Al Franken became somewhat of a political commentator before he ran, so it's ok, I suppose.

I prefer lawmakers come from a legal background, but that's just me.

Fucking spare me.

Something stupid had him in love with the Thugs. That said, he was hampered by the Chimp recession. I live in Santa Cruz. Vote blue religiously. If the choice is Independent Arnold vs 85 year old Frankenstein. I will vote for Independent Arnold. Frankenstein votes against me at least half the time. I miss Barbara Boxer.

But I suspect the people in California will elect a democrat, if they didnt it would be really stupid.

But, if he were running against 85 year old Frankenstein

Dubya had experience as a gov and he led America into 9-11 with his incompetence.

Dubya's 'experience' also left our country's economy in ruins.

but most of America doesn't know that.

He toted a lot of republican water during his. Screw that!

he would probably be a better choice than most of the other nutjobs the Repugnants have been putting into office.

I agree with you about celebrities staying out of politics. Unfortunately, the reason they are often elected is simply the ability to perform on camera, with dump the prime example.

Franken did, however, have a degree in mathematics from Harvard, I believe. So, he had a demonstrably first-rate mind and the capacity to learn and perform at a high level.

Schwarzenegger was an eff-up as governor. Hope he doesn't run or, if he does, that California voters have the sense this time to say no.

Much like Weiner lost in the Dem primary. So, yeah, Republicans can be cheating scumbags and get nominated, but Dems won't even nominate one of their own.

She will be 85; how old will Schwarzennegger be in 2018?

Don't be fooled. It would increase the GOP Senate count by one.

Just what we need...

He ran in an extremely short campaign, in which his refusal to participate in debates (unless the questions were submitted ahead of time) didn't hurt him. I have serious doubts about his ability to run a full-length campaign.

There were 135 candidates running to be the replacement governor. Because of what Schwarzenegger does for a living his name is known to all. On Wikipedia you can find the Orange County ballot...Schwarzenegger is near the top of the list, and Cruz Bustamante is second from the bottom. I wonder...how many people, when handed this disaster of a ballot, just filled in the box for the first name they recognized?

However, maybe Don can kick him out of the country - "I'll be back" Arnold

Seems like he's more interested in one-upping someone else who also starred on "The Apprentice" than he is about issues.

I'd much rather have a Senator who works for the people rather than improving his "brand."

Cheney was drawing up maps to parcel out oil drilling areas for the oil companies.

If I remember correctly, Arnie also gave ENRON a break when they screwed the California rate payers and Arnie forgave $9 Billion ENRON owed California. Why do you think CA was in debt so long. Arnie fucked up bigtime.

Who in their right mind would vote for this incompetent dick head? Are you f*cking crazy?

forgotten his maid's love child and betrayal of his family? A Kennedy at that! For the many reports of him doing a Trump and molesting women on his sets? Or the fact he screwed up state government?

Nothing has changed with that asshole,him and Trump are cut from the same cloth. Plus...I don't buy this big "fight" between him and Trump for a second. Sounds like it's right out of an all star wrestling script.

I think their "rivalry" is just posturing for entertainment value. Schwarzenegger's experience as Governor gives him a track record with Republican voters and independents. He could get elected if we didn't have a strong enough Democratic candidate.

If Feinstein is indeed leaving after this current cycle, she should coordinate with the California Democratic Party to have a strong Democratic candidate ready to go in the 2018 elections.

Anyone have any ideas who'd be a strong candidate? I love Amanda Renteria, but she lost in her district to a Republican in 2014. She's been doing important stuff since then, but I'm not sure of her electability.

Eric Garcetti?

I've voted for Newsom as San Francisco mayor, but I've always been lukewarm towards him. He's growing on me slightly as he matures politically. And, of course, Garcetti's going to be looked at as well. I like the guy, but I don't know if I can move him from my "LA Political Strongman" image to a Senatorial candidate with statewide support.

Newsom could probably continue to mature and improve in the Senate, and he certainly projects a good image as an up & comer. He'd attract his share of buzz, as always.

and stepping stones to the Presidency. Either would work for him.

Love her, but it's a big jump from House to Senate at that age - she's been in The House since 1991?

Newsom's past would neutralize Arnold's past marital infidelity as a negative since he had his own cheating scandal while mayor of San Fransisco. Other than that I think he would be a good choice.

The danger is Newsom and Arnold splitting the moderate vote and a Republican slipping in with 40% of the vote or something like that. Does California have run-offs if nobody gets a majority?

He is incompetent, and destructive - he tripled CA debt which helped "justify" his attempt to sell off sacred public lands such as the Orange County Fairgrounds.

an example of what was written about him when he left office:

How Arnold Schwarzenegger Turned Into California's Worst Nightmare
By John Amato 5/20/11

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/how-arnold-schwarzenegger-turned-califo

snip...The extra cuts the governor made Tuesday -- $489 million -- took nearly $80 million that pays for workers who help abused and neglected children; $50 million from Healthy Families, which provides healthcare to children in low-income families; $50 million from services for developmentally delayed children under age 3; $16 million from domestic-violence programs; and $6.3 million from services for the elderly. Among other reductions was $6.2 million more from parks, which could result in the closure of 100, rather than 50, of California's 279 state parks...snip

and of course all brought to you by "The Party of Family Values"

They all wish they could just grab some themselves and get away with it. But evidently on the Real Men can do it without paying a price.

when he left office...so, I don't see him as realistic.

If DiFi steps down, I would love to see Gavin Newsom run for her seat

He's a fiscal conservative, and not much else. He would be considered a liberal - not moderate - Republican. (He believes in climate change, is pro-choice, is pro marriage equality, has his offices in Santa Monica - second in liberalness only to West Hollywood - and loves it in Santa Monica.) How he can call himself an R is beyond me.

But, whether he would run as an R or an I caucusing with the R's, it would still up the non-D Senate count, which is bad.

Jerry Brown's Tough-Love California Miracle

The 75-year-old governor rescued the Golden State from financial ruin - and is reshaping a national progressive agenda

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/jerry-browns-tough-love-miracle-20130829

snip...The California that Brown inherited on his return to office appeared to be an insolvent, ungovernable mess. California's finances have been out of wack since the late 1970s, when right-wing, anti-tax activists passed Prop 13, a constitutional cap on property taxes that also requires a two-thirds supermajority vote to raise any tax through the state legislature. Moreover, it was a Republican, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who hastened the recent fiscal calamity by slashing California's vehicle license fee. Promising to cut the "car tax" keyed Schwarzenegger's victory over the hapless Democrat Gray Davis in the recall election of 2003. But it also blew a $4 billion annual hole in the budget that Schwarzenegger simply papered over with bond debt...snip

He screwed California up he does not need to continue screwing things up even more.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Yes, you did a small handful of good things as governor and yes, you seem to have become more liberal over time (thanks, I think, to Maria), but we *don't* want another reTHUG-friendly senator in Congress. Go back to lifting weights or whatever it is you've been doing lately and stay out of California politics.

And it is always the wrong people. OK then, let's bring Obama back as a Supreme Court Justice. That I could embrace.

And also he vetoed industrial hemp growing many times.

Fuck this asshole.

Even though he's trying to "distance himself" he fucked up too much.

Unless he came out and says he's for all those things now (yeah right I doubt it) then he can just stay out of it... stick to acting.

If that asshole wants to run he'd better relocate to Arizona, he's done here in California.

This won't be any lock for him, people will remember what a disaster he was as Gov

If he runs as independent to spit the D vote with the proven to work 'divide D party tactic', Republicans will 'win' again.

I Love the D senator, and she is loved in California but the D party better start now because she is in her 80s.

Republican party will treat her/attack her- very similar to the way they treated Hillary. They'll mock her age, her gender, her health. They'll have the D party fighting over who is running during a year of campaigning.

A year where the Republican can devote 100% of his time to attacking a busy at work sitting Senator.

Our D party has to work MUCH HARDER at protecting sitting Senators from the massive distraction of the Republicans attack Juggernaut.

Just sayin'

But I don't live in California.

A congressman from Utah, I think.

But people remember how Arnold messed up California. He won't have a chance. We have some good Democratic people waiting in the wings to replace her.

dug the state a huge financial hole, knocked up the maid of he and wife's home, and was almost as stupid and arrogant as the POTUS.

the Gropanator will have no chance.


I hope.





I have no doubt that the country will be in dis-array. I just have no confidence that the electorate will recognize it.

I've disliked him since his snarky, misogynistic campaign against Arianna Huffington in 2003.

He was a terrible governor from the moment he spoke of kicking nurses' butts to the moment he left.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jan/25/local/la-me-arnold-union25-2010jan25

There's plenty of great Dems out here. No need to try to put roses on AS.

Pass, thanks.

Nobody will treat you better than they treat their family.