Self-Proclaimed Governor of the People Is Fading as Lord of the Polls

[Rose Siding]

He's too interested in PR gimmicks, many voters think, and should be putting more effort into dealing with legislators.

Fewer than half of Californians now approve of the way the governor is handling his job, a sharp decline since January.

Moreover, people think California has gotten off on the wrong track.

These are the findings of a statewide poll to be released today by the Survey and Policy Research Institute at San Jose State. It indicates that the Schwarzenegger luster is fading, especially among Democrats.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cap7apr07,1,63188.column?coll=la-headlines-california

from the poll:

• "He's right to bypass lawmakers and focus on his ballot initiatives." Agree 38%, disagree 47%.

• "He's too interested in gimmicks, public relations and image." Agree 49%, disagree 41%.

• "He should be putting more effort into working with legislators so he'd get more done." Agree 62%, disagree 25%. Even Republicans agree, 49% to 34%.

[antigone382]

1. Bye-bye Gropenator!

:hi:

I'd say that I'd miss you...but I won't.

[deutsey]

2. There was a big protest against him earlier this week

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1710224&mesg_id=1710224

[The White Tree]

3. I was in New York last Thursday watching a comedian

Alonzo Boden - He is actually the comedian who won NBC's last comic standing season 3 which I think was never televised (at least that is what he said in a joke).

If you like comedy and ever get to see this guy live, do it. He has some great commentary mixed with a hysterical routine.

At any rate during the show he brought this up, which suprised me. He said that Californians had realized there mistake. At the time I thought that was an interesting comment to make.

So who is going to be a good Democratic candidate to challenge him?

[zbdent]

17. Bustamente

When you think about it.

Cruz took in 3 times as many votes for the serious voters as the "serious" Republican.

Throw out all the assholes who voted for Ahnold just to get the T-shirt, and you have the serious voters.

[zbdent]

18. How about Grey Davis?

I mean, as soon as the Assholator took office, he started doing much of the same thing that GD was . . .

[Barkley]

99. Barbara Boxer, Barbara Lee, or Barbara Striesand

any one them of would do.

[Beetwasher]

4. RECALL!!!!!!!!!!

I mean, why the fuck not?

[notadmblnd]

6. but let's call it.... are u ready?.....

TOTAL RECALL.

[John Q. Citizen]

7. Good one!

[RAF]

5. Anyone know what's needed to recall Ahnold?

I'm not sure what the technical hurdles are but I would think enough people would sign a petition for his removal.

[doodadem]

9. Not gonna happen

Folks, recalls cost millions of dollars to do--another reason Arnold's ballot initiatives won't make it. People find out the cost, look at the state's red ink, and say, no way.
Besides, the election is next year. We need to spend the time finding and promoting a viable Dem candidate.

[davidinalameda]

13. Phil Angelides

http://www.angelides.com/

he's the viable candidate to Ahnuld

[hunter]

28. kick

:kick:

NSMA's post too.

Pay close attention California. Arnold is a crook. He was brought in to cover up California's manufactured "energy crisis" and various election irregularities. He does not represent you. He sells himself to the highest bidder.

If an elevator door ever opens and Arnold get's in, get out... You don't need that.

[calimary]

30. Yes he is. He outpolls everybody else when surveys are taken.

I agree. The election is next year. Between now and then we need to help Angelides gain ground, while at the same time digging the ground out from under Herr Gropenazi. Our time, energy, and money will be far better spent.

[RAF]

16. I don't think money would have been an issue.

but given the election is next year, that's another story. I didn't realize he was up for reelection so soon.

No wonder he is trying to undo Shelley's election reforms. I hope you Cali folks are working to stop it.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

19. Angelides is our ace in the hole

He's a REAL progressive, well liked in Sacramento but also OUTSIDE the beltway...he KNOWS how to govern and he CONNECTS and communicates.

I'm gonna bust my butt for Angelides

[northzax]

8. turns out being the leader of a state

that is, in essence, a top ten global state, is harder than it looks, huh, Arnold?

[Runcible Spoon]

10. c'mon Cali! recall the Gropinator!

we forgive you! NOW DO IT!

[paper chase guy]

11. awesome.

This is great news, and I hope it continues.

[gratuitous]

12. Who woulda thunk it?

You actually need a little substance to go with all that style. Huh. Imagine that.

[Book Lover]

14. Where were you people a few years ago?

Geez! "I voted for the fathead and now he's acting like a fathead! Why'd I ever vote for him?" the inland Californian laments. Wake up!

[callous taoboy]

15. Well what the #$&%* did people expect?

We don't learn by example any more. Jessie Ventura should have wisened people up that celebrity does not a good politician make.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

20. Arnold is doing a Jesse Ventura faster than Jesse did

[Kerrytravelers]

21. I made a little sign for my car that reads:

Schwarzenegger:
for the star-struck voters who aren't paying attention.



It goes nicels with my:

It is not morally wrong, an affront to God nor a thread to Honeland Security to question the dnagerous policies of George W. Bush.


Along with my Amnesty International and my Interfaith Alliance stickers, right next to my Kerry/Edwards sticker.



(Just a suggestion; I tape everything to the inside of my back wiondow so I can change stickers as I need to. Also, people can't peel them, althoug I live in a very blue area, so that isn't as likely to happen.)

[olddad56]

22. ARNOLD IS A KNUCKLE DRAGGING NEANDERTHAL NAZI GOON

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

23. LOL what happened to "Amend for Arnold?"

i thought he was going to be our next Fuhrer

looks like the gropinator was the 'new coke' of the GOP.

so who do we have to challenge him in the election and how do we help?

[hunter]

24. Back up, aim Humvee at brick wall, press down hard on the accelerator!

Crash.

Next step, the T-Shirt gun.

[olddad56]

25. Arnold will win re-election..

since they ousted the democrat that was the Secretary of State and inserted a Rethuglican in his place. Now they have control over the validity of the elections.

[erpowers]

89. Something to Think About

If you really look at the numbers and think about it you will realize that a vast majority of the people voted against Schwarzenegger. The real thing that helped him get elected is that there were so many people runing in the recall and so many of those people got votes. If you add the votes of all the people running in the election, even if you leave out the major republican, it will add up to a majority of votes against Schwarzenegger. So if the election is not loaded as it was last year there is a chance that Schwarzenegger will beaten by a very large margin no matter who is the Secretary of State.

[Kerrytravelers]

26. A Nazi at a wedding where the Kennedy famiy attended?

Maria is a disgrace to the Kennedy name.

[Coventina]

27. Gee, a movie star into "gimmicks, public relations and image"?

who'da thunk?

:shrug:

[Rose Siding]

29. Comes as a huge, huge surprise

;)

[Megahurtz]

31. Okay, now step down Arnie,

It's the only honorable thing you can do.:applause:

[last_texas_dem]

32. Good to see

I knew those early 65-percent approval ratings he had for quite a while there would have to fall eventually, but I'm surprised to see him with less than 50-percent approval. Not that it's not good to see (hence my subject line. haha). I thought his "star power" was gonna keep him up there in approval regardless of what kind of job he was doing.

Looks like there's a chance he can be defeated in '06.

[Moderator]

33. kick to combine

[deadparrot]

34. Once Invincible Schwarzenegger Looking More Mortal (43% approval)

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is showing himself to be an ordinary mortal after all with a significant policy retreat on Thursday and a new poll showing his approval rating down sharply.

Swept into office in an unprecedented recall election in 2003, the Republican's approval rating fell to 43 percent from 59 percent in January, according to a Survey and Policy Research Institute poll released on Thursday.

Since taking office in late 2003, Schwarzenegger has repeatedly threatened to bypass legislators by going directly to the people with ballot measures.

The Survey and Policy Research Institute poll of 1,030 Californians between March 28 and April 1 found 49 percent saying Schwarzenegger was too interested in "gimmicks, public relations and image," and 62 percent said he should put more effort into working with legislators.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050407/pl_nm/politics_schwarzenegger_dc

[hippiepunk]

35. YES!

were gonna vote the turd out!: :D

[OETKB]

82. Who wil oppose him?

This is a serious question. When dems get the opposition on the ropes, they do not seem to take advantage by showcasing their own. Are they up to it in California?

[Sandpiper]

36. Californians don't want their state turned into Texas

Imagine that.


Looks like the novelty factor is wearing off.

[reality based]

43. Maybe you are right

but I will never understand how Californians could have endured that natural gas gang-bang after Bush took over and then vote for one of the gang's cheerleaders. Was Jay Leno that powerful? It sounds like Jay better not need a firefighter any time soon.

[TwentyFive]

74. Gosh no. California is a beautiful state with diverse & cool people

The last thing we want is a bunch of religious nuts & greedy bean counters trashing our environment and indoctrinating our children.

If were going to elect somebody with an accent, I'd say the person should have a brain too....somebody like Arianna Huffington.

[Pachamama]

37. Wow! He really is "Bush-Lite"! Ahnuld & * can compete for who goes lower

They are both bad for this state, country and world!...

I predict that Ahnuld is not re-elected and that his "approval" or rather disapproval rating will be below 35% within the next 6 months...I also predict that his attempts for "re-districting" and getting special initiatives onto the CA ballot special election will fail miserably...

[Placebo]

38. C'mon California, come back to reality.

Throw this Republican whore out on his weigh-lifting, womanizing arse.

Elect someone you can be proud of!

[K8-EEE]

39. THANK THE LORD THE DELUSIONAL LOVE FEST IS OVER!

My fellow Cawlifohnians as the Gov would say, had a touch of temporary insanity, I STILL CAN'T BELIVE THIS GOON IS MY GOVERNOR....BLECH!

[Sandpiper]

41. I do so hope he still wants to run against Barbara Boxer

I'd love to see him get his clock cleaned by a woman.

[BrotherBuzz]

54. If the idiot runs for senate it will be against Feinstein in 2006

Boxer just won her re-election. It should also be noted that she was the third highest vote-getter in the country in the 2004 elections, after Kerry and Bush*. WooHoo!!!

[K8-EEE]

63. It Delights Me To See Those Stupid Ahnold Movie Phrases...

used on HIM....DUers, a heartfelt thanks from the city of the angels for the lift! Love it!


Keep it up because I don't know HOW this guy would survive an acual election, that recall was all about him saying Hasta La Vista and this weird "oh how cute" reaction from people. I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT WHEN PEOPLE VOTED HIM IN!! God that was depressing. I like to think people are smarter than that. I hate being disappointed. But surely....SURELY THEY WOULDN'T DO IT AGAIN!

I've noticed I don't see a lot of those creepy "Join Arnold" bumper stickers anymore. I still have my Kerry sticker! I want people to know I did NOT vote for the Chimp!

[joefree1]

66. Got my Kerry sticker too

Although I changed it a wee bit.


Download the free PDF letter size art here:
http://www.ediablo.com

[K8-EEE]

67. Great!!! THANKS!! GETTING IT!

BABY! Picking up one for my husband and one for my parents too...YEAH WHAT MANDATE?

[Cha]

96. Thanks!

I still have my Kerry/Edwards/Dean For America stickers..so that would look real nice amongst them!

[Mad_Dem_X]

94. My sticker says, "Don't blame me, I voted for Kerry"

It's staying on my bumper as long as * is in the White House.

[demnan]

40. Hasta la vista - baby!

[DBoon]

42. Terminate him!

Are we waking from the long nightmare?

[coloradodem2005]

44. 43%?

Wow!

[yurbud]

45. It's not over--remember Bush the year before election?

he seemed to be tripping over his own feet and wetting himself.

But he still won.

Arnold has the same playbook, and is planning to cheat in the same ways which is why they were so intent on getting Kevin Shelley out and their stooge Bruce McPherson into the Sec of State office.

We can't make the mistake national democrats did, hang back, and hope people figure out he's a criminal puppet. He should be frustrated, ignored, and blocked at every turn. The democrats in the legislature shouldn't even be taking his calls.

He asks for a compromise on pension, the democrats should tell him to go fuck himself, and then only mention it to remind people of the scam he tried to pull.

As Tom DeLay becomes more of an albatross to the GOP, we need to let people know Arnold is doing most if not all of the same things here.

We don't have to lie, just be brutally honest about what Arnold is. The goal shouldn't be just to get him out of office, but to salt the earth and prevent any future runs for senate or the presidency.

People have been too fucking polite about what he is.

[beltanefauve]

78. Judging from what I saw

out protesting in the streets in SF on Tues, Arnold is pissing off "regular" folks, such as teachers, firefighters, moms with strollers, etc. We need to keep this up; this guy is NOT someone who's cool to relax and have a beer with, nor is Bush, but that's the way they've marketed him.

Meanwhile, my fellow Californians, beware of any signature gatherers you may come across. READ THE FINE PRINT!!! I was approached outside of a Safeway in Oakland after midnight, of all times. He appealed to me on the premise of wanting to help children and the schools, but what the paper on the clipboard was actually proposing was the rule changes with teacher tenure that Arnie's been singing about. Do not let any of this stuff ever make it to a special election ballot!!

[Erika]

46. Maria and the Gropinator needs to get out of our faces

Maria has completely betrayed Democratic principles and the gropinaotor's recent picture at the beach shows he's become one of those who live and eat the good life. Flabby and Republican.

[Placebo]

49. What picture?

I'm always the last to know, gah!

[11cents]

51. You mean that picture wasn't photoshopped?

Yeesh. I lift weights; I'm as qualified for the governor's office as Schwarzenegger is; and I'm a woman, not a FLABBY GIRLY-MAN. Maybe I should bench-press his ass out of there.

[robertarctor]

47. It's still astonishing.

I mean, this guy is so obviously a Karl Rove-designed Trojan horse, to be wheeled into Sacramento and, under cover of darkness, to deploy hordes of sub-rosa Republican operatives who will commandeer the state's government and turn California into another oblast in the Union of Bushist Jesustan Republics. I was blown away when people bought this tripe, but this state is so big that the mass-media Goebbels ad-blitzkriegs work pretty well.

Good to see his luster is fading.

[yurbud]

53. Will coverage on TV and press change though?

Bush dropped but they still didn't go after him the way he deserved. I suspect the same will happen with Arnie.

Big business likes him and will try to keep him afloat.

[The_Casual_Observer]

56. Nicely put.

They saw their chance with the looming "car tax" and they took it.

[Erika]

48. Maria and the Gropinator needs to get out of our faces

Maria has completely betrayed Democratic principles and the gropinaotor's recent picture at the beach shows he's become one of those who live and eat the good life. Flabby and Republican.

[UCLA Dem]

50. Sucks to be him!!

:woohoo: :woohoo:

[Algorem]

52. time for them to use the secret earthquake-creation technology to bring

on the big one on the San Andreas fault or a tidal wave and make Groper and Chimp the biiiig heroes?

[MADem]

70. This fat hair dyed clown is gonna rescue you folks??

Look at those white-gray hairs on those saggy boobs...last action hero? More like flabby flaccid zero! I see a shark, and lardo there just jumped it!

Wonkette had this, via some NY paper...if you are having a hard time not gouging out your eyes, you are not alone. He should be forbidden from vacationing on Maui if he is gonna dress like that!

[LostinVA]

83. Guess Arnold needs steroids to stay in shape after all, eh?

I mean that. Ewwww! My father is quite a bit older than him, and is MUCH better shape (with lovely mainly-salt-hair, too). All he does is walk every day and work around the yard, and he does NOT have man boobies or a gut like that. Tsktsktsk, Arnold.

[Algorem]

85. Grope'n'er Swarzenegger is WEAK,his pumped-up days are OH-VAH!

[DemBeans]

87. ewwwww

That photo almost made me lose my breakfast. That awful expression on his face is the result of how fiercely he's trying to suck in that big stomach.

Note the difference in his body from the neck up. His hair is obviously dyed, and his weird wax museum face has seen serious cosmetic surgery and botox.

The enlarged breasts are common with steriod users. Nice legacy he left his body, eh?

[MADem]

98. What I find amusing is that

...he clearly continues to do some work on his arms, so he can fake it when he has the short sleeves on--gotta display them there guns.

But it's smoke, mirrors, and Hollywood bullshit, apparently--as for any midbody work, faggedaboutit. Apparently girdles will do the trick to make that high-end suit fit right!

[erpowers]

88. Done it Before

Before he did Terminator 3 that was about the same way he looked.

[heidler1]

55. If his approval gets down to 20% we'll let him run fo Pres.

[tritsofme]

57. Wait till its confirmed by the Field Poll

then its gravy.

[The_Casual_Observer]

58. Are people figuring out that the guy isn't "fun"?

I remember the man on the street interviews about that guy before the recall, some home boy thought having the guy as governor would be "fun".

[umtalal]

59. He will be out if I can help it. What a shmuck.

[rocktivity]

60. Hasta la vista, Muscle Brain!

:hi:
rocknation

[sonicx]

61. YEAH

:D

[shawmut]

62. time for a recall

through his ass out!

[patricia92243]

79. Can they really do that - recall the one that won the first recall?

[AuntiBush]

64. He's out-a-here! Like the rest of them and good riddance!

California relatives despise him, as much as the Chimp & Co.

[joefree1]

65. What, a has been actor can't make it in politics?

Oh Reagan, what is this country coming to?

[tinrobot]

68. So who challenges him in '06?

That's the million dollar question.

[TheWraith]

72. I say we run Martin Sheen.

Campaign motto: "If we're going to elect an actor, let's get a GOOD one."

[beltanefauve]

77. Danny Glover or Bill Cosby

would work for me. The masses may need someone with star power, unfortunately. I don't know if Phil Angelides has that.

[Matriot]

100. Actually that's a damn good idea

I'd vote for him

BTW, you all can't be mad about electing Arnie, after all he met with Enron corp before the election. Then to top it off the first thing he did was drop the lawsuit against the energy companies. So this was coming for some time now. Atleast my home state is finally waking up and smelling the Starbucks. Miss you all.

[jamesinca]

75. Phil Angelides

That is who, I have seen him speak here in Fresno, he sounds good, real good.

[nadinbrzezinski]

69. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By the way Arnie, go back to hollywood and do some C rate movies... that is where you belong

[carnie_sf]

71. If he can get CalPERS

into the hands of his Wall Street backers I don't think he'll care if he's re-elected. That is the prize they are really after.

[TwentyFive]

73. This is the sad truth....Repugs always have to pay back their masters

Muscle head may seem like a action hero to some, but to the people that backed him....he is just another political whore paid to take their orders.

CalPERS is Wall Street Rabble Rouser....millionaire CEOs don't like having to answer tough questions by Liberals who control so much investment money.

[Helga Scow Stern]

76. He probably was not even elected:

according to Mark Crispin Miller:

snip--

For those who are unsure of figures:

California is huge and has a population similar to
many European nations. Lower order candidates had
little or no ability to spread any sort of message to
parts of the state beyond their own home and/or where
they have previously lived. One would expect some of
the 'fringe' candidates to do well in their home
county and then to have a very even distribution
across the rest of the state. That is not the case. In
Diebold counties (those who use machines made by
Diebold, a corporation that supports George Bush) the
results are skewed towards low scoring candidates by
unbelievably large amounts.

The probability of scoring twice the expected average
county % could charitably be construed as the upper
limit of the possible. Some candidates exceed that
figure in Diebold counties by a four or five fold
margin. If you have done statistics, you know that is
so far beyond what might be expected that you would
reject it as defective data. If it happened to one
candidate in this election, I would be surprised but
might accept it. There are a large number of
candidates who have this same systematic pattern of
receiving skimmed votes.

The California recall shows Diebold trying to affect
the election outcome by moving votes from high ranked
candidates to low ranked candidates.

By doing this, Diebold keep the total number of votes
cast constant but rob some candidate of their votes.
Before anyone makes this a partisan issue - it could
be a Republican victim next time.

http://www.opednews.com/miller1003_CA_Voting.htm

[Corgigal]

80. I fought the nurses

and the nurses won.
I fought the nurses
and the nurses won.

A new singalong.

[rpannier]

81. Despite what his numbers are now...

The Democrats need to run a legitimate candidate to get him out. Several sources in his campaign reported that he waited until the last minute to run in the run-ff because he was afraid Diane Feinstein would run and she is (by polling data) the most popular politician in California.

[Wright Patman]

84. Ultimately, middle-class people

in a declining economy who are losing middle-class status will not support cutbacks in programs on which they depend to retain said status, no matter how many celebrities try to sell them and no matter how many bogus enemies are created through phony MIHOP terr' attacks.

That's why the Diebold-style voting without paper trails is so necessary. All of these draconian measures will eventually be enacted because of this. Then the only question will be whether we peacefully become serfs or there is a second American revolution.

[erpowers]

86. People Realize

Schwarzenegger's polls are probably starting to fall because people are beginning to realize that they were duped. Since taking office Schwarzenegger has been worse than Davis. He has raised more special interest money, spent more money, and went after the people of California.

[Cha]

97. Maybe it was the steroids.. if

he ever had a brain in his head?

[erpowers]

90. Election Results

Does anyone know where some can get the election numbers from the Recall? Is there a place where a person can get a list of the candidates who ran in the election and the number of votes the candidates received.

[Julius Civitatus]

91. Posturing and catch-phrases will take you so far

At a point, a politician is supposed to be a public administrator, beyond the photo-ops, the stupid catch-phrases, and the star power. Arnold knows jack shit about administering the public good.

Arnold is joke as a politician. It baffles my mind the people of California put him there. For shame!

[Julius Civitatus]

92. Can you say... GIRLIEMAN ???

I knew you could!

;-)

[Julius Civitatus]

93. Self Delete

Server acting funny?

[realFedUp]

95. California for Democracy has the petitions

and has been instrumental in getting this
stuff on the front burners...

http://californiafordemocracy.com/