Reply #4: Der Gropernator has far too many problems. . . [View All]

these days with the Legislature for him to take a very active role in Shrub's campaign. Oh, he'll talk at the Republican Convention, but it'll be for the purpose of pumping Arnold more than in support of Shrub. In fact, Schwarzenegger has gone out of his way to avoid Smirk the last two times he's come to California.

Here's an interesting article on Herr Schickelgroper's current concerns (and I especially like how he's seen now to be not very different from Gray Davis):


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronic...

Sacramento -- For the first time, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger doesn't look like an unstoppable political force.

After scoring early successes that clearly established him as the dominant power in Sacramento, Schwarzenegger has stumbled in his effort to fix the state budget mess that helped propel him into office.

Government finance experts say his proposed budget borrows too much money, postpones difficult decisions and looks strikingly similar to Gov. Gray Davis' final budgets, which were derided by Senate President John Burton as "get-out-of-town-alive'' plans.

Some lawmakers and Capitol insiders say the political food fight that always accompanies budget season has shown the actor-turned-governor to be thin-skinned, and, after eight sure-footed months in office, exposed him as a beginner struggling to learn the ins and outs of statehouse deal-making.

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