This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
The nation turns its lonely eyes to Sacramento politics as Governor Schwarzenegger makes headlines by calling the Democratic legislators 'girlie men.' This begs the question - if these guys are so girlie, why can't the Arnold make them bend to his will with a steely glare and a threat of termination? The budget's 3 weeks late, boss. Maybe you recall - you promised the voters zero weeks.
Now, I don't think the Democrats are going to convince anyone that the Gov is speaking with misogyny or homophobia here - he's just quoting a decade-old SNL skit. It's a cheesy line for rallies at Stockton or Ontario Mills. It may make more sense to point out that Arnold is doing nothing but inflaming partisan divisions in a budget negotiation where a compromise is necessary.
At the LA Times, George Skelton has the right piece of advice for Schwarzenegger - get out of the shopping malls, and get back to the statehouse to broker the real deal. He points out that as long as this weightless debate continues, "the more ordinary — the more political, the more ineffectual — our action-hero governor will look. Among all the combatants, he has the most to lose."
