest $125.6-billion budget plan would have state government spending $6.4 billion more than it takes in during the next fiscal year. That “moves the state in the wrong direction,” says nonpartisan Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill.

This is the “live within your means” governor, remember? Why didn’t he propose a “live within your means” spending plan? a reporter asked him at the Jan. 10 budget unveiling.

“It is easier said than done,” Schwarzenegger replied. “When I ran [for governor], I thought it was easier to balance the budget, to be honest with you. But it’s very, very difficult because you’re not sitting … alone in the Capitol. You’re making decisions together [with legislators]….

“If I do my [family] budget at home, yes, it’s easy to just say, ‘Oh, we spend less here.’ End of story…. It’s easier than working at the Capitol.”

A reminder to Skelton: Don’t sell the people of California short.

A reminder to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger: political leadership in the ARENA is NOT always expedient or TAX and SPEND.

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