Once invincible Governator sees popularity dip

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.sacbee.com/state_wire/story/12195740p-13059939c.html

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger rode an extraordinary wave of popularity in his first year, thanks to a blend of celebrity, political smarts, and a bit of rookie luck. But the so-called Governator now faces so much criticism that many wonder whether he might be a mere mortal after all.

<snip>

His state budget proposal relies on $6 billion in borrowing, despite a campaign pledge to end such borrowing. He angered teachers by refusing to give about $2 billion in unanticipated revenues to schools. He is raking in contributions from business interests despite a pledge to end the influence of special-interest money in Sacramento. And his bipartisan image has been tarnished by a government restructuring plan that takes aim at Democratic constituencies like public employees and teachers.

While Schwarzenegger is still well-liked by most Californians, polling suggests his once bulletproof popularity may be taking a hit.

A new survey by the Public Policy Institute of California shows that while 60 percent of the state's residents still approve of the job he is doing, he has lost considerable ground among Democrats and Independents, who together form the vast majority of the state's voters. Some 49 percent of Democrats now say they disapprove of his job performance, while 43 percent approve. And his disapproval rating among Independents has doubled since last year, from 18 to 32 percent.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. Crash and Burn Arnie!

:nopity:

[JDPriestly]

3. Schwarzy probably will

crash and burn, because he is totally unrealistic about how to fix the budget crisis, sides with the most despised "special interest" of all, the filthy rich trust fund bums and the greedy wanna be filthy rich trust fund bums, and is trying to refuses to enforce the popular proposition of a few years ago that requires allocation of a specific percentage of the budget to the schools.

[shanti]

37. what's so shocking about this

is that the folks that voted for this asshat didn't see this trainwreck coming!!

[MADem]

36. I'd rather see him make a slow, steady, linear

...descent, rather than a crash and burn. If he crashes and burns, the GOP machine will dump him faster than a hot potato (or Potatoe, if you ask Dan Quayle) and they'll find a jazzy, more obedient replacement. But if he does that slow, miserable, slide in the polls, they won't get rid of him. They'll try to prop him up, it won't work, and he'll be replaced at the voting booth.

[Sandpiper]

2. The movie star factor can only last so long

I mean let's be honest. Most people voted for Ahnuld because they thought it would be cool to have the terminator as their governor.

[jrthin]

5. If that is true,

that most people voted for him because they thought it would be cool, we are f#cked. Stupidity and superficialness seem to be the driving force for American voters.

[Kikosexy2]

8. yes,...

it's apparently very much true. and yes because of idiot voters who think in those terms California is getting f*#ked big time. Welcome to Caleeefforrnyyyaa!

[0rganism]

15. Not just Ahnold's coolness, but also Gray Davis' lack thereof

Of course, the idea of having Conan as a governor is turning out to be cooler than the reality, but I still think he will be a tough one to beat next time around.

[Sub Atomic]

29. We're not that fu(ked.

at least we didn't vote for Jessie Ventura for governor.

[shanti]

39. i'd rather have jesse

than the gropenator. they're both meatheads, tho.

[mitchtv]

32. sad but true. I believe many voted for their first time

for Boobengrabber, now that the novelty is over,he has to get them out to vote a second time. The state is in mortal danger. He wants to redistrict . We can only lose. control of the fifth largest economy. Additionally loss of congressional seats. The coup is in progress. The Sec. of State is under fierce attack on many allegations. Coincidentally, the SOS who decertified Diebold in CA. Groper gets to appoint his successor. Guess what? you out of staters can forget about 55 electoral votes in the blue tally. Xrnold is nationalizing the election by seeking out of state help.I don't care if Kevin Shelley is Satan himself,, I insist he stay his full term.They must be made to impeach and win, before I would let him go. State Democrats who ask for him to resign,like Sen. Gloria Romero, should get their heads out of Xrnld's steroid ass, and STFU.
I don't think he helped himself, with the minimum wage crowd either, by vetoing the increase. (Lots of terminator fans there; first time voters). Excuse the rant.

[DBoon]

9. If celebrity is that important

Then I want Moby as governor!

[Sandpiper]

10. Wouldn't work

Only works for dimwitted, macho celebrities.

Moby is too artsy and brainy.

[keopeli]

14. Sorry, sandpiper, but I disagree

I believe most people voted for Schwarzenegger because there were 200 names on the ballot. How would you vote:

James Ochoa
Claudia Palenta
Dawson Smith
Samuel Johnson
Israel Akea
Dawn Real Knews
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Cam Donaldson
Patricia McKenney
Weston Alexander
Arianna Huffington
Xavier Domingues

Get the idea? Now imagine 200 names! Californians aren't stupid - but they were raped by Bush* and Kenny Boy Lay, who blamed it on Gray Davis - and the media sold that meme.

Unfortunately, now Arnold has the power of incumbancy.

[Catch22Dem]

20. Arianna

But I'm less stupid than some.

[chimpy the poopthrower]

26. The whole "election" was a sham.

First people had to vote for or against Davis. Then they had to choose from among all those candidates, but not Davis. It was entirely popular for Davis supporters to be the plurality (not a 50% majority but still the largest percentage) and still lose (i.e. Davis would have won in a head-to-head against any other candidate, but he lost only because of the dishonest way the race was structured).

[shanti]

38. yeah, he's sooooo cool....

:puke: :eyes:

[Mountainman]

4. He can't count on a bunch of fundie gay bashers in this state like

Bush has done in others.

The repubs have to work behind the scenes and play dirty tricks to get power here. We all are not the brightest bulbs on the tree but we are not as stupid as the half of the country that votes for repukes even though it means they will lose health care and social security and their jobs.

[shanti]

40. not to worry

ahnold has dirty tricks in spades.

[chelsea0011]

6. Arnold and Ventura for President

Muscles,steroids, feather boas, and sexual assaults. Just what the American public craves in an elected official. I'm waiting for Arnold to call governing Calf. "hard work".

[cascadiance]

31. Great a fourth movie they'll do together....

Or will they be redoing, Batman and Robin, Predator, or The Running Man?...

[Divine Discontent]

33. hey!

I read a speech Ventura gave in the basement of a college up in the midwest a few months ago and he was very pro-gay in his comments.

[yorkiemommie1]

7. my fundie bushie co-worker

listens to talk radio, but never reads other than the sports pages of the paper. well, she took a couple of anti gray davis talking points from talkradio and parroted them at work once. other than that, she never talks politics . she just gets huffy and leaves.

well, today i caught her hunched over an article about how the repugs want to 'restructure' calpers pensions and i could just see her, ( social security eligible and disabled and divorced ) getting all tense.

too bad. she let herself be fooled.

[rustydad]

11. Cut backs

I went to a State Beach Park last weekend. It is one I live near and visited for many years. It is a mess. I have never seen it so uncared for. All the grunts who do the real work are gone, only the chiefs who push paper remain. The lawns are dead replaced with unmowed weeds. Trash all over. No rangers to be seen anywhere, only unpaid camp hosts who collect the fees which doubled in the last year. If this is how muscel head balances the budget he is cooked. This cannot go on, people will not stand for it. Bob, in California

[Javaman]

12. Another thick neck goon fails, I'm so surprised...

First Jesse now arnie, boo fucking hoo.
Hack actor, hack gov

[joefree1]

13. Star power fades, quick start a war on Nevada

It worked for Bush.

[Disturbed]

17. The Gropenator

will need to stop pandering to the ultra rich of CA and actually
govern for the entire state and deliver what he promised. The voters of CA are as a whole dense but not entirely stupid. His honeymoon is over.

[AlGore-08.com]

16. But... but... as a drug-taking Nazi porn star, he's such a role model!

He needs to flame out big time before the midterms, because the GOP trot him out to prop up their candidates nationwide.

And he needs to be radioactive by 2008, so the GOP nominee hides under a desk at the mere mention of his name.

Another plus when that happens - - we'll finally see the end of Orrin Hatch's bills to Amend the Constitution in Ahnold's favor.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

18. Kibutzing from NON-governors.

Who is a Governor here? If you all were Governor,
you would cry in a minute from all the problems and
things and rush home to Mommy with toilet paper on
your shoe. California was sad, now California is happy.
Don't be so mad at me that Californiasn gaze at Sacramento
and feels safe, even when I am at home in Bel Air in my
hot tub getting a little high to relax from solving so
many problems and fighting special interests like the poor
and teachers. All great Kings go through a temporary drop
in popularity now and then. Try not to flip out, Juniors.

[deacon2]

27. Guten Tag!

The peephole of Colliefornya are grateful to our Steroidal Majesty for the largesse bestowed upon us. From Malibu to Hollywood, we are dancing like girlie-men to a new Teutonic beat... Night and day, like a blackout alcoholic, swirling in the bright light of all tomorrow's parties. Ja! Ja! Tomorrow belongs to me!

[bluestateguy]

19. Last time I checked 60% was more than enough to be re-elected

Even a 55% rating would put him in good shape for 2006. An approval rating of 70% is unsustainable in a state as large as California anyway.

[Merlot]

24. That's what I was thinking - bush would love a 60% approval

But I have noticed that arnie is not getting all the glowing press that he was. I think it started with the highly unpopular "kill all the animals in the shelters to save money" fiasco. The whole animal-loving state howled in rage, and that's where he learned he wasn't invincible. It also let the press realize they could criticize him.

Then there was the "take away lunch breaks" fiasco, followed by the piss off the nurses, take money from the school teachers, and lie about Indian gaming. The Indians fought back with TV ads aimed directly at arnie.

He may still be popular with those that think he's cool, but he is definiatly pissing off the wrong people.

[mitchtv]

35. the Indians are aiming right at the Image, too

the san Manuel tribe has a great spokesperson, Vince Duro, putting right to Groper.

[Lizzie Borden]

21. Could'nt happen to a better man!

n/t

[DalvaThree]

22. People are getting tired of his dog and pony show

[natrat]

23. ba bye loser

i voted for gary coleman aka willis' little brother
but i liked Arnold, now i think he is a lame sellout like so so many others

[VegasWolf]

25. Bullshit, it was just that Gray Davis was such an awful governor.

I voted for Davis over the repuke fundie, but man I had
to hold my nose to do it. I always thought the Gropenator
would end up another Jesse Ventura.

[mitchtv]

34. Assumes fact not in evidence- awful governor?

Not so bad. He fell into Wilson's MV tax trap, brought on by the Cheney power coup. While the Fed regulators stood by.I do not blame him for our problems. He stood up to the adminstration. too bad he endorsed the Death penalty IMO.I could live without that. I am ambivalent enough,however to not care that much. His big mistake , I think, was not blaming Wilson for everthing. He could have siezed a power plant or two. Wudda helped with the carisma factor.

[radwriter0555]

28. The raid on PERS is doing him NO favors, as well as a piss-poor

performance. We see a lot of song and dance and NO SOLUTIONS. He said there were problems only HE could fix.

Gee, another GOP whore liar? SAY it ain't SO!

[devilgrrl]

30. "political smarts..."

pffffft!!!! :eyes:

[lebkuchen]

41. Maybe, if he started wearing feather boas, it would help

It worked in Minnesota, for awhile.