Text 8342, 101 rader
Skriven 2005-02-01 10:15:00 av Darryl Perry (1:106/324)
Ärende: Once-Invincible "Governator" dips in polls
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Remember how the Conservatives villified the use of hollywood-types in the
election, even tho they went ahead and elected one of them to the top
California seat.  Now it looks like they get what they deserved.  All show,
and no go.

Once-Invincible 'Governator' Dips in Polls 

Mon Jan 31, 1:00 PM ET   Politics - AP  

By BETH FOUHY, AP Political Writer 

SAN FRANCISCO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (news - web sites) 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 now some are
wondering whether the Governator is a mere mortal after all.    

The Republican who negotiated tough agreements with Democrats, charmed
legislators with visits to his smoking tent and met rapturous crowds at
shopping malls across California is being called naive and even hypocritical
by his adversaries. 

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

A new survey by the Public Policy Institute of California shows that while
60 percent of the state's residents 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, compared with 27 percent a year
earlier. And his disapproval rating among independents has practically
doubled, from 18 percent to 32 percent. 

"It's back to business as usual in Sacramento - the fuss of last year is
over," said Shaun Bowler, a political science professor at the University of
California at Riverside. "People have responded to the movie version of
leadership that he's been practicing, but you can't suspend the laws of
gravity forever just because you're a movie star." 

The Democrats in the Legislature who were branded by "girlie-men" and
"losers" by Schwarzenegger are no longer as cowed by his star power. And
groups like the California Teachers Association - who agreed last year to
temporarily give up $2 billion in funding in exchange for future revenue -
have begun to question his credibility. 

"Compared to the man last year, I've discovered a new person who the kids
and teachers of California can't trust," said CTA President Barbara Kerr. 

Schwarzenegger has derided legislators as stubborn defenders of the status
quo. 

"I thought they'd come to the table and create some action," Schwarzenegger
said. "People want reform. It's what the recall election was about." 

At the heart of Schwarzenegger's reform agenda are four measures aimed at
reducing the clout of public employees and teachers, and ending the power of
incumbency in Sacramento. 

He wants to convert the state's public pension program to a 401(k)-style
system, require merit pay for teachers, and redraw congressional and state
legislative boundaries to make the seats more competitive. He also wants to
establish a mechanism that would automatically cut state spending when it
exceeded revenue. 

Schwarzenegger is threatening to employ his trademark strategy if he cannot
get his way with lawmakers: bypassing the Legislature and taking his plan to
voters in a special election. 

"I don't think he's got a choice but to do a special election, but I think
he'd prefer not to," said GOP strategist Kevin Spillane. "Schwarzenegger has
been energized by his interactions with the Legislature, and radicalized by
their intransigence." 

Many critics say Schwarzenegger's push for political reform obscures the
fact that his chief campaign promise - to balance the budget and wipe out
the state's crippling deficit - has remained maddeningly unfulfilled. 

"Remember the recall campaign, where he talked about the budget, opening the
books, stop this ridiculous deficit spending," said Democratic strategist
Garry South. "He hasn't done it. The biggest problem we have is the budget
is spiraling out of control, and nothing he puts on the ballot is going to
change that fact." 

Schwarzenegger has not yet said whether he will run for re-election in 2006,
and most analysts still view him as an overwhelming favorite if he chooses
to run. 

But perhaps sensing some vulnerability in Schwarzenegger, one prominent
Democrat, Attorney General Bill Lockyer, indicated this month he plans to
run for governor in 2006, whether Schwarzenegger is in the race or not. 

Gryphon, aka Darryl Perry
Sysop of Cyberia BBS, Kingwood, TX.
telnet://cyberia.darktech.org

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