Official Arnold Schwarzenegger for CA Gov. Thread!

[Guest Vyce]

It's official.

 

Schwarzenegger announces bid for governor

Springer nixes U.S. Senate race in Ohio

By Sean Loughlin

CNN Washington Bureau

 

 

WASHINGTON (CNN) --After dropping hints about his political ambitions, movie action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Wednesday that he will run for California governor in an October recall election.

 

The surprise announcement came during a Wednesday afternoon taping of NBC's "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno which is scheduled to air Wednesday night. Prior to the taping, it had been widely speculated that Schwarzenegger, 56, would announce he would not run.

 

The Austrian-born movie star and moderate Republican helped fuel speculation about his political ambitions this summer, just as his movie "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" was being released.

 

California voters will decide October 7 whether to recall Gov. Gray Davis, a Democrat, and who should replace him.

 

Although Schwarzenegger has never before sought political office, his fame and fortune are expected to make him a formidable candidate against a crowded field of lesser-knowns in an abbreviated two-month campaign.

 

At openings for his movie, Schwarzenegger quipped about his "terminator" role and Davis' future, and he has been very critical of the Democratic incumbent.

 

The actor is married to a member of America's most prominent Democratic political family -- Maria Shriver, a niece of President John F. Kennedy.

 

The announcement came amid a flurry of such news.

 

Socialite-turned-columnist Arianna Huffington threw her hat into the California gubernatorial recall race earlier Wednesday while talk show host Jerry Springer announced he would not run for the U.S. Senate in Ohio.

 

"I can't do it at this time," Springer said, stressing the challenge of overcoming his controversial show, where guests often brawl.

 

Huffington, an author and a political independent, announced her decision before supporters gathered in Los Angeles, California.

 

"I'm not, to say the least, a conventional candidate," Huffington said, taking note of her Greek accent. But, she said, "If we keep electing the same kind of politicians who got us into the same kind of mess, funded by the same kind of special interests, we'll never get out of this mess."

 

Also, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, released a written statement Wednesday, saying she would not be a candidate in the governor's race.(Full story)

 

Other major Republican names expected in the race include Rep. Darrell Issa of San Diego County, who helped finance the petition effort that triggered the recall; state Sen. Tom McClintock of Ventura County; and businessman Bill Simon, who lost to Davis in the general election nine months ago.

 

Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, who was considering a bid for governor, has said he would not run if Schwarzenegger did.

 

A representative of Gary Coleman, who played Arnold Drummond in the 1980s sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes," filed the necessary petition signatures and paid the required fee to place the actor's name on the California ballot for governor.

 

Coleman, 35, who lives in Los Angeles County, could not be reached for comment. But his campaign treasurer, Steve Buel, who filed the paperwork in Oakland, told CNN that the actor's name "resonates with the voters."

 

Huffington, 53, had said she would not be a candidate if Feinstein, one of California's most popular politicians, entered the race.

 

Huffington, who has written several books on politics and culture, was once married to Michael Huffington, a former U.S. Senate candidate and onetime GOP member of the U.S. House. The couple divorced in 1997 and he later revealed that he is gay.

 

Politically, Huffington has moved from being a Republican to a populist-styled independent. She has never held public office, but is well known through her commentaries on radio and television.

 

The California race has already drawn dozens of contenders, including Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt.

 

Dick Rosengarten, editor and publisher of California Political Week, told CNN Wednesday that the California race was drawing so many candidates it was in danger of becoming a farce.

 

"You know what they say about politics," Rosengarten said. "It's show business for ugly people."

 

In Ohio, Springer, host of the controversial self-titled talk show, told supporters gathered in a hotel in Columbus that he would not run for the U.S. Senate against GOP incumbent George Voinovich.

 

Springer, 59 and a Democrat, said he couldn't get his message through the "clutter of the show."

 

In interviews this year, Springer had strongly suggested he would run and he filed candidacy papers last month. 

 

From CNN.com, so I don't have to put up with the "LOL FAUX NEWS! huddala huddala" jokes.

 

I find this wonderful news. I am one THOUSAND percent behind Arnold, and I can't wait until his campaign website opens so that I can inundate everyone on this board with annoying "Arnold for California" propaganda.

 

God, I hope he wins. We should just have celebrities running for public office from now on.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

I was going to vote no and keep Davis when it was announced he wouldn't run, but now I'm not so sure. If I do vote a Reupblican, it'll be this guy. =-/

 

Still, he's not going to wave a magic wand and make $38 billion disappear.

[Guest JMA]

God, I hope he wins. We should just have celebrities running for public office from now on.

I thought people didn't like celebrities getting involved in politics.

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

They can rename his position "The Governator".

 

Anyone else hoping to see Ahnuld, Larry Flint, AND Rob Black all in this election?

[Guest Shaved Bear]

but crime problems...all he needs is a rocket launcher, an automatic weapon, and a catch phrase and hell be the new LAPD

 

all joking aside, I think Arnold can be good for the job

[Guest evenflowDDT]

Still, he's not going to wave a magic wand and make $38 billion disappear.

This is my main problem with Arnold running...he's gotten in some clever jabs at Davis, but so far I haven't heard one word of what he's actually going to do about it.

[Guest Choken One]

Isn't Arnold like an Multi-Billionaire anyways?

 

He could just pay the debt...

[Guest Retro Rob]

His press conference a couple of hours ago seemed very sincere. Obviously that doesn't make him perfect for the job, but it already gives him good publicity and puts him ahead of just about everyone else running.

 

If CA goes through with getting rid of Davis, I would be shocked if Arnold doesn't win.

[Guest Retro Rob]

Isn't Arnold like an Multi-Billionaire anyways?

 

He could just pay the debt...

Well he made $25 mill from T3. Thats more than 2/3 the deficit right there.

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

Isn't Arnold like an Multi-Billionaire anyways?

 

He could just pay the debt...

Well he made $25 mill from T3. Thats more than 2/3 the deficit right there.

The deficit is 38 BILLION dollars. So that salary is about 2/3000s of it.

[Guest Retro Rob]

WOW... I was having one of those retarded moments.

[Guest MrRant]

Go Arnold.

[Guest Choken One]

isnt he on Leno tonight?

 

I thought so...

 

 

The second I heard he was on...i KNEW he was running because he has no other reason to be on leno...

[Guest NoCalMike]

Ya know, I must say, the Republicans that are running are awfully lucky Davis has sucked so much because Simon & Issa are so horrible on their own part, that I don't think they would ever even be close to getting into the governor's seat had it not been for this recall election.

[The Robfather 0]

Actor Gary Coleman, star of TV's Diff'rent Strokes, is also a gubernatorial candidate.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

NoCalMike:

 

Admit it, you're voting for Gallagher or Gary Coleman.

 

When will MC Hammer file for this race?

[Guest Choken One]

Kobe oughta throw his name in the hat...

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

What's stopping Shaq from running?

[Guest Choken One]

Well...Arnold got a HUGE reaction on the show...

[Guest Choken One]

Well he gave a good sound speech...

 

I wouldn't mind him being my Gov...even though I don't live there

[bobobrazil1984 0]

Go ARnold!

 

I think Arnold is a lot smarter than people think. He's positioned himself PERFECTLY as the "liberal conservative" in the race. He's the Democrat Republican!

 

Plus, when his opponents start trying to play dirty, Arnold is going to get the SYMPATHY, because he's the nice star getting shit on by politicians. This will be different than POLITICIAN A playing dirty against POLITICIAN B.

[Guest Choken One]

He pretty much said

 

"Fuck Davis...VOTE ANYONE! but I'd like it if you vote for me"

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Plus, when his opponents start trying to play dirty, Arnold is going to get the SYMPATHY, because he's the nice star getting shit on by politicians. This will be different than POLITICIAN A playing dirty against POLITICIAN B.

What if Flynt gets dirty on Arnold?

 

will Arnold get the SYMPATHY from getting shit on by a pornographer?

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

Woldn't mind seeing Arnold throw Flynt out of his wheelchair.

 

I'd put Arnold in the same category as Rudy Giulani and Bloomberg regarding "conservative" credentials, although I'd take Arnold over Mikey anyday.

 

I am so not looking forward to the "Total Recall" headlines that are going to be even MORE frequent in the months ahead.

 

Oh, and Vyce:

 

LOL CLINTON NEWS NETWORK...

[Guest evenflowDDT]

Plus, when his opponents start trying to play dirty, Arnold is going to get the SYMPATHY, because he's the nice star getting shit on by politicians.

This is actually true. When Reagan was elected governor, that was one of the prime reasons why: because the Democratic candidate running against him refused to take him seriously and basically ran ads saying "Are you a gonna vote for a MOVIE STAR?" Guess what? People did. And they probably will this time...

[Guest Plushy Al Logan]

My grandmother has finally registered to vote, so she can vote for Arnold. In a related note, she believes that the word "Republican" should be taken out of the Pledge.

[Firestarter 0]

I love Arnold Schwarzenegger. He's a beautiful man, and this news absolutely delighted me. I hope he wins.

Just think of his re-election campaign: "I'll be back."

 

Pure gold.

[bob_barron 0]

Hasta la vista...deficit!

 

Come on- How can you NOT vote for Arnold?

[Styles 0]

I live on the other side of the country in Maryland but watching him on the tonight show got me real pumped up! I would totally vote for him.

[A Happy Medium 0]

And Arnold could fire state employees by merely launching them on a missle from a jet fighter. Also, I believe Californian voters may go for him because then they can then talk to someone from Ohio and be all "my Governor can kick you Governor's ass!"