January 06, 2006 - 'Kinder, gentler Arnold' to speak

'Kinder, gentler Arnold' to speak

January 06, 2006

By MICHELLE DeARMOND / The Press-Enterprise

A year after Gov. Schwarzenegger challenged legislators to a ballot-box duel if they didn't pass his agenda, he's expected to deliver a State of the State speech today with an eye on re-election and reconciliation.

Gone is the movie star-turned-politician with high approval ratings, tough talk and threats of ballot initiatives. In his place stands an unpopular governor bruised by his talk last year of "kicking (nurses') butts" and by voters' rejection of his reform agenda in a special election.

Schwarzenegger, a Republican, faces a new round of campaigning that political analysts say requires a more cooperative tone if he wants to win back the hearts of independents and Democrats to get re-elected in November.

Already, he's shown his new approach with the appointment of a prominent Democrat as his chief of staff and proposals to raise the minimum wage and restore funding borrowed from schools. Today's address is seen as a key continuation of that effort to rebuild and rebound.

"If 2005 was to his political career what the 'Last Action Hero' was to his movie career, he's hoping 2006 will be the equivalent to one of his 'Terminator' movies," said Claremont McKenna government professor Jack Pitney, comparing Schwarzenegger's poorly received 1993 film to his blockbuster trademark films.

"I think we'll see a kinder, gentler, humbler Arnold, and I wouldn't be too surprised if he had some self-deprecating humor, which he's good at," Pitney said of the annual speech.

New Proposals Expected

Former Senate Republican Leader Jim Brulte says Schwarzenegger's third address is significant because it lays out his agenda in the year of his re-election campaign.

The address comes just two months after Schwarzenegger failed to get voter approval of his reform agenda, a package of ballot measures that ranged from reforming the budget process to overhauling the way legislative districts are drawn.

Today's speech, scheduled at 5:05 p.m., is expected to include a number of new proposals, such as providing health coverage for uninsured children and issuing bonds to pay for massive investments in new schools, roads and bridges.

Schwarzenegger's poll numbers plummeted before and during the campaign last year, with a November poll showing voters were disinclined to re-elect him by a margin of 55 percent to 36 percent. His approval ratings were equally poor that month, with 54 percent saying they had an unfavorable view of him, compared to 38 percent with a positive view, according to The Field Poll, prepared for The Press-Enterprise and other California media subscribers.

Appealing to Democrats

In a Democrat-dominated state, Schwarzenegger is going to need to appeal to the independents and Democrats who helped bring him victory in 2003 if he wants to turn those numbers around.

Allan Hoffenblum, a longtime GOP consultant, hopes Schwarzenegger can reconnect with those people, re-energize his base of GOP supporters and do a better job of defining himself instead of letting his opponents define him.

"There's a lot of people who like Arnold and want to rally around the flag, but can't find the flag. He has to show some leadership and a sense of an idea of where he really wants to go," Hoffenblum said.

A key part of Schwarzenegger's success with his agenda depends on legislators, Hoffenblum said. Democrats control both houses in the Legislature.

"Either some real things are going to get done, and I think the governor is going to attempt to do that, or it will be strident partisanship," he said.

State Sen. Nell Soto, D-Pomona, said she thinks lawmakers will work with Schwarzenegger if he's willing to look at issues that concern them. She thinks the special-election failure was a wake-up call for him.

"I believe that he thought he was more popular than he was," she said. "He has to be conciliatory with the Democrats and try to meet us halfway on the things that we know the state needs."

'Action, Less Talk'

One San Bernardino voter said Wednesday she'll be listening for that conciliatory tone today and watching how much the governor accomplishes in the coming months. Natasha Rodriguez, a 26-year-old Republican, said she voted for Schwarzenegger in 2003 but opposed his reform measures in 2005.

"If he wants me to vote for him, I want to see action, less talk," she said.

Staff writer Jim Miller contributed to this report.

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'Kinder, gentler Arnold' to speak


January 06, 2006 By MICHELLE DeARMOND / The Press-Enterprise A year after Gov. Schwarzenegger challenged legislators to a ballot-box duel if they didn't pass his agenda, he's expected to deliver a State of the State speech today with an eye on re-election and reconciliation. Gone is the movie star-turned-politician with high approval ratings, tough talk and threats of ballot initiatives. In his place stands an unpopular governor bruised by his talk last year of "kicking (nurses') butts" and by voters' rejection of his reform agenda in a special election. Schwarzenegger, a Republican, faces a new round of campaigning that political analysts say requires a more cooperative tone if he wants to win back the hearts of independents and Democrats to get re-elected in November. Already, he's shown his new approach with the appointment of a prominent Democrat as his chief of staff and proposals to raise the minimum wage and restore funding borrowed from schools. Today's address is seen as a key continuation of that effort to rebuild and rebound. "If 2005 was to his political career what the 'Last Action Hero' was to his movie career, he's hoping 2006 will be the equivalent to one of his 'Terminator' movies," said Claremont McKenna government professor Jack Pitney, comparing Schwarzenegger's poorly received 1993 film to his blockbuster trademark films. "I think we'll see a kinder, gentler, humbler Arnold, and I wouldn't be too surprised if he had some self-deprecating humor, which he's good at," Pitney said of the annual speech. New Proposals Expected Former Senate Republican Leader Jim Brulte says Schwarzenegger's third address is significant because it lays out his agenda in the year of his re-election campaign. The address comes just two months after Schwarzenegger failed to get voter approval of his reform agenda, a package of ballot measures that ranged from reforming the budget process to overhauling the way legislative districts are drawn. Today's speech, scheduled at 5:05 p.m., is expected to include a number of new proposals, such as providing health coverage for uninsured children and issuing bonds to pay for massive investments in new schools, roads and bridges. Schwarzenegger's poll numbers plummeted before and during the campaign last year, with a November poll showing voters were disinclined to re-elect him by a margin of 55 percent to 36 percent. His approval ratings were equally poor that month, with 54 percent saying they had an unfavorable view of him, compared to 38 percent with a positive view, according to The Field Poll, prepared for The Press-Enterprise and other California media subscribers. Appealing to Democrats In a Democrat-dominated state, Schwarzenegger is going to need to appeal to the independents and Democrats who helped bring him victory in 2003 if he wants to turn those numbers around. Allan Hoffenblum, a longtime GOP consultant, hopes Schwarzenegger can reconnect with those people, re-energize his base of GOP supporters and do a better job of defining himself instead of letting his opponents define him. "There's a lot of people who like Arnold and want to rally around the flag, but can't find the flag. He has to show some leadership and a sense of an idea of where he really wants to go," Hoffenblum said. A key part of Schwarzenegger's success with his agenda depends on legislators, Hoffenblum said. Democrats control both houses in the Legislature. "Either some real things are going to get done, and I think the governor is going to attempt to do that, or it will be strident partisanship," he said. State Sen. Nell Soto, D-Pomona, said she thinks lawmakers will work with Schwarzenegger if he's willing to look at issues that concern them. She thinks the special-election failure was a wake-up call for him. "I believe that he thought he was more popular than he was," she said. "He has to be conciliatory with the Democrats and try to meet us halfway on the things that we know the state needs." 'Action, Less Talk' One San Bernardino voter said Wednesday she'll be listening for that conciliatory tone today and watching how much the governor accomplishes in the coming months. Natasha Rodriguez, a 26-year-old Republican, said she voted for Schwarzenegger in 2003 but opposed his reform measures in 2005. "If he wants me to vote for him, I want to see action, less talk," she said. Staff writer Jim Miller contributed to this report.
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