For the first time most Californians disapprove of their film-star governor, as nurses' protests force a U-turn
Dan Glaister in Los Angeles
Friday April 15, 2005
The Guardian
Something is rotten in the state of Arnold. Just five months ago the governor of California seemed unstoppable: propositions were passed, opponents were reduced to "girlie men", and the talk was of Washington and the first foreign-born president of the US.
But, in the wake of a series of political miscalculations, Governor Schwarzenegger's poll ratings are in a slump, his closest colleagues are questioning his judgment, and he has been forced to reduce his ambitious plans to make 2005 the "year of reform".
Schwarzenegger's mistake was to take on nurses, teachers, police officers and firefighters. All at the same time. He couldn't have picked a more revered assembly. But the governor strode ahead regardless, convinced by his previous successes that he could overcome any obstacle.
The polls said otherwise, and last week, in a rare public reversal, Schwarzenegger withdrew many of the proposals that had infuriated some voters and given ammunition to his political opponents. <snip>
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1460049,00.html