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Independent or isolated? That's the question./AP
While Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger jetted off to Washington for a victory lap on national talk shows following the approval a budget deal, the fallout back home in California slowly spirals downward.
A new poll by the Public Policy Institute of California found that the governor’s approval rating dropped another 7 percent down to 33 percent. Though he’s ranked ahead of Legislature as a whole, which dropped to 18 percent, it’s a far cry from the early popularity he rode into office.
The poll itself wrapped up just two days before the budget deal passed, so voter dissatisfaction is to be expected, as is a possible bounce now that the deal is finalized and stimulus funds from the Obama administration (Obama’s popularity stood in stark contrast to state lawmakers including 53 percent of those who labeled themselves as conservatives).
Still the numbers reflect a growing winter of discontent for Californians over their Hollywood leader, who is increasingly viewed as a popularity monger rather than a cutting edge independent. Conservative Republicans despise him for his environmental legislation that has set liberal Attorney General Jerry Brown free to sue the pants off of cities, businesses and developers. They burn over his public comments that chastise them for party alliance and anti-tax fervor.
Democrats may need Arnold, but they don’t love him. He’s still a Republican after all, which he reminded everyone by hacking away at the budgets of the constitutional officers – all Democrats – for fighting his executive order on furloughs.
A report in the news cycle the last couple of days said the governor even seriously considered leaving the Republican altogether in recent weeks for an independent role similar to New York’s Michael Bloomberg. His advisors told him he was already viewed that way so the impact of move wouldn’t accomplish much.
The news is not exactly shocking, as political author Joe Matthews points out.
“(For) Californians and others who have closely watched his political career, Schwarzenegger’s differences with Republicans are a very old story,” Mathews wrote.
What riles California political insiders the most is that for all his talk of partisanship Schwarzenegger is seen as driven by the need to be popular more than on the substance of his political independence.
“Making difficult decisions as California Governor has placed Arnold in a situation he abhors - making some voters dislike him,” one California commentator wrote. “Thus, he doesn’t make any decisions unless pressed and then the Republican Party be damned. IT is all about Arnold.”
The progressive commentators were even more harsh as this post on California Progressive Report showed: “This is a guy who campaigned almost entirely in 2003 on cutting the vehicle license fee, costing the state almost enough to fill this entire budget gap over 6 years, and now he's raised it after admitting defeat. Arnold Schwarzenegger is a born liar.”
Two years remain on The Governator’s rocky ride. It’s ending is sure to be as garbled as his tenure. The true verdict on Schwarzenegger will likely come when the next step for bodybuilder-turned actor-turned politician is revealed.
How would you rate the governor? Comment below.
For more on California politics:
Attorney General Brown hails victory over EPA.
President Obama's speech and hope for the housing crisis.
What's the status of the banking industry.
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