Bob Herbert : Arnold's Biggest Fan

[Manix]

<snip>

He may once have admired Hitler for whatever reasons, but I'm sure if you asked Arnold Schwarzenegger whom he admires most, the honest answer would be, "Ah-nold!"

Welcome to the world of undiluted narcissism. The man who is now the betting favorite to become the next governor of the crazy state of California has spent a lifetime pirouetting in front of cameras and mirrors, contemplating his navel and every other part of his once-buff bod.

If there's a voter anywhere in the state who thinks this character will spend even a hot minute wrestling with the realities of budgets and such, that person should seek immediate counseling. There's a reason Mr. Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno." He doesn't want to govern. He just wants to be adored.

<snip>

Narcisissm is about seduction, manipulation and the quest for power and control. There is no better breeding ground for it than Hollywood. But even in Hollywood, Arnold is an extraordinary case.

He just grabs whatever he wants. In this case, if he wins tomorrow, it will be the governorship of the biggest state in the union.

He can do this because the public allows him to do it. After all, he's a movie star. The Terminator. Why should anyone demand that he come up with some kind of program for a Schwarzenegger administration? Or even demonstrate a minimal understanding of the state's problems, or how its government works?

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/06/opinion/06HERB.html

[NJCher]

1. narcissistic goof

Excellent column. Too light on the groping, but as far as the character description goes:

In reality, he seems little more than an aging but still frisky goof-artist, a fun-loving egomaniac with a winning smile and very little understanding of what is appropriate behavior.

Who, we might add, is on the take for $9 billion from CA's taxpayers.


Cher

[Snellius]

2. This is the best portrait of this sick egomaniac

It just goes to show what the presidency of George Bush has done to lower the bar. And this:

Mr. Schwarzenegger has given us several striking examples of the danger inherent in a character speaking without a script. When a farmer asked him why California needed a state Environmental Protection Agency when there is also a federal E.P.A., Mr. Schwarzenegger ad-libbed as follows: "What you just talked about is the waste — overlapping agencies. They cost a fortune. We have to strip that down and get rid of some of those agencies."

Oops. Arnold's handlers — scriptwriters by any other name — were quick to say he didn't really want to eliminate the state agency, Cal/E.P.A. No, no, no. He definitely didn't want to abolish the agency, which just happened to have been founded by the co-chairman of Mr. Schwarzenegger's campaign, Pete Wilson, the former California governor.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/06/opinion/06HERB.html

[Uzybone]

3. The truth about Arnold

Hebert is spot on about this guy. He sees this (Cali Governor) as nothing as a pedestal to place himself on so the adoring masses can worship him.