Arnold Schwarzenegger is (Still) My Hero

This TIME article by David Von Drehle is from late 2007, when Governor Schwarzenegger was praised for his handling of the fires that ravaged California from San Diego to Los Angeles. Drehle describes Schwarzenegger's response to the crisis as "competent" and "swift", in stark contrast to the failure of leadership during the Hurricane Katrina disaster in New Orleans. This article illustrates how fleeting praise can be in the world of politics. Now Schwarzenegger is facing a budget crisis larger than the one he inherited in 2003, after voters in California ousted Governor Gray Davis. Already Schwarzenegger is being portrayed as "without allies" and practically powerless to effect a break in the deadlock between Democrats and Republicans over spending cuts, tax increases, and more borrowing. The problem with this analysis is that as Governor, Schwarzenegger has complete executive authority to use the California National Guard and draw up emergency plans in the event a natural disaster threatens our state. In the case of a budget crisis, Schwarzenegger's gubernatorial leadership goes out the window; the Governor's office is hampered by the lack of executive authority over the state Controller's office, which is an independent statewide elected office, and hamstrung by a Legislature that requires two-thirds of all members to agree on a budget and tax increases.

In 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger backed Proposition 11, a measure that takes the power of drawing Assembly, Senate, and Board of Equalization districts out of the hands of the Legislature and into the hands of an independent panel of California citizens; this will hopefully end the gerrymandering of districts that ensure safe Democratic or Republican seats, creating a situation where the most zealous on either side get more power than moderates. The effects of this measure won't be seen until after Governor Schwarzenegger leaves office, much like his groundbreaking initiatives in environmental protection and rebuilding California's infrastructure. The budget crisis happened on his watch, to be sure - but I doubt any other Governor could have dug California out of its spending binge and reformed the way the Legislature passes budgets while also reforming the initiative process to control unfunded mandates. Perhaps that could be the agenda for the next Governor of California, but let's not forget that Arnold still has almost two years left in his term. He's come back from worse before, and I hope over that period of time the governor will be able to pull off one more Hollywood comeback.