Whether or not you like his politics, it sounds like you’re confusing his roles with reality. The goofy, larger-then-life persona is something he’s put together over years as trademark for his acting, not the man himself. He’s been quoted in inteviews over the years admitting that he know’s that he’s not a great actor - his marketability is all in those cartoonish, over-the-top, roles. So that’s the face he shows the public.
Long before he ever got into politics, he had a reputation as a shrewd businessman. From what I’ve read of the man, most the money he’s earned with acting over the years has gone into his businesses. Unlike most other well-known Hollywood names, he makes about as much money from his outside interests as acting. He’s been in business a long time, too - close to 20 years, I think. And met payroll, worried about cashflow, and, apparently, turned a decent profit.
Much rather have someone like that running my state than the third-rate, weigh-everything-in-an-opinion poll, never-offend-the-unions political hack who he replaced. When Gray Davis became Governor of California, the state had a budget surplus. And if the state had increased it’s spending enough to match population growth and inflation (this was already one of the higher-tax-rate, higher-government-expenditure states), California would STILL have a budget surplus.
Much as it pained the political powers-that-be, the majority of the voters - in a very “blue”, left-wing state - felt more secure with an untried moderate Republican running the state then the anointed standard bearer of the Democratic party. And, in about the same numbers, they still feel that way. Arnold’s done a decent job - not a great job, but a decent job - so far.
If you don’t live in California, and aren’t familiar with what’s been going on in the state, it’s easy to limn what’s going on here in sound bites and “Governator” images. But in 6 years our legislature and former Governor managed to dig us a hole we’ll be lucky climb out in another 6 years. We’ve a ways to go, but Arnie’s making what I think are the right moves, and he doesn’t pretend that there’s a single magic solution to our problems. I respect that.
Didn’t mean to run off at the mouth like this, but I’m a lot more optimistic about California’s medium-term prospects than I was a couple of years back. And I’m pretty happy that he’s our governor, considering the alternative.
