Schwarzenegger says governorship cost him $200 million

[The_Punisher]

Not sure if it was that much, but certainly he lost quite a bit of earnings potential (like he needed it).  Still, blaming Arnold on the woes of California is not fair (considering that the Democratic controlled assemblies here just don't get it). 

Now that Jerry Brown is here, and he proposed cutting almost everything that Arnold wanted to, they don't have much a choice - can you imagine the Democrats not backing a Democratic governor. All hell will break loose.

As for Arnold, do not worry about him - he has already started a few business ventures with some key people. Time for him to relax, and we will see him on March 3,4,5 at the Arnold Classic (this time without the 8 CHP officers assigned to him)

Ron, do you think it will be a good idea to give one or two free ticket for the ASC to Getbiggers who love bodybuilding and would love to go the ASC? ...just a thought

[The Showstoppa]

Cali was f'd LONG before Arnie got into office........the chickens have come home to roost in that state.......very sad.

[Ron]

 Right. And how could he not be a legislative failure given that the entire Calfornia house of representatives was controlled by Democrats who vetoed everything he tried to do?

  And I agree that this was Arnold's worst move in life. He tried to use the governorship of the Union's largest state as a steppingstone for the presidency, and couldn't make it. He thought that maybe if he saved California from chaos, that Americans would be so wooed that they would change the constitutional ammendment that precludes foreigners from becoming president. Bad move by Arno.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

Correct - but didnt realize that the Democrats here in California were more concerned with protecting the status quo, the unions and everything else.  Tough job. 

Ron, do you think it will be a good idea to give one or two free ticket for the ASC to Getbiggers who love bodybuilding and would love to go the ASC? ...just a thought

I don't have access to ASC tickets - I already have about 10 people who have asked me to get them for them already - as this contest is quite popular, and only seats around 2,800 people, whereas the Olympia seats 8,000+. 

[spinnis]

The first thinh he does after "getting out" is talking about how much potential money hes lost? lol

[suckmymuscle]

Correct - but didnt realize that the Democrats here in California were more concerned with protecting the status quo, the unions and everything else.  Tough job. 

I don't have access to ASC tickets - I already have about 10 people who have asked me to get them for them already - as this contest is quite popular, and only seats around 2,800 people, whereas the Olympia seats 8,000+. 

  Yeah, I never undertood cronyism and statism frankly. The government does not create money except through inflation. Can't they understand that the programs have to go? The state is completely broke and the only way for it to continue to afford these programs is by either raising taxes or printing money, since no banks are gona lend money to a state that could never pay it back. Raising taxes is very unpopular and unthinkable, especially since raising taxes on the rich and corporations more than they alaready are would simply lead to them leaving the state. And printing money is impossible, since only the federal government, national governments, can print money. California will simply file for brankruptcy in 5 to 10 years and then the federal government will have to bail it out or the California government will not be able to pay the salaries of state civil servants.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

[BayGBM]

The first thinh he does after "getting out" is talking about how much potential money hes lost? lol

Yes.  Because that is the comment of someone who has failed.  If CA were soaring he (nor his handlers) would be talking about how much money he lost/sacrificed to be governor.  By almost every measure his time in office has been judged a failure.  Brown is already doing things Arnold failed to do and Arnold is looking very bad by comparison.  Hence the defensive posturing about how much he theoretically "lost" by taking on being governor.  

Note, by the way, that Arnold never lived in Sacramento.  He flew back and forth while his family stayed in Southern CA.  In other words, this was never a job he took seriously. It was a flight of fancy for a bored, rich person and now that it's over he is going back to his mansion.  

[suckmymuscle]

Yes.  Because that is the comment of someone who has failed.  If CA were soaring he (nor his handlers) would be talking about how much money he lost/sacrificed to be governor.  By almost every measure his time in office has been judged a failure.  Brown is already doing things Arnold failed to do and Arnold is looking very bad by comparison.  Hence the defensive posturing about how much he theoretically "lost" by taking on being governor.  

  What a terrible comparison. Brown is a democrat. The California's house of representatives is controlled by Democrats. Obviously, Brown can get things done more because the legislature is willing to work with him whilst it wasn't willing to work with Arnold the Republican he-man. Simple as that.

Note, by the way, that Arnold never lived in Sacramento.  He flew back and forth while his family stayed in Southern CA.  In other words, this was never a job he took seriously. It was a flight of fancy for a bored, rich person and now that it's over he is going back to his mansion.

  He actually did live in Sacramento during his first term. By the second term he was flying home every day because he has a family and he wanted to see his kids who couldn't live in Sacramento because their lives were in L.A. He did the best he could to reconcil work with his family life. Nothing wrong with that.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

[Ron]

  What a terrible comparison. Brown is a democrat. The California's house of representatives is controlled by Democrats. Obviously, Brown can get things done more because the legislature is willing to work with him whilst it wasn't willing to work with Arnold the Republican he-man. Simple as that.

  He actually did live in Sacramento during his first term. By the second term he was flying home every day because he has a family and he wanted to see his kids who couldn't live in Sacramento because their lives were in L.A. He did the best he could to reconcil work with his family life. Nothing wrong with that.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

Californias Legislative Reps knew that if they helped Arnold, it wouldnt bode well for the Democrats. Now that Brown is in office, they can make the painful cuts that they wouldnt do before.  Taxes are way high here in California already.

As for Arnold, yes, Sacramento was his second home where he worked tireless to make California better.  With 4 kids, you do not want to uproot them from friends, family and more.  Family comes first. I don't blame him for that. I know a number of people that work Mon-Thursday on the road, traveling in the hopes of making it easier for their family.

[BayGBM]

  What a terrible comparison. Brown is a democrat. The California's house of representatives is controlled by Democrats. Obviously, Brown can get things done more because the legislature is willing to work with him whilst it wasn't willing to work with Arnold the Republican he-man. Simple as that.

  He actually did live in Sacramento during his first term. By the second term he was flying home every day because he has a family and he wanted to see his kids who couldn't live in Sacramento because their lives were in L.A. He did the best he could to reconcil work with his family life. Nothing wrong with that.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

Your apologia needs work.  “I can’t be effective because the legislature is controlled by Democrats” is certainly not the tune Arnold was singing when he was running for office nor when he was taking his agenda directly to voters (who overwhelmingly rejected his overtures).  Like many rich, bored people who run for office, he thought he could run and govern based on his personality.  The fact that he didn’t have a deep knowledge—no knowledge in fact--of how Sacramento really works (and doesn’t work) set him up for failure.  He had no clue how to dance among the politicos and policy advocates that make things happen.  All of which = ineffective girly man.

[HTexan]

Haha. No it cost the kenndy's fundraisers/ givers 200 million.

[BayGBM]

Californias Legislative Reps knew that if they helped Arnold, it wouldnt bode well for the Democrats. Now that Brown is in office, they can make the painful cuts that they wouldnt do before.  Taxes are way high here in California already.

As for Arnold, yes, Sacramento was his second home where he worked tireless to make California better.  With 4 kids, you do not want to uproot them from friends, family and more.  Family comes first. I don't blame him for that. I know a number of people that work Mon-Thursday on the road, traveling in the hopes of making it easier for their family.

Your apologia needs work as well.  Likening Arnold to a traveling salesman trying to support his family is laughable.  When one runs for an office like governor or president voters expect you to put the office first and that is why office seekers usually have a family meeting to discuss and decide if the family is on board with seeking the office.  In effect, it is a family undertaking.  Virtually every governor in every state uproots their family and moves to the state capital because they know what is required and they are serious but the work.

“Family first” is a nice PC phrase, but that card is one usually played by single moms of modest means--not male executives who have wives, maids, nannies, cooks, and lots of other help to look after the family.  If being near his family was so important and they were unwilling or unable to be in Sacramento then he/they should have thought about that before running for office.  The job of Governor of California requires heavy lifting; early mornings, late nights, cultivating support with friends and foes, etc.; you can’t just phone it in.  Arnold never got that.

We faced the prospect of more of the same with Meg Whitman.  Voters got it . . . and said “no thanks.”

[hench]

exactly, he was merely just the messenger in the end. He would have loved to turn the situation around being a man who thrives on love and praise. If there really was another way things could have been done he would have. If someone else had been in charge things would have gone more or less the same. The money simply isn't there to pull it back....

Cali was f'd LONG before Arnie got into office........the chickens have come home to roost in that state.......very sad.

[JOHN MATRIX]

the logical next step for him is to become the dictator of a 3rd world nation somewhere

[suckmymuscle]

Your apologia needs work.  “I can’t be effective because the legislature is controlled by Democrats” is certainly not the tune Arnold was singing when he was running for office nor when he was taking his agenda directly to voters (who overwhelmingly rejected his overtures).  Like many rich, bored people who run for office, he thought he could run and govern based on his personality.  The fact that he didn’t have a deep knowledge—no knowledge in fact--of how Sacramento really works (and doesn’t work) set him up for failure.  He had no clue how to dance among the politicos and policy advocates that make things happen.  All of which = ineffective girly man.

  Bay, Arnold was not the king of California. He couldn't just make decrees and have all of them become law at penalty of death for those who disobeyed it. He was head of the executive, but the chief executive's powers are restrained and determined by the legislature, which creates the laws by which the chief executive exercises his powers. There was nothing Arnold could do since 90% of state legislators were Democrats who harbored an extreme hatred for Arnold because he represents everything that is despicable about the Republican Party(rich and powerful macho men who don't care about the poor smoking Cuban cigars).

  Yes, Arnold claiming that he could work against the Democratic legislature by taking matters directly to the people was very foolish and finished him. There is only so much that you can accomplish by public referendums and in the democratic process laws are created by the legislature - that is why there even is a public legislature at all. Public referendums are a last resort for very serious things. Using it constantly for approving and canceling laws is impossible.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

[BayGBM]

 Bay, Arnold was not the king of California. He couldn't just make decrees and have all of them become law at penalty of death for those who disobeyed it. He was head of the executive, but the chief executive's powers are restrained and determined by the legislature, which creates the laws by which the chief executive exercises his powers. There was nothing Arnold could do since 90% of state legislators were Democrats who harbored an extreme hatred for Arnold because he represents everything that is despicable about the Republican Party(rich and powerful macho men who don't care about the poor smoking Cuban cigars).

  Yes, Arnold claiming that he could work against the Democratic legislature by taking matters directly to the people was very foolish and finished him. There is only so much that you can accomplish by public referendums and in the democratic process laws are created by the legislature - that is why there even is a public legislature at all. Public referendums are a last resort for very serious things. Using it constantly for approving and canceling laws is impossible.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

The trouble is Arnold didn't realize this... until it was too late.  But no harm done, right?  He's gone back to the good life and left California burning. 

[suckmymuscle]

The trouble is Arnold didn't realize this... until it was too late.  But no harm done, right?  He's gone back to the good life and left California burning.

  Bay, Arnold loves the atention and he wants to be president badly. He believed that he could bend the Democratic legislature by rising the masses against them, but he failed to realize that the mostly Latino Californians do not support government spending cuts. He failed to realize that the people were supporting the legislature and only elected him because he is a movie star. The California people believed that Arnold would be this superman that could somehow solve the California debt crises without cutting out the goodies and of course Arnold couldn't do both things since it's impossible.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

[BayGBM]

  Bay, Arnold loves the atention and he wants to be president badly. He believed that he could bend the Democratic legislature by rising the masses against them, but he failed to realize that the mostly Latino Californians do not support government spending cuts. He failed to realize that the people were supporting the legislature and only elected him because he is a movie star. The California people believed that Arnold would be this superman that could somehow solve the California debt crises without cutting out the goodies and of course Arnold couldn't do both things since it's impossible.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

When all is said and done, it appears you and I agree.  He failed. 

Fortunately for his family, they never had to "suffer" the dislocation of moving to and from Sacramento.  Arnold effectively commuted back and forth.  His hobby/experiment is now over and it is back to LALA land for him.

[suckmymuscle]

When all is said and done, it appears you and I agree.  He failed. 

Fortunately for his family, they never had to "suffer" the dislocation of moving to and from Sacramento.  Arnold effectively commuted back and forth.  His hobby/experiment is now over and it is back to LALA land for him.

  Where we differ is that you make it seem like there was something that he could do about it and that if he were more competent he would have found a way, when in reality it was inevitable and there was nothing he could do.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

[Nilrem]

  Where we differ is that you make it seem like there was something that he could do about it and that if he were more competent he would have found a way, when in reality it was inevitable and there was nothing he could do.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

Rubbish. Arnold wasn't good enough. Ron and yourself are nothing more than Arnold apologists. The man FAILED. And it was an epic fail.
Arnold is nothing more than an opportunist. He could get away with being a charlatan in the world of bodybuilding and movies, because lets face it, both are built on lies and deceptions. But when it came to trying to achieve, to really achieve, Mr Alpha came up Beta.
Did Bill Clinton not work with a Republican controlled assembly? Did he not make it work? You wanna know why he did? Because he put in the time and worked at becoming a legislator and the legislative process. Did Arnold bother to really understand the machinations of politics? Ha! But he did set up a cigar smoking tent, there's an achievement.

California is a great state and the people within are no dummies. When Whitman came along telling us that just because she's rich and successful (just like Arnold) she could run the state, the people voted accordingly.

[suckmymuscle]

Rubbish. Arnold wasn't good enough. Ron and yourself are nothing more than Arnold apologists. The man FAILED. And it was an epic fail.
Arnold is nothing more than an opportunist. He could get away with being a charlatan in the world of bodybuilding and movies, because lets face it, both are built on lies and deceptions. But when it came to trying to achieve, to really achieve, Mr Alpha came up Beta.
Did Bill Clinton not work with a Republican controlled assembly? Did he not make it work? You wanna know why he did? Because he put in the time and worked at becoming a legislator and the legislative process. Did Arnold bother to really understand the machinations of politics? Ha! But he did set up a cigar smoking tent, there's an achievement.

  The Democratic legislature was not willing to work with Arnold at all. They declared war on him from day one. Even Grey Davis told Arnold "good luck. You won't get anything done." when Arnold won the race. Arnold is not merely a Republican, but the kind of Republican that Democrats hate: the rich manly man who doesen't care about the poor and smokes Cuban cigars. You make it seem like Arnold should have been a miracle worker, because no one without super-human powers could fix the state having the 90% Democrat legislature vetoeing everything he did.

California is a great state and the people within are no dummies. When Whitman came along telling us that just because she's rich and successful (just like Arnold) she could run the state, the people voted accordingly.

  California is beyond broke and will have to be bailed out by the federal government in 5-10 years. It's public deficit is 100% of it's GDP and it's economy has shrunk significantly over the last 15 years due to the huge taxes and increase in crime which makes corporations and rich people leave. Even having the highest taxes in the nation the state of California spends so much that it is still broke anyway.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

[Nilrem]

  The Democratic legislature was not willing to work with Arnold at all. They declared war on him from day one. Even Grey Davis told Arnold "good luck. You won't get anything done." when Arnold won the race. Arnold is not merely a Republican, but the kind of Republican that Democrats hate: the rich manly man who doesen't care about the poor and smokes Cuban cigars. You make it seem like Arnold should have been a miracle worker, because no one without super-human powers could fix the state having the 90% Democrat legislature vetoeing everything he did.

  California is beyond broke and will have to be bailed out by the federal government in 5-10 years. It's public deficit is 100% of it's GDP and it's economy has shrunk significantly over the last 15 years due to the huge taxes and increase in crime which makes corporations and rich people leave. Even having the highest taxes in the nation the state of California spends so much that it is still broke anyway.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

Arnold said he was going to ride into town and fix it all, no? He didn't.
Arnold said he could do a better job than Grey Davis. He didn't.
All I'm doing is calling him out on this.
You, again, are apologizing for him. You shouldn't.

A lot of California's debt has to do with the goosing of power prices back in the day, or have you forgotten that?
CA had to borrow lots of money to pay rich crooks in Texas. What did Arnie do to alleviate this? Nothing, borrow more.
A small car tax would have done the trick but, he thought otherwise. Now Californians are stuck paying lots of interest on loans they never should have taken out.
Also, the MASSIVE housing bubble wouldn't have anything to do with the state of California would it? The same bubble that free market booster Alan Greenspan sat back and did fuck all about.

Please, Suckyourmuscle. Get it together.

[Pollux]

 

[BayGBM]

Rubbish. Arnold wasn't good enough. Ron and yourself are nothing more than Arnold apologists. The man FAILED. And it was an epic fail.
Arnold is nothing more than an opportunist. He could get away with being a charlatan in the world of bodybuilding and movies, because lets face it, both are built on lies and deceptions. But when it came to trying to achieve, to really achieve, Mr Alpha came up Beta.
Did Bill Clinton not work with a Republican controlled assembly? Did he not make it work? You wanna know why he did? Because he put in the time and worked at becoming a legislator and the legislative process. Did Arnold bother to really understand the machinations of politics? Ha! But he did set up a cigar smoking tent, there's an achievement.

California is a great state and the people within are no dummies. When Whitman came along telling us that just because she's rich and successful (just like Arnold) she could run the state, the people voted accordingly.

Exactly!  In looking back at Arnold’s (failed) time in office we have two possible interpretations:

• the job was literally impossible and no human being anywhere could have been successful in the same situation.

• Arnold was in over his head.

Now, which one seems more likely?  The fan boys can’t imagine their hero being inadequate so they rabidly cling to the former scenario.  Many executives find themselves facing off with a legislature of the opposite party and still manage to be effective.  Not Arnold.  As you said: epic fail!

[tbombz]

Still, blaming Arnold on the woes of California is not fair (considering that the Democratic controlled assemblies here just don't get it). 

[Nilrem]

Exactly!  In looking back at Arnold’s (failed) time in office we have two possible interpretations:

• the job was literally impossible and no human being anywhere could have been successful in the same situation.

• Arnold was in over his head.

Arnold WAS in over his head. And who was to blame for that? Well, I'd start with Arnold and his humongous ego.
Arnold is/was a great bodybuilder with above average genetics, he was also a pretty lousy actor and a political neophyte. Sadly his legislative ineptitude has meant that the new governor will have to work twice as hard to make up ground, and in all probability, will get a fraction of the acclaim Arnold would have gotten had been able to pull anything off.

Arnold has one defining trait. He's a brilliant self promoter. If he loves California as much as he purports to, he should have pitched for a job as the state's ambassador.
To quote another well known republican; "A man has to know his limitations".