Markos has a diary up on a couple of polls around the Governors race. Let's take a look at what he is doing or not doing to turn around his political fortunes. (This is cross-posted from the
BetterCA blog, your one stop shop for all things Arnold.)
What is more important than getting his infrastructure proposal negotiated with the legislature? Apparently a trip to Ohio to appear at a "gladiator" ultimate fighting match is a much bigger priority for Arnold. The governor's buddy Sen. McCain called it "barbaric" cockfighting with human. Gov. Patacki banned it from New York, calling it a "Neanderthal sport."
SFGate.com:
Already, such gladiator-style fighting events have become a hot ticket, DeMilia said, thanks to plenty of action, fast pacing, buff macho competitors and colorfully staged theatrical touches like bikini-clad "ring girls.''
"It's legalized barroom brawls. They get in there and pound each other,'' DeMilia said.
Male fans "like it because it's vicious and macho,'' DeMilia said, "and the women like it because they're built nice. There's a sex appeal.''
Gee, this should sure win over a few female voters.
"What a photo op -- to have Arnold with some bloody competitors who have just beaten each other up for entertainment,'' crowed Democratic activist Gloria Nieto. 'That's exactly the image we need for California.''
Michael Semler, a Cal State Sacramento professor of government, said Schwarzenegger's already shaky approval ratings may suffer if voters question such events outside the state and ask, "Isn't being governor a full-time job?''
Exactly my point. The governor has a lot to lose by going to this event, just for a bit of fun. Going to DC was state business. Ohio to be a celebrity at a fighting match is not. This little jaunt to Ohio comes at a crucial time for his infrastructure plan. Negotiations are falling apart and the governor is not leading. In fact he has been MIA.
SFGate.com:
Lawmakers of both parties expressed doubt that a package could be cobbled together, voted on and signed by the governor by March 10, the deadline for placing items on the June ballot.
"I doubt it," said Senate GOP Leader Dick Ackerman of Irvine. "We have wide gaps on many issues and we want a good product."
With the deadline looming, Democratic legislative leaders wondered aloud over the governor's commitment, having just spent four days in Washington, D.C., and jetting to Ohio this Friday for the weekend-long Arnold Classic, an annual bodybuilding contest.
Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles, said the governor's schedule shows he has "different priorities than negotiating infrastructure bonds."
Sure the governor has met with legislators a few times, but now when it is crunch time he is out of the state. Is he intentionally setting the legislature up for failure? What would he have to gain from that? I can see the campaign ads now, can't you?