Arnold- Been around the Kennedys TOO long?
Reading through the Yahoo! News a couple of days ago, I saw an article about Arnold Schwarzenegger giving authorization for a $150M stem cell loan. In case you have been completely sheltered from the news lately, let me refresh your memory...
On Wednesday, President Bush vetoed expanded federal funding of embryonic stem cell research and the next day, California Governor Schwarzenegger authorized the $150M loan.
With this action, he is really going against Bush's veto, but what it shows me is that Politics becomes about gaining popularity especially with an election coming up. Think I'm crazy? Bush's ratings are down, Schwarzenegger is coming up for re-election and Stem Cell Research is huge in California. Arnold wants to separate himself as much as possible from Bush. Thus, Bush loses more approval in California, while Schwarzenegger gains more. He truly has been around the Kennedy's way too long. To me, this is obviously more of a political (What will get me more votes) move, than "Let's jump start the Stem Cell Research."
In the beginning, I greatly liked Schwarzenegger as a Governor but his actions (Distancing away from Bush) sways my opinion greatly. Unfortunately this is an example of what politics is about, be in favor or against whatever topic the popular vote will lean towards. Doing this, the chances are better for re-election.
People have talked about making it possible for Schwarzenegger to eventually be able to run for President of the United States, personally I do not think this will ever happen because he is not a U.S. Born citizen.
There was a time I would have guaranteed you my vote for him if he was to run for President, but now...I'd definitely need to re-evaluate my choices.
Anyway, I want to know what you think about the move, what your opinions on stem cell research are, and how you think this could influence the image of Schwarzenegger not only with the Republican's, but also with the U.S.?
posted by Diego @ 5:21 PM
22 comments
22 Comments:
If you are a Liberal, you will be humiliated? I beg to differ, actually reading your blog makes it all seem the other way around.
Wow, that was great. Though I must say, I wish I could have the last 5 Seconds back that it took to read your bile.
If you make a statement like that, make another statement to back up what you say.
Of course though I already know how you'll attack me...with how you "think" and how you "feel".
I look forward to your Liberalistic response.
Arnold has always been socially liberal and fiscally conservative. I am not really that surprised at this move. He and Rudy Guilliani are the only 2 well known Republicans that I can think of who are proabortion. The proabortion crowd are almost automaticallly pro-embryonic stem cell research.
Angel
Arnold is within his rights, but I don't believe he did this for the State of California but for the State of Arnold's re-election. Definitely a political move to distance himself from Bush. Maybe I'm reading between the lines too much, but I think there is more to it beyond the Stem Cell Research, it's about gaining votes that might not normally be there.
'OK First I’m against embryonic stem cell research. There is no science to prove it works while there is a ton to prove that Adult stem cell research works.'
Twaddle. how can you get evidence as to whether research works without doing the research?!
diego, do you not think that it would be a good idea to try to re-link the right with science? in the eyes of the centre-grounder, they have become too associated with religion, and also quite dependant. if religiosity declines, unless the right builds a broader base, it will be screwed.
The best way to keep power is to go for moderate policy, I mean, look at the dems compared to 20 years ago. you guys should do that too. go for the middle voter.
also, this american conception of liberal is really annoying, cos over there it means the same as left... i wouldn't call communism liberal.
Who the hell has come "quite dependant"? The Conservatives? This coming from a Liberal whose party's platform is truly about making people MORE DEPENDENT upon the Government?
You are mistaken, it is Conservatives who want individualism and the LIBERALS who are against individualism. Liberals place individuals into members of groups, not Conservatives.
The Democrats compared to 20 years ago, is not comparable. The party has changed...Cranky Right and I were talking about this, there should be Republicans, Democrats and Liberals. There was a time that Democrat supporters were of the hardworking laborers, the "Good Ole folks", and now Liberals are just a bunch of cooks.
You my U.K. friend...are one of the cooks I mentioned above.
I must admit the rants between you and Tom made me smile with such delight. hahaha, I think the whole context was humourously intelligent with a splash of proudness. However, I still disagree with you because it is sooo obvious that liberals are good and the conservatives are baaaad like bad to the bones. Should I enlighten you my friend?Like for more than a generation, the American left is seeing signs of political revival. Recent polls show more Americans are calling themselves "liberal" yeah, I said it and it's true. A term that had been considered something of an epithet and fewer are identifying themselves as conservative. Liberal groups are increasing weather you like it or not and like they say if you can't beat them join them. I retire now Mr. Conservative.
Kronleo,
You gave no facts, just what you think is true...what's up with that?
You've got to use some common sense here and reading your's and Tom's comments...well...common sense isn't so common.
Whoever gave you your information about Liberals, be aware...because if they lie to you about this, they will lie to you about other things.
Schwarzenegger as a governor is a joke, damn it!! If I were an American (thank God I'm not) I would have signed a petition to recall Mr. Governor. Although I must admit the guy is pretty impressive in terms of going so far in the political world for a man that just learned how to read/write and speak English. Also, how he abandoned making movies for politics some thought that was a head strong move, well that is either a man who is dedicated in said work, or incredibly stupid. "Later kiddo and I'll be back" (*with my fake austrian accent*)
I found this off the Washington Post, kind of WEAKENS your argument and it's about POLLS...
"A survey by the Pew Research Center shows that conservatives are happier than liberals -- in all income groups. While 34 percent of all Americans call themselves "very happy," only 28 percent of liberal Democrats (and 31 percent of moderate or conservative Democrats) do, compared with 47 percent of conservative Republicans. This finding is niftily self-reinforcing: It depresses liberals.
Election results do not explain this happiness gap. Republicans have been happier than Democrats every year since the survey began in 1972. Married people and religious people are especially disposed to happiness, and both cohorts vote more conservatively than does the nation as a whole.
People in the Sun Belt -- almost entirely red states -- have sunnier dispositions than Northerners, which could have as much to do with sunshine as with conservatism. Unless sunshine makes people happy, which makes them conservative."
You were saying?
Kronleo,
"If I were an American (thank God I'm not)" then just pack your bags and go back to where you came from. If you do not love this country and what it stands for then you do not deserve what she has to offer.
Schwarzenegger is no more of a joke than the Toronto Raptors.
Anonymous, who the fuck are you?
If you're going to have such strong opinions, be brave enough not to be anon
Like, I am not going to lie but this country I reside in confuses me to the extreme. Especially last year during the election. Corporate tax cuts and $12.8 billion on defence?! What the shit is wrong with this country?! I just love drowning in free-market capitalism. especially the terror-laden kind. Now I am wondering what Mr. Harper will do next and what the Canadians future will entail with our douchebag of a prime minister. tell me mr. Harper, what's our plan? oh wait, WE DON'T HAVE ONE! two thumbs up... right up your asses.
Fucking liberals. There I said it and yet I think we are waaaaaaay better than you Cons!!!!
(i know i'm talking about 'liberal' canadians, but come on, it's funny anyway.)
Before it's all said and done you'll be on the "Right" (pun intended) side.
I was wondering how long it would take for this to turn drunken.
"Before it's all said and done you'll be on the "Right" (pun intended) side."
I highly doubt that hahaha.
HAHAHAAHA a CANADIAN of all things telling us what's wrong with OUR country. AHAHAHAHA Hey Kronleo, shouldn't you start waiting in line at your hospital? You're 20 now, so by the time you're 60 and need that hip replacement -- maybe you'll be the first in line. AHAHAH go back to sucking on your pickles. Sheesh!
I wasn't being partisan (I blog to discusss, not to argue), I meant that it would be a good strategy for you guys to embrace science sometimes instead of always falling back on religion, because you can't always get through on your core vote (that's what I mean by 'dependant').
also, over time, the core vote of the american right may change as religiosity levels change, so why stick all your political eggs in one basket, by making science vs religion choices? It's good for you guys to get yourselves elected.
My definition of liberal is academic, as opposed to american. you are the only country in the world where liberal and left mean the same thing, so you define it differently to all the rest of us. that's not my fault.
I am left, but not liberal. I can actually be quite authoritarian. I am a socialist, which means first and foremost I believe in giving power to workers because I see them as the people that most deserve it.
I'm not very pro-state either, the state mostly means beaurocracy, dependancy and waste. I'm more of a market socialist.
I'm against dependancy. that means against dependancy by trailer trash, and against dependancy by lazy bosses and fatcats that steal from their hardest workers. in my society, you would have to put in before taking out. corporate bosses and beggars are, in my view, part of the same class. taker-outers.
oh yeah... and the leader of my party is your bumboy, Tony Blair. how extreme and radical etc...
and before you go off on a 'communism' thing, like most of the american right do, I'm a democratic socialist yeah, my party was the one that invented the universal franchise and the first to elect it's leader. tough nuts.
and how can that science quote not seem ridiculous to you? science is the process of asking a question then finding the answer from evidence... you need the evidence to find the answer, silly!
I replied to you at Kron's place too.
el tom,
There's trailer trash in the UK?!?! I assumed that was only in the USA.
yeah. it's just that ours wear addidas trousers and drink cider, as opposed to the original version that has a tick-ridden beard, drinks jack daniels and beats the wife.
and possibly violates the daughter.
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