Thread: Schwarzenegger
View Single Post
Old 08-11-2003, 09:57 AM   #14
warch
lurkin old school
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 2,796
Quote:
They say Ventura didn't know who to pick fights with so he picked fights with everybody -- would you say that would be right about the Ventura years, warch?
Yep. Jesse is not an adult. Constantly "threatened", contantly puffing himself up for a fight. It was all about Jesse and not about the State of Minnesota. There was no faction in or out of government that didnt "attack" Jesse, in his view. The liberals, the religious right (and left for that matter), the press "media jackals", Greens, other independents, accountants, academics, hunters, little old ladies...all got in his kitchen, everyone was a threat that dared to challenge or debate. And his response was always to tantrum and "get even". The one thing he knows is wrestling.

So, Everything was personal. There was no negotiation. No diplomacy. No higher road. Past the photo op, he was in over his head and his tactic was to get his hackles up and remind everyone that he was a Navy Seal. His major contributions were a series of taxpayer funded book tours, TV spots, Football comentary gigs (the cost of his traveling security was unprecedented), needlessly grinding the state workers and departments into layoffs and strikes- (that got resolved quickly when the parks and forests of northern MN were shut down over the 4th of July- this pissed off the rural constitutants), and closing the Governor's Mansion- his teenage son had been living there alone and having notorious parties, footed by taxpayers, damaging historic art and furniture. the only things I can recall as positive, was his support for light rail transit and his prochoice stance.

In the end, he didnt bring the refreshing change some had hoped, and his entertainment value had dropped, along with the XFL. His rants grew tiresome.
warch is offline   Reply With Quote