Tuesday, March 09, 2004
Arnie, you sweet-talker, you...
An Arnold Schwarzenegger-inspired moment of Zen:
I love it when the people go to the polls and flex their muscles and let their voices be heard!
In all truth, I LIKE Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor of California. Not only is he very business-oriented, but he also seems free of all the moral central planning which is pushed by the christian fundamentalist wing of the Republican party. I REAlLY hope that Arnold Schwarzenegger is massively successful as governor, because his success will start to change the tone of the national Republican party.
Likewise, I have ZERO problems with Arnold's Hollywood background. Plato might have preferred philosopher kings, but the history of the world isn't one of philosophers sitting in ivory towers rationally planning the shape of the modern world. Rather, history is (usually) shaped by good ideas AND the power to convince others that those ideas are actually correct.
Clinton managed to win TWO terms as president, in spite of rabid opposition from a Republican congress, because the guy could sell rowboats to people who live in the middle of the Sahara. Clinton dripped charm, and that made him a very effective leader. Compared to Clinton, Gore looked about as exciting as a rusty fire hydrant.
The same can be said of Arnold Schwarzenegger. His ideas regarding solutions for California's problems are VERY GOOD. That, combined with charisma, is a powerful combination. It validates the decision to replace Gray Davis, who lacked charisma AND any decent ideas regarding a solution to the debt problems of the 5th biggest economy in the world.
An Arnold Schwarzenegger-inspired moment of Zen:
I love it when the people go to the polls and flex their muscles and let their voices be heard!
In all truth, I LIKE Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor of California. Not only is he very business-oriented, but he also seems free of all the moral central planning which is pushed by the christian fundamentalist wing of the Republican party. I REAlLY hope that Arnold Schwarzenegger is massively successful as governor, because his success will start to change the tone of the national Republican party.
Likewise, I have ZERO problems with Arnold's Hollywood background. Plato might have preferred philosopher kings, but the history of the world isn't one of philosophers sitting in ivory towers rationally planning the shape of the modern world. Rather, history is (usually) shaped by good ideas AND the power to convince others that those ideas are actually correct.
Clinton managed to win TWO terms as president, in spite of rabid opposition from a Republican congress, because the guy could sell rowboats to people who live in the middle of the Sahara. Clinton dripped charm, and that made him a very effective leader. Compared to Clinton, Gore looked about as exciting as a rusty fire hydrant.
The same can be said of Arnold Schwarzenegger. His ideas regarding solutions for California's problems are VERY GOOD. That, combined with charisma, is a powerful combination. It validates the decision to replace Gray Davis, who lacked charisma AND any decent ideas regarding a solution to the debt problems of the 5th biggest economy in the world.
