There isn’t exactly what I’d call a lack of evidence out there to support the theory that Arnold “The Terminator” Schwarzenegger is an absolutely ridiculous state Governor. But as he’s campaigning on behalf of the Evil One (that’s Bushie Junior, if you need a reminder)this week, in the dying days of the Presidential campaign, it’s a good idea to examine Arnold’s latest foray into intelligent policy criticism and debate.
Cry uncle - California governor makes fun of Kennedy’s weight 06:58 AM EDT Oct 26 MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) - Uncle by marriage isn’t stopping California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger from poking fun at Senator Ted Kennedy’s weight.
And the movie star-turned-politician has decided that Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, Kennedy’s Massachusetts colleague in the Senate, is fair game too.
At a campaign appearance for a Republican candidate to the California Assembly, Schwarzenegger apologized for being a few minutes late, explaining that he had been pumpkin hunting with his children. Schwarzenegger is married to Maria Shriver, who is Kennedy’s niece.
“My kids just brought home a beautiful pumpkin, but you know what? I’m going to return it because it’s a Democratic pumpkin. It has the orange colour of John Kerry’s tan, and the roundness of Teddy Kennedy,” said the Republican governor.
While Schwarzenegger is supporting President George W. Bush and will campaign with him later this week in Ohio, he and Kerry’s wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, both own vacation homes in Idaho, and Schwarzenegger has said they are friends. Later, Schwarzenegger made a few more jokes about Kennedy’s weight when discussing California’s $103 billion US budget.
“That’s a lot of money,” he said. “Another way to think about it is if you take $100 bills and put them next to each other, they will go half way, truly half way around Teddy Kennedy’s stomach.”
As the audience guffawed, Schwarzenegger said, “I always like to make jokes about Teddy Kennedy. I think it’s always fun to do that. He’s one of my favourite relatives. He comes to my house and he eats away all the cake and all the desserts that we have.”
Political discourse at its finest? Don’t vote Democrat because its leadership is fat? Vote for President Bush because he’s not tubby like Senator Edward Kennedy? Listen to me because I’m a muscle-machine of a Governor?
What bothers me is that people WILL listen to Schwarzenegger, and WILL heed his fatty sniping, simply because he’s Arnold, and they have fond memories of his movies and the riffs of his personality from Saturday Night Live. But is this all he can come up with during the most intense, polarizing Presidential election campaign in decades?
As for Ted Kennedy, I’m not sure he’s beating down the door of the Governor’s mansion these days. Can you imagine a family get together with his nephew-by-marriage?
This is what Californians wanted out of their recall vote? This is the level of sophistication people demand from their government? This is jackass politics at its most base level, but I’m sure there are those who will simply dismiss it as amusing colour on the election campaign trail.
I wonder if people in Deleware and Maine would be this crazy…?
