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Arnold
Schwarzenegger: King of bodybuilding, movies,
politics and media,
(version #2) by Greg Tingle - 26th August 2003
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Following in the dubious footsteps
of Ronald Reagan, Jesse "The Body" Ventura
and a cast of other charismatic , Hollywooders,
Arnold Schwarzenegger is flexing his political
muscles and taking on the ultimate predator: the
political animal.
Schwarzenegger
has been carefully cast by the powers that be.
Endorsed by the man himself, President George
W. Bush, to conquer the American political arena
, in the meaty role of Californian Governor.
California
has created a political circus that will make
Florida's 2000 presidential vote look tame. The
west coast state, after all, gave us presidents
Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon, congressman Sonny
"I Got You, babe" Bono and mayor Clint
Eastwood. Go ahead California, make my day one
more time!
Television
stations are broadcasting their campaign images
with slogans such as "California's Crazy
Recall" or "Craziness in California."
How
much of politics is an tawdry act?
Schwarzenegger's announcement has caused tremendous
debate, and excitement in all kinds of circles
- politics, Hollywood, fandom and every other
demographic conceivable. Even Oprah!
The
vote for governor is in two stages. Californians
must first decide whether Gray Davis should be
recalled. If not, they must choose the governor-to-be
from potentially, a huge list of candidates. At
present count there have been over 500 applications.
Any Californian can stand provided he/she can
collect 65 signatures, pay a fee of $5000, complete
pages of paperwork and want the attention.
Detractors
of the human bicep say he is under developed and
one-dimensional (paralleling his on screen performances?),
Supporters say he is living the American dream.
Going from a skinny unknown, to world class bodybuilder,
iconic-like movie star, role model, and now, climbing
the political staircase to the definitive role.
Schwarzenegger
knows how to pump the media and work the political
bench press. He does the talk show circuit without
raising a sweat viz. Jan Leno and David Letterman.
On the 7th August, The Late Show with David Letterman
went with a Top 10 Arnold Schwarzenegger Campaign
Promises. And he's married to "the mob".
His wife, Marie Shriver, is a household name and
face of American television. How much time will
NBC devotes to promoting Arnie? Shriver, a member
of the Kennedy political dynasty, is set to take
a leave of absence from her NBC role. On NBC's
Today show, Arnie said, "Leadership means
that you set goals for yourself, as I have always
done in my life".
The big guy is of course, still fresh off the
set of the highly grossing Terminator 3. Was the
moovee perfect publicity for his political launch
or vice versa? The perfect compliment?
What motivates Schwarzenegger? In his campaign
appearances so far, he insists he cannot be bought
and will not be beholden to special interest groups.
True lies?
Scores
of voters feel that even with fame and money,
Arnie is the man for the White House.
Political
supremeo or not, the world's press, are giving
him exactly what he wants: a ton of free publicity.
Like
him or not, and many don't, Americans can relate
(and now vote), for this likable guy.
Will
Arnie do what he does best - terminate the opposition
with winning one liners or will he simply be another
in the line of lost action heroes?
Version
#1 of the same article
Version
#3 of the same article
Links:
Arnold
Schwarzenegger: King of bodybuilding, movies,
politics and media, by Greg Tingle
The
new breed of politicians, by Greg Tingle - 21st
August 2003
Jesse
Ventura: Wrestling with politics, by Greg Tingle
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