Governator to become Powernator?
posted at 1:00 pm on November 7, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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The Guardian reports that speculation has Arnold Schwarzenegger going from Governator to Energy czar in the incoming Obama administration. Yesterday, we speculated on which Republicans might find their way into Obama’s cabinet, but I have to admit that I hadn’t considered the centrist Schwarzenegger as a potential candidate:
He’s been a body-builder, a movie star and leader of the most populous state in the US. But could Arnold Schwarzenegger, now nearing the end of his days as California’s governor, be offered a place at Barack Obama’s side in Washington?
Speculation is swirling that Schwarzenegger will be offered the role of energy czar in the incoming Obama administration. There has been Beltway chatter about the prospect ever since he was named as a contender for the job by the authoritative politico.com website. …
But the chatter has refused to go away. It stems from an interview Schwarzenegger gave in July to ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. “I’m always ready to help in any way I can,” he replied when asked if he would be willing to fill the role. “I’ve committed myself to be a public servant.”
ABC has that transcript here. It didn’t specifically refer to an position as an energy czar; Stephanopoulos left the specifics of a position rather vague. Newsweek prompted the question by speculating in its contemporaneous issue that Schwarzenegger’s outspoken efforts on climate change would work well in an Obama administration.
On one hand, it would make a great deal of sense for Obama to offer him that position. Their public positions are close to each other, and Schwarzenegger represents the kind of post-partisanship that Obama preached during the election (and rarely practiced). However, Schwarzenegger hit Obama hard in the final weeks of the election in Ohio and elsewhere. He scornfully mocked Obama’s policies as lacking “meat”, and scoffed at Obama’s ability to lead while campaigning for McCain.
If Obama can put aside any dented feelings over the campaign, it would be a stroke of political genius to get Arnold onto his team. It takes away a potent tool for the GOP on fundraising and excitement on the stump. He’d have to convince Arnold to bail out of his second term as governor, but with the fiscal crisis at hand in the Golden State, that may not be a very hard sell.
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You’re preaching to the choir! O! is not qualified to be dog catcher.
What about T. Boone Pickens? Not that I’m advocating it, but what better use of the energy slot would there be for a craven political weasel like Obama to solidify his re-election bid than picking a billionaire?
Y-not on November 7, 2008 at 1:47 PM
I wonder what post John McCain will get for not challenging Barack about the tough issues in the campaign?
kirkill on November 7, 2008 at 1:49 PM
B.O.- Take my Governor. Please!
Ahhhnold talks a good game, but when it came down to tough times, he collapsed in the face of Demo opposition. Even now, he is talking about increasing the sales tax while spouting off about growing the economy. He will square the circle next. I think the Energizer would be a good way for him to transition out of the
officerole of Governator.Nemo Dat on November 7, 2008 at 1:49 PM
Ahhh! You have a twisted mind, Dog. Verrry interestingk!
I bet Sarah would find a way to leverage the offer to her advantage and his detriment. By choosing her, he would anoint her as a national expert on energy so she’d have fun for a few weeks nailing him on the Sunday talk shows.
Y-not on November 7, 2008 at 1:50 PM
I regret voting for Ahhhnold. He has done nothing good for California.
ocbrat on November 7, 2008 at 1:50 PM
Ambassador to Baghdad where he can work to protect Iraq’s border or maybe Ambassador to Mexico City where he can work to keep our border open?
MB4 on November 7, 2008 at 1:52 PM
That’s why I left 4 years ago, took my CA money and ran…
right2bright on November 7, 2008 at 1:53 PM
Arnold will become czar, but it will be by his own hand.
But that is a different story.
James on November 7, 2008 at 1:53 PM
I’m disappointed with the results of this election and certainly see things McCain could have done differently, but he could have painted himself blue and run naked through the streets screaming REVEREND WRIGHT, ACORN, AYERS and all the rest of it and the MSM would not have done their jobs. Ronald Reagan could have descended from a cloud with Jesus on one side and Moses on the other saying “We endorse this candidate” and apparently it would not move enough of our fellow citizens to vote against Obama.
Ultimately, the voters are responsible for the mess we’re in. Yes, there were a lot of illegal and unethical acts committed by Obama and his supporters, but if all of the supposed base (like “white evangelicals”) had turned out for McCain, he would have had enough votes to overcome ACORN. As it stands, a quarter of the white evangelicals voted for Obama, as did far too many Catholics, and I’m sure plenty of gun lovers voted for him as well.
Not to pick on you in particular (I’ve read tons of comments on HA railing against McCain and accusing him of complicity in the loss), but I really think blaming McCain is not getting us anywhere moving forward.
Y-not on November 7, 2008 at 1:57 PM
Ahhrnold is also no threat to run for Pres or VP…
right2bright on November 7, 2008 at 1:57 PM
I should mention that I am on the board of two alternative energy startups: A wind power company and a solar power company.
And as enthusiastic as I am about both areas I know that at best solar-wind power (my term) can at best displace only about 5% max of the power needed to run our nation.
And that only with the investment of billions upon billions of dollars in those industries.
The right approach is to be realistic about what solar-wind can do and plan to increase coal, nuclear, natural gas and hydro power to meet our needs minus the 3% to 5% margin that can be provided by alternatives.
Anything else will degrade vast portions of urban and suburban America into squalid fourth-world conditions. Fourth world nations are those former first world nations that failed to grow and maintain their energy and economic infrastructures resulting in a rapid collapse in their standard of living.
Such a thing is completely avoidable of course, but given the AGW idiocy so rampant right now, it is not certain that we will take the necessary steps in a timely manner.
DrDeano on November 7, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Haha.
One state at a time my friend.
I have thought about that. It will take a grassroot effort to change the culture. Change the school system. More conservatives MUST go into public service. School boards, teaching positions, city, state, and county organazations. This we must do or we face an entirely ignorant populace that does not know the difference between freedom and socialism. We conservatives left the inner city schools to die, now we have the people educated in those schools voting. Two generations of people that cannot think critically, that are ignorant of political and economuic theory. To change this we need to enter more public institutions and let the people we abandoned years ago feel the full weight of the policies they are voting for.
Theworldisnotenough on November 7, 2008 at 2:05 PM
Hell, why not let Arnie move on. He’s totally trashed this state and never stood up to the SpendoCrats. He’s a RINO.
GarandFan on November 7, 2008 at 2:07 PM
Is it true that Mitt Romney is living in CA now? If Arnie leaves early, then I’ll take a REAL Republican like Mitt…
ocbrat on November 7, 2008 at 2:07 PM
Here in Kalifornia we have two bets: 1) Feinstein wants to be Governor. The rumor is that she’s tired of commuting and wants to be queen closer to home. She’s a shoe-in for the job. 2) Is that she’ll appoint Arnold to replace her. (That doesn’t square with the Dem/Rep math, but it’s the current buzz.)
I wouldn’t bet on Arnold being just energy czar. I don’t think his ego will fit into that little box. Senator from Kalifornia, on the other hand, would be shiny enough to enhance his star. But there’s the travel, it’s a long way from Malibu.
CrazyGene on November 7, 2008 at 2:08 PM
Don’t think he can do this. Because, if God forbid and they are all die at the same time, he cannot be elevated to pres since is not a natural born citizen. Though some think that that did not stop obama
ConservativePartyNow on November 7, 2008 at 2:12 PM
No, Ahnuld will go for Senator.
I live in California. Watching it implode will not be fun. I bought my first house here last year.
pseudonominus on November 7, 2008 at 2:12 PM
I think we also need to factor Maria (Shriver) into the Arnold equations. It seems to me that since Obama has cast the Clintons aside, he needs to solidify his ties to the old guard Democrats… that means Kennedys. I wonder if Maria is due for a slot or if she will return to journalism. Arnold may find himself following her lead for a few years.
Y-not on November 7, 2008 at 2:13 PM
Me too. LA county.
I had been hopeful that the Republicans could make a serious run at Governor, but in the wake of Obama, I doubt it.
Y-not on November 7, 2008 at 2:15 PM
‘It’s FANTASTIC! It’s Mahreeah’s turn now! I tried to turn the state around after Davis nearly ruined it…and I drove it further into the ground because Mahreeah and the lefties in power wouldn’t let me SECURE THE BORDER AND ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAW!!! I learned that the kick-backs from slave labor employers and drug trafficking goes all the way to the top! It helped fund the gold letters spelling out my name in the state capitol! My hands were tied.’
He will join Dubya and McAmnesty in the dustbin of psuedo- conservatives. To hell with all 3 of them.
Don’t look back Ahnult, your political career is terminated.
That truly IS fantastic!
Christine on November 7, 2008 at 2:18 PM
What will it cost to build a fence around the desert? And Flagstaff?
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on November 7, 2008 at 2:20 PM
Look, trashing Arnold may be easy, but you have to understand the politics here in CA. The Leg is only a couple of votes shy of a 2/3 Dem majority. The Dems need 2/3 to override vetoes and raise taxes. The Leg can pass any regular bill with a simple majority. Arnold’s vetos have saved us from hundreds of awful bills, including a “single payer” state-run health care system that would have gone bankrupt after one year. He’s vetoed that twice.
What, exactly, would you have him do with the Dems in control of everything? The veto is all he has. He went to the voters here a couple of years ago with four major reforms, including an end to state employee pensions by insituting 401(k) plans for new hires. All four were rejected by the voters. This state is broke, but the voters just approved billions in new bonds.
I have to stick it out here for four more years. Then I retire and get the hell out of Dodge. I’m moving to northern New Mexico, which although blue, is not insane.
sdillard on November 7, 2008 at 2:21 PM
Great. That’s two proven losers for the Obama team. Barry himself managed the Annenberg Challenge into a $160 million hole, and Schwarzenegger managed Kaw-lee-for-nia into a trillion dollar one.
Too bad Ken Lay died. He could have been Obama’s Treasury Secretary. Neville Chamberlain could have been Secretary of State (although trust me, John F’in Kerry would be about the same).
Cicero43 on November 7, 2008 at 2:24 PM
“
DrDeano on November 7, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Oops. Sorry about that. Should be:
Don’t worry too much. I bought my current house in CA in 1991 and within a year it lost 35% of its value. I was concerned to say the least, but today it is worth 190% of what I paid for it.
As long as you, didn’t buy the house as an investment, don’t *have* to move, and you bought a house you could afford, the current market value means nothing.
Hang in there and everything will be ok.
DrDeano on November 7, 2008 at 2:27 PM
That is what the federal minimum wage increase was all about: punishing the states that kept theirs low by keeping businesses from moving there.
Count to 10 on November 7, 2008 at 2:31 PM
No it isn’t. He has the bully pulpit and has not been forceful about using it. I do appreciate his vetoes, but he needed to talk far more to California citizens and tell us clearly what the legislature is doing to us. He could have then used our outrage to twist legislative arms and bend the will of the unions to achieve real positive changes.
But no, he tried to work with a legislature that is inherently incapable of anything approaching adequate governance.
That approach was doomed to fail on the face of it.
DrDeano on November 7, 2008 at 2:32 PM
Love that kirkill. The move sounds very smart on Obama’s part. Arnold is removed from Cali, and his offshore drilling posture will frustrate Republicans on drill now/drill everywhere.
Mark30339 on November 7, 2008 at 2:38 PM
He was doing that to start with, but then the public service unions whipped him on the initiatives. Not a peep sense then. As was stated, the union bosses run Sacramento. I don’t think even Chicago can compare.
Count to 10 on November 7, 2008 at 2:40 PM
That’s true… as long as you don’t lose your job. Unemployment is starting to climb.
Y-not on November 7, 2008 at 2:40 PM
I don’t think Ahhhnold would take the bait. For one thing, what does he know about energy policy? Would he push offshore drilling and nuclear power plants (which don’t fit with Obama’s positions) or would he be a weak sap and only push wind and solar power? Ahhhnold, like him or not, is now Governor of the nation’s most populous state. Would he give that up for a cabinet position, from which he could be fired at Obama’s whim?
We have seen too many Republican Governors who have taken positions in the Bush cabinet (Christie Todd Whitman of NJ, Tom Ridge of PA, and one whose name I forget), who have been replaced by Democrats in the Statehouse, then shown the door by Bush. Ahhhnold would be foolish to follow them, and he can trust Obama less than the others could trust Bush.
Steve Z on November 7, 2008 at 2:53 PM
Just sprinkle Obama-dust in Arnold’s feed trough.
whitetop on November 7, 2008 at 3:23 PM
Excellent points. The principles of federalism are neither social conservative nor fiscal conservative (I don’t myself believe in making any such distinction). A solid bedrock from which to explain conservatism to the yoots.
To that end one of my favorite primers on the subject of Federalism in its contemporary application is the “whiter shade of pale” 2000 speech by Janice Rogers Brown made to the Federalist Society at the University of Chicago.
This one never fails as troll bait.
http://www.constitution.org/col/jrb/00420_jrb_fedsoc.htm
Angry Dumbo on November 7, 2008 at 3:28 PM
He bought a home in LaJolla, but I don’t know if it is his residence.
right2bright on November 7, 2008 at 3:40 PM
How can anyone keep a straight face in a serious meeting with Arnold?
budorob on November 7, 2008 at 3:42 PM
I lost respect of Arnold some time ago, when he was running as a fiscal conservative and folded like wet paper to the liberals in his state house. I don’t care if he does work for Obama or not, it makes no difference whatsoever.
I’m happy knowing that Obama wont be able to implement most of his plans four our socialist torture because the economy won’t permit it…for now. Hopefully this will imprint on his tiny intellect and it’ll last the whole 4 miserable years.
Spiritk9 on November 7, 2008 at 3:44 PM
He lost my vote for reelection about a year ago. He’s a turncoat and would be well-suited on the nObama stage.
Biffstir on November 7, 2008 at 3:45 PM
PUB. LICITY. STUNT.
fusionaddict on November 7, 2008 at 4:15 PM
Read the whole thread. Rare I know. Still some excellent posts. My favorite is Nemo Dat with “Take my Governor, please.”
Thanks for making my day. : ))
Angry Dumbo on November 7, 2008 at 4:34 PM
If Schwarzenegger accepts any position in Obama’s administration, he’ll be dead to me.
If he goes, Tony Villar will step right in and then we’ll be more f*cked than we already are.
Finish the job you promised to do, Arnold.
The Ugly American on November 7, 2008 at 4:35 PM
If he’s serious about “the petty partisanship” in DC….
Sarah Palin
She’s got the bona fides….
JeffWeimer on November 7, 2008 at 4:37 PM
This is a checkmate. Libs don’t want him to run against Boxer in ‘10. Turn down the “scrawny” ONE.
kevinkristy on November 7, 2008 at 4:37 PM
that’s one way to kiss off off shore drilling or immigration control.
It won’t happen with Arnolito Greenpeace Shwartzengomez.
Token Republican…nope, not
reallyat all.Speakup on November 7, 2008 at 9:02 PM
It’s still a hypothetical.
Tzetzes on November 8, 2008 at 1:41 AM
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