Arnold Schwarzenegger likes it rough
Charlie LeDuff and John M. Broder write a pretty favorable story about the governor from California in today’s New York Times (link via Andrew Sullivan). Two points stood out: 1) Arnold and W. — not so much with the friendship. Here’s what the Governor has to say about the President: Mr. Schwarzenegger, in an interview ...
Charlie LeDuff and John M. Broder write a pretty favorable story about the governor from California in today's New York Times (link via Andrew Sullivan). Two points stood out:
Charlie LeDuff and John M. Broder write a pretty favorable story about the governor from California in today’s New York Times (link via Andrew Sullivan). Two points stood out:
1) Arnold and W. — not so much with the friendship. Here’s what the Governor has to say about the President:
Mr. Schwarzenegger, in an interview in the Bedouin-style smoking tent he has set up in the courtyard of the State Capitol here — smoking is banned in state buildings — made it clear that he expected a prominent role at the Republican National Convention in New York in late August. “Whether I’m speaking, I’ll leave that up to them,” said Mr. Schwarzenegger, a global celebrity who has emerged as perhaps the most intriguing new Republican face of the political season. “If they’re smart, they’ll have me obviously in prime time.” But Mr. Schwarzenegger, who has been defining himself as a moderate, also made it clear that when prime time is over, he intends to keep some distance from Mr. Bush, who is not particularly popular in Democratic-leaning California. Mr. Schwarzenegger said that while he would appear with Mr. Bush if the president comes to California, he had no plans to travel outside of the state to stump for him.
2) Those budget cuts are hitting deep. The story closes out with a priceless anecdote:
On fiscal matters, Mr. Schwarzenegger considers himself an old-school Republican determined to ferret out waste. No item is too minor to escape his attention. For instance, since Mr. Schwarzenegger took office on Nov. 17, the toilet paper in the Capitol has been switched from two-ply to one-ply, a saving of thousands of dollars over the years. “It’s not anymore the two-ply,” he said. “Because you know what? We’re trimming. We’re living within our means.”
Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner
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