Californians terminate the Terminator, belatedly

The LA Times reported that amid scandal, Arnold Schwarzenegger's popularity has hit an all-time low, according to the latest polls. "A new Field Poll released Friday found three of four California voters surveyed have a negative image of Schwarzenegger in the wake of revelations he fathered a boy 14 years ago with a former household staff member." Field Poll director Mark DiCamillo is stunned: "The distance of his fall from grace is shocking." No, it's not, actually. Ah-nold has always been a self-entitled, serial womanizer. The only real surprise is the depth of his cynicism toward his ex-wife and the public. That, and the fact that he got away with it for so long. Schwarzenegger hails from a long line of modern actors who became self-inflated "conservatives" after conflating Hollywood he-manliness with reality (see Bruce Willis, Gary Sinese, Mel Gibson, etc). Most of these movie tough guys tend to be RINOs (Republican In Name Only) like Schwarzenegger. The subject is a Freudian delight. To the Terminator, life is one long action flick in which he is the star and superhero. As such, he can bed whom he likes when he likes. Only "girlie men" get stuck with following the rules. Schwarzenegger has many talents. A first-rate mind and judgment have never been among them. During his bid for office, Schwarzenegger was always quick to note that "[Gov.] Gray Davis can run a dirty campaign better than anyone, but he can't run a state." Neither, it turned out, could Arnie. The really scary part is that my fellow Californians couldn't figure that out before Election Day 2003. This movie was always going to have a tragic ending. But the credits have rolled and it's a bit late to trash its star now.