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Only In America-
A Populist Uprising.
Terminator Wins Big,
What Will He Do Now?

By Henry J. Stern
October 9, 2003


    Arnold Schwarzenegger's election as Governor of California is one of those remarkable events which distinguish the United States from countries around the world.  Although he is not the first entertainer to be elected a Governor, Ronald Reagan and Jesse Ventura come to mind, he combines attributes of both, the physical mastery of Ventura the wrestler, and the screen artistry of Reagan the actor.
 
    His large plurality in a field of 135 indicates rejection of both the Democrat, who resembles a minor villain in a Schwarzenegger movie, and the right-wing Republican, whose views are out of sync with his state.  Hollywood could not have provided a better supporting cast of candidates, spinmeisters, gropees, and authorities on latter-day supporters of the defunct Third Reich.  An objective documentarian, neither Michael Moore nor Oliver Stone, should capture this campaign on celluloid.
 
    The vote indicates enormous public dissatisfaction with politics as usual.  Schwarzenegger is seen as a moderate Republican, pro-choice and pro-gay, who did not emphasize party identification.  While Mayor Bloomberg's persona could be that of an anti-hero outsider, Schwarzenegger has semi-heroic stature from his film roles, and it will be fascinating to watch him deal with lesser mortals who do have real power.  In the movies, he simply mowed them down, but in Sacramento, he will have to deal with the wily nomenklatura, who may pejoratively be pictured as pampered, privileged, powerful plutocrats who perennially pick the pockets of the public for personal and proprietary purposes.
 
    The world is fascinated by this election, because billions of people may know the Terminator from his films.  It is fresh proof that America is a democracy, how else could an immigrant weightlifter turned movie star who has never been in politics be elected by a huge margin as Governor of this country's most populous state.  Our jaded European allies, whom we periodically rescue from killing each other, will probably see this as a demonstration of America's instability or gullibility.  I see it as an example of the strength of our democracy.
 
    The recall is a warning to both parties to pay attention to the people's concerns rather than the special interests, whether they are Indian tribes running casinos, corporations with dishonest financial statements, manipulators of the electric power market, polluters of the air and water, monopoly public service unions, professions which exclude qualified applicants; the plethora of artificial advantages that, over the years, have rewarded those who hire lobbyists to ply gerrymandered legislators with gifts and favors.

    The beneficiaries of the system will cling to their unjust rewards, and with a complaisant legislature, are likely to keep them.  Although, the people have spoken emphatically, I doubt there will be voluntary reform.  I see the insiders clinging to the chandeliers of the Capitol to retain the spending programs that plunged California last year into a prospective $38 billion deficit, highest of any state in any year.
 
    It is possible that even the mighty Terminator will be ensnared by the tentacles of privilege.  I hope he does not lose the capacity to charm his adversaries, to frighten them, or if necessary to smite them, legally.  "Hasta la vista, baby" is an appropriate slogan, since he has already terminated Gray Davis' governorship and Cruz Bustamante's ambitions.

    How will he handle the big guys, people whose names are obscure, but who hold the legislators of the Golden State firmly in the palms of their hands, by the scruff of their necks, or by whatever body parts indicate mastery and submission.
 
    Congratulations, Arnold, you have given us a great performance.  Americans are rooting for your success more strongly than they did for the characters you played.  You can use all the help you can get from honest, decent Californians of all parties.  I trust that you ask for and receive that wide public cooperation and support that you will need.  And I hope that you have the ability and intellect to do in reality what you have done in the world of the imaginary.

    All the best.
 

Readers' comments on this article:
There was a scene in the movie "The Running Man" in which Schwarzenegger and Ventura engaged in a steel cage death match.  (Ventura won, although it turned out that it wasn't really Schwarzenegger's character, it was a body double.)  When I first saw that scene, I certainly did not think, "Some day, these two guys will be governors!"

Elliot Regenstein


I have little knowledge of the needs of Californians or whether they made the right electoral choice.  But what does concern me is a system that subjects its citizens to the "tyranny of the masses".  We elect people because we believe in them, in their ability to address our immediate interests and balance them with concepts of long term benefit, common good and justice.  The governed usually don't want to wade through the fine points of Medicaid and Medicare legislation, focusing instead on cost (if they are not directly affected) or services (if they are).  The elected representative must balance the legitimate interests of both parties and not merely follow the dictates of the most recent polling survey.  He or she is elected to lead, not follow.

So I would not be so quick to applaud a trend toward government by popular referendum.  Or the ability of the bored or manipulated masses to cut short an elected official's term of office.  Or the use of an additional political tool to undermine a valid election.

Can it be good for our unique style of democratic process to foster a "do over" system that encourages our elected officials to pander to the media-driven whim of the electorate or risk having their term shortened. Maybe I am mistaken in questioning whether our everyday citizen is capable of true democratic self-government.  But the competition for our attention is great and very often information needed to understand issues is garnered from sound bites emanating from columnists, political pundits and even journalists more concerned with being celebrities themselves than creating greater understanding.

There is a reason that the framers of the Constitution did not follow the parliamentary model and chose instead to invest governance in those periodically chosen to govern.

Robert J. DeAngelis


Henry, has there ever before been a Governor of a state who kept a dual citizenship?

Your Arnold has an Austrian passport and has maintained his dual Austrian citizenship. That may not trouble you but it does others.  He doesn't even understand what it really means to govern. He's waiting for central casting to send over the rest of the script.  Perhaps we can get other household names to run for office here in N.Y.  Perhaps Monica Lewinsky for Public Advocate or Public Mouthpiece?  Maybe J-Lo for a seat in the Assembly or a  visible seat elsewhere? How about DeNiro for Comptroller? Al Pacino for Mayor?

You are off base with Arnold although your premise is correct

Anonymous


Although I am sure that your subscribers comprise a choir, your discussion of the pandering and patronage- and, especially, the lobbying and courtship of spoiled, out-of-touch politicians- is a message that needs as much public exposure as possible.

If we are ever to reclaim the political offices- and the pulpit- from which social policy has been decimated in the past 15 years, more of the voters' anger at their plight as patsies of patronage and higher taxes must be tapped into.  As things stand now, conservative Republicans have succeeded in painting those who are fed up as "liberals", with all the negative connotations that implies.  [That is one of the reasons that Howard Dean's campaign is important, and, hopefully, successful.  He is an unabashed liberal and articulates a plausible agenda that has resonance
with a growing electorate.  If he doesn't become overly 'handled' and, as a consequence, moves more to the middle, his will continue to be a voice worth listening to in the coming year.]

I trust that you will continue to hammer the point that the averae citizen is captive to special interests.  It cannot be more pertinent, nor can it be articulated often, and widely, enough.

Mark L. Wunsch


The recall is a dangerous precedent as stated by Mayor Bloomberg. Corporate America got into big trouble having boards needing to respond to quarterly results vs long term strategy.

Doris Kearns Goodwin comments about in the 1800's many "celeb's" were elected to office, BUT, they were military officers . General who at least lead commands.  Only in America could this happen. This is good and bad.

Martin L.Keating


I couldn't disagree more.  The marriage of politics and entertainment continues to trouble me more each day.   I don't know which is worse - an actor who becomes a politician or vice versa.  Ask Senator Fred Thompson (Law and Order).  He's going back and forth as if there's no difference at all.  I guess it does make sense if you view the U.S. as an ever developing reality show which is in the vanguard of the entertainment industry.  Yikes.
 
Whenever I see Arnold Schwartzenegger I recall the 1991 A&E series called "Naked Hollywood" which is one of the best documentaries about Tinseltown I have ever seen.  Arnold gives new meaning to the word narcissist.  See it. It's probably in the archive at the TV and Radio Museum on 52nd Street.  It will make you sick.
 
Bill Gold


Yes. This will all be interesting, as well as instructive to watch.

As for what Arnie's election says about America - Some combination of those observations you mentioned.

Yes, America is gullible (and to a degree - immature) we love our movie stars like the English love their royals.

Yes, our democracy is a fecund and robust one  - mutable, flexible and able to withstand and support all the various interpretations and dialogues that comprise politics.

I don't know how much of a Stallone fan you are - (I've always rather preferred Stallone's characterizations to Arnie's because they always include some nuance of vulnerability, which Schwarzenegger's never do). So you might not remember the film "Demolition Man", which came out in '96 or
'97, wherein Sly has just awakened from cryogenic suspension after 100 or so years. He is a police officer taking his first squad car ride around a transformed Los Angeles with new partner Sandra Bullock. She mentions something about the "Schwarzenegger Presidential Library" and Stallone does a marvelous double-take. "Whaa? - Oh no, you're kiddin me".. or something to that effect.

I was sharply reminded of this scene when I heard of Schwarz.'s election last night. He might make a good governor at that - however, I'm glad that the caveat barring naturalized citizens from becoming President is in place and hope it will remain so. Not primarily because of Arnold, but because I believe it to be correct in its basic intention - which is to prevent conflicts of interest when it comes to preserving and defending the best interests of this country. I realize this opinion may not be the popular or politically correct. but I've never cared about being politically correct.  PC too often circumvents or subverts real dialogue or thought about
controversial issues, and instead of representing enlightenment or sensitivity more often indicates and actually produces less understanding and less tolerance.

Deborah Jessamy


As a Californian, born and bred, I salute you Starquest for a beautiful article. California is ready for a brand new day.

Diana Davenport