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Arnold
Schwarzenegger: King of bodybuilding, movies,
politics and media,
(version #3) by Greg Tingle - 27th August 2003
THE
TERMINATOR online slot game
He's
big and so are his ambitions. He's out-flexed The
Hulk's Lou Ferrigno, married into America's favourite
family (no, not the Brady's or the Osborne's) and
Uzi 9mmetred his way to Hollywood victory. Now, he's
ready to replace the dumb-bell grunts and cyborg delivery
with eloquent speech. Yes, Arnold Schwarzenegger is
flexing his policy muscle and going into battle with
the ultimate predator: the political animal.
America's
most populous state is gunning for a new leader and
the man once possessing bodybuilding's most famous
guns is aiming to be Governor. Few would doubt his
credentials. He's dodged a thousand and one bullets
to avoid life threatening injury in Commando, returned
from the dead to defeat Thulsa Doom, fooled Jamie
Lee Curtis into thinking he was a salesman, overcome
the adversity of a class of six year olds and twice
saved the world from the technological clutches of
an evil future. Impressive stuff.
Hell,
if good old Ronnie could go from B grade six-shooter
to White House head honcho then surely the man with
biceps like watermelons can conquer California.
The
West Coast state, after all, gave us Congressman Sonny
"I Got You, babe" Bono and mayor Clint Eastwood.
Go ahead California, make my day one more time!
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.
Two
applicants include Gary Coleman, the pint-sized star
from the eighties, and a porn actress. These highly
credible and qualified candidates appear eminently
suitable for such a privileged position. Whatcha talkin'
about? Where's the forgotten Webster and acting maestro,
Pamela Anderson?
But
I digress. Detractors of the human bulldozer say he
is machine-like and one-dimensional (paralleling his
on screen performances?). Supporters say he is living
the American dream - no, not a life supply of cheeseburgers
- going from a skinny unknown, to world class bodybuilder,
iconic 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's done the talk show circuit without
raising a sweat, announcing his decision on NBC's
"The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."
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 devote 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?
What
motivates Ah-nold? In his campaign appearances so
far, he insists he cannot be bought and will not be
beholden to special interest groups. True lies?
Will
he do what he does best - terminate the opposition
with winning one liners? Or will the flick's most
famous set of pecs sag and become another in the line
of lost and flabby action heroes?
Version
#1 of the same article
Version
#2 of the same article
Jesse
Ventura: Wrestling with politics, by Greg Tingle
The
new breed of politicians, by Greg Tingle - 21st August
2003
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