http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cap17feb17,1,3074288.columnGEORGE SKELTON
Words Are Unclear; Intent to Win Isn't
George Skelton
February 17, 2005
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says he is recruiting an army to wage "a great battle" against "evil."
He doesn't say exactly what the evil is, but presumably it is everything in Sacramento except fellow Republican moderates and his own "special interests" — the business lobbies and big donors to his political ventures. Particularly evil, apparently, are Democratic politicians and their patrons — the teachers and public employees unions.
But we can't really be sure about the enemy or the shape of the battle. That's because Schwarzenegger is not a politician of whom you can flatly proclaim: He says what he means and means what he says.
This hasn't hurt his popularity, so far, but Schwarzenegger often says two different things. Or he says one thing and does another. The most common example of the latter: "Living within our means" while borrowing billions to make ends meet.
He may say two things to keep adversaries off balance. Or he may be purposely shifting positions. Or he may be having a language problem. After all, English is his second language.
A small example of the language barrier, I suspect, was heard on KFI radio's "John and Ken Show" last week. The governor was asked whether he thought Proposition 98 — the minimum funding guarantee for schools — "ought to be rewritten." He instantly replied, "No," even though his proposed budget-control reform would partially rewrite it.
After Schwarzenegger had completed his convoluted answer, one of the hosts pressed again: "I'm wondering if Prop. 98 is flawed in the way it's written."
"Exactly," the governor answered, and proceeded to outline how he was trying to rewrite it.