When the news broke last week that California's royal couple, Arnold and Maria, broke up it sent shock waves through the state. They seemed inseparable, even though they were political opposites in many respects. Arnold liked to joke that he was the Republican Kennedy and Maria stood with him through thick and thin while at the same time supporting causes that her husband was against. They were living proof that differences could be set aside for great purpose.
Well we all know what the problem is now; Arnold fathered a child with another woman 10 years ago. He was a douchebag and hid it, but he came clean with it after the end of his time as the Governator and Maria did the logical thing and moved on. The California Republican party is going to need a new person to run for Senate next time.
But it's how Arnold is handling himself now that has caught my attention. He knows he screwed up. He knows this is his fault. And he's done something that almost no other politician caught in this position has done; he's manned up. Check out these words (emphasis added by me):
"After leaving the governor's office, I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade ago. I understand and deserve the feelings of anger and disappointment among my friends and family. There are no excuses and I take full responsibility for the hurt I have caused. I have apologized to Maria, my children and my family. I am truly sorry. I ask that the media respect my wife and children through this extremely difficult time. While I deserve your attention and criticism, my family does not."
Bravo you fucking idiot, bravo. When was the last time you heard a politician say something like that? Hell, Newt Gingrich actually has the audacity to blame his patriotism for having an affair with a staffer (um, yeah, let's run that one up the flagpole). But not the Governator. He flat out said I fucked up and I deserve what I'm getting, but stay the hell away from the people who have no blame to share. He's not asking anyone to help cover for him. He's accepted that he's going to have a target on his back for a while.
Sure, he hid it for a decade from everyone. That takes a real asshole. But when the moment came that he wasn't going to be able to hide it anymore he fessed up like the villain in the last act of an episode of The Closer. I'm not saying it's a good thing. I'm not saying that it is excusable. But it's a step better than just about everyone else in the public eye caught in the same pattern.
I'm not going to argue with you the whole point about whether or not this should have disqualified him as Governor. I think valid arguments can be made both ways. The real fact is that he did something sleazy and then hid it for 10 years - everything else is window dressing. I don't think many of us really considered Arnold a "Family Values" Republicant, despite the talk, simply because of his misogynistic and very public life on film and elsewhere. I think we all figured that since Maria stood by him, that was good enough for the rest of us.
Until now.
Maybe Arnold was trying to be more like a Kennedy than we thought. (okay, that was low.)
My whole point is that Arnold has effectively given up on national politics with this move. He has been a loyal Republicant for as long as I can remember, but the party has moved far to the right of some of his stands - which actually worked well for him in California. But he's not acting like this is at least partially someone else's fault - which no politician seems to do any more. I guess this really does mean that we're going to have another Terminator movie.
But I'll bet that animated "Governator" cartoon series is toast.
Cheap shots:
And why isn't this bigger news? They haven't come for you - yet.
This is a good ruling, but I'd like you to remember that it would be different if one person voted differently.
I've said it before and I'll say it again; Mike Huckabee is one of the most dangerous people in the United States.
Face it people, Walker is just a douchebag.
It looks like the Newt candidacy will do to the Republicant party the same thing he did to them in the 90s.
For once, I think John McCain has good reason to lose his temper at someone.
I am perfectly willing to believe that the porn wasn't Bin Laden's. None of the porn in my house is mine, after all.
The crew of the current Space Shuttle mission (the one with Congresswoman Gifford's husband on board) has their own Star Trek poster.
You know, maybe Ron Paul is actually an anarchist.
It appears that the end of the world is based upon a story problem.
By the way, time.
So America didn't follow him so he thinks that Israel will?
Only Jon Stewart can mock someone to their face and use the word "pettifog" in the same sentence.
Maybe they elected this moron so that they could laugh at him.
And to think, once upon a time I kinda liked this asshole.
And because I love you, electronic
And because I've been away for a bit I'll give you a second one, King Crimson
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