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Metcalf
Articles:
ARNOLD REALITY CHECK
By Geoff Metcalf
November 14, 2005
NewsWithViews.com
Much has been said and written about the disastrous California special election. The larger than life super hero has been reduced to a modest, self-deprecating, two-dimensional stick figure.
Unions and the ubiquitous California liberal Democrats are overjoyed at the political disassembling of the once hubris infused �Governator�.
But wait a minute? notwithstanding all the 20/20 hindsight of what could have or should have been done (and not done), the election results in California really personifies the sad reality that California may never get �fixed� unless or until it completely and totally fails.
Schwarzenegger was elected to fix the epic failures of the state. He was supposedly elected to mitigate the stranglehold tax-and-spend Democrats have on the fiscal dysfunction of the state. Arnold�s objectives may have been laudable, and even necessary, but the cruel reality check for California is the myopia, dysfunction and systemic (cumulative) abuses of the very political adversaries who are rejoicing in the fall of the titan.
California may just be unmanageable. The Democrat political machine in California is the best in the nation. Despite what is right, or good, or even needed, liberal Democrats in California will do what they want because�they can.
Arnold, despite his neophyte learning curve and misguided sense of inclusion, was the last best hope for the fiscal recovery of the once Golden (currently tarnished) state of California. And California�or more specifically, the very established liberal Democrat machine, has successfully impeded the governor from doing what the people of the state supposedly elected him to do�and now, supposedly don�t want him to do?
People, make up your minds�or are you content to let usual suspect liberal Democrats make it up for you?
Teddy Roosevelt once observed, "It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."
Arnold�s place �shall never be with those cold timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.� However, in the wake of his �contrition,� Rodney King's �can�t we all just get along,� and effort to reach out to the opposition, he ignores a significant empirical reality.
His adversaries do not seek what is best for the state. He knew that when he started. He knew special interests, big unions, and the entrenched liberal Democrats were the antithesis of what he sought (and arguably the state still needs). That is a fact, Jack!
Reaching out a hand in friendship or even accommodation will only result in losing that hand.
The governor was right in his original stated purpose and objectives. He gets big points for clarity and effort. He has failed miserably in the execution of his mission�and he will only do worse by seeking compromise with those who have no intention or motivation to reward him with even half victories.
The special election weakened Schwarzenegger. He should not compound that weakness by capitulating to forces that do not embrace his mission and seek to destroy him.
Rather than running off to China in search of positive photo ops he should stay in Sacramento�that is were the battle is. If the governor stacks arms and allows his political enemies to cower him, he will fail.
Is his failure a foregone conclusion? Is it time to stick a fork in him? No! Not even! The governor can (and should) come back. Shakespeare has Julius Caesar say, �Antony, yonder Cassius has a lean and hungry look. Such men are dangerous.�
�Such men are never at ease in their hearts when they behold one greater than themselves. Envy makes them dangerous.� Caesar said.
In many ways it is envy that has worked to undo the laudable efforts of the �Governator.� Arnold has been hugely successful in life. He started with nothing, and amassed fame, fortune, and a beautiful wife from American political royalty. His political adversaries indeed �behold one greater than themselves� and so the blood sport of politics demands the destruction of he who is greater.
Meanwhile California still suffers monumental problems:
- Illegal immigration
- Open borders
- Fiscal irresponsibility
- Entrenched special
interests
- Big unions
- Gerrymandered Democrat controls
Schwarzenegger didn�t create the problems�his critics did. He �said� he was going to fix the problems�but has taken a peashooter to a gunfight and squandering a unique opportunity.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions and Arnold is helping construct an eight-lane autobahn for California.
California, although a �Blue� state, is not (as a whole) the overwhelmingly liberal cesspool of the San Francisco Bay area or Los Angles. Few Californians embrace the gospel according to the Left OR the Right.
Arnold recognizes that �diversity� and has willingly expanded his inner circle and state organizational management charts with L.A. liberal Democrats. Well, no good deed shall go unpunished, and the recent election has manifested that.
Instead of consorting with our future enemies in China, California�s governor needs to get back to Sacramento and engage his contemporary enemies in the bill mill.
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He said he would �Lead��now he seems inclined to �Follow��but unless or until he returns to his original stated purpose and objectives, perhaps he should just �Get out of the way� and allow the state to regress to it�s inevitable complete and total demise.
� 2005 Geoff Metcalf - All Rights Reserved
"Geoff Metcalf is a nationally syndicated radio talk show host for TALK AMERICA and a veteran media performer. He has had an eclectic professional background covering a wide spectrum of radio, television, magazine, and newspapers. A former Green Beret and retired Army officer he is in great demand as a speaker. Visit Geoff's
Web Site: www.geoffmetcalf.com. While you're at it - pick up a copy of Geoff's latest book!
E-mail: geoff@geoffmetcalf.com
The
democrat political machine in California is the best in the nation. Despite
what is right, or good, or even needed, liberal democrats in California
will do what they want because�they can.
