Re: No Clemency from Arnold

[Michael Perelman <michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Why should anybody believe what Arnold says?  He ran as a moderate Republican.  Then, he
pushed very hard in ways that even the most conservative Republicans would not have dared
in promoting deregulatory business interests.  He even tried to ingratiate himself with the
right wing by getting involved with the pro life movement -- something I suspect does not
reflect his personal beliefs.   Then he got creamed in his special election and tried to
re-create himself as a moderate for a few days.  After appointing a Democratic activist to
a high position, the right became furious.

California as a state is pretty much moderate Democratic because the right wing has
alienated many potentially Republican moderates.  Rational people like David could not be
attracted by characters like Robert Dornan or John Schmidt.  Schwarzenegger could not have
easily won in a general election because the Conservatives would have mistrusted him.
Schwarzenegger won because Davis was a Bill Clinton, without his charisma or political
skills.  So now Schwarzenegger is maneuvering to find the base, but it will be difficult.
Executing Stanley Williams was a political necessity to shore up conservative support in a
way that would not alienate many moderate Democrats.



--
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929

Tel. 530-898-5321
E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu