Day One With Arnold

As everybody this side of the moon knows by now, we in California woke up to a new governor this morning. I don’t think it’s the Apocalypse, but I’m definitely not happy. California was voting with the id. There’s something archetypal about the fact that Arnold is a body-builder: it’s all image. After all, body-builders are a very different species from athletes. Never mind the lack of relevant background or political experience—the aura of celebrity is what matters, and is what will get California off on a new tack.

Jeanne d’Arc has a great post up about how it looks like we’ve just elected a misogynistic bully. Like her, I am appalled that so many voters don’t seem to care.

Silver linings? This wasn’t a right-wing revolt, this was a throw-the-bum-out-of-office upswelling. Who knows—maybe that same sort of energy will lead to Bush’s defeat in 2004. And since Arnold’s governing ability is a complete mystery to all, he might just end up doing a better job than Gray Davis. Davis certainly set a low standard to hop above.

Or not. Schwarzeneggerian cluelessness could easily lead California into much worse fiscal shape than it already is. That’s what can happen when you elect a cypher. From this side of the Causeway, I’m morbidly curious about what’s in store for the Resources Agency, and will learn soon enough.