When this year’s graduating seniors first came to UCLA,
the state economy was booming, the state budget was in check, and
then-Gov. Gray Davis was signing the diplomas of University of
California students.
Surely, most thought that Davis would be signing diplomas until
2006, when term limits would force him out of office.
Few students would have predicted that there would be a
different governor in office when they graduated. Fewer would have
thought a Republican would be leading the state, and probably none
would have foreseen Arnold Schwarzenegger becoming governor.
It would seem unlikely that the star of such movies as
“Twins” and “Predator” would flash his
gap-toothed smile and give his famous thumbs up sign all the way to
the governor’s mansion.
Yet Schwarzenegger succeeded after a recall battle that would
attract more than 100 candidates for Davis’ job.
Many people find it striking that an Austrian-born body
builder-turned-actor is at the helm of one of the world’s
largest economies during one of California’s most difficult
financial times.
But just because Schwarzenegger often develops policy on the
patio outside the governor’s office while smoking a cigar
does not mean he is a political pushover.
Since becoming governor, Schwarzenegger has submitted a budget
proposal that features millions of dollars in cuts in an attempt to
balance the state budget.
By trimming social programs and making cuts to the budget of the
UC, the governor has so far kept his promise to not raise taxes,
though he may be forced to if the state’s economy does not
rebound.
The cuts, along with a $15 billion bond measure passed in March
designed to balance the budget, have been bold political moves
that, if successful, will give Schwarzenegger even more political
weight than he currently commands.
Keith Ellison, a graduating economics and history student, said
Schwarzenegger has done well, considering the financial situation
he was left with.
“He’s working with the cards he was dealt,”
Ellison said.
This positive attitude towards Schwarzenegger is also reflected
in opinion polls.
According to a May Field Poll, Schwarzenegger’s approval
rating was at 65 percent, up more than 10 percent from the February
numbers. But not everyone has been happy with
Schwarzenegger’s strategy in dealing with cutting the state
budget.
Schwarzenegger has largely bypassed the Democrat-controlled
state Legislature in cutting deals with with state agencies and
developing the compact between the UC and the state that cuts
funding to the university and raises student fees.
Sen. John Vasconcellos, D-San Jose, and chairman of the Senate
Education Committee, was angered by both the terms of the deal and
the fact that the state Legislature was not consulted.
“I don’t honor people who don’t honor me.
“¦ If they think they can make do without us, I find it to be
naive and insulting,” he told the Daily Bruin last month.
With all the frustration among Democrats, many wonder why
Schwarzenegger has been able to garner so much popular support.
Mary Corey, a visiting history professor at UCLA, said
Schwarzenegger has been a sort of “teflon” governor who
has had nothing negative stick, even when developing policy many
see as hurtful to California.
Corey said Schwarzenegger has been able to “charm the
people of California into accepting unacceptable budget
cuts.”
“Schwarzenegger is not a puppet of the right because of
his allegiances with Democrats. He paints himself above partisan
politics,” Corey said.
Schwarzenegger has been able to place himself above partisan
politics in part because of his background as a movie actor.
Schwarzenegger entered politics fresh out of the publicity
campaign for “Terminator 3,” and announced his
candidacy for governor on “The Tonight Show with Jay
Leno.”
Many were surprised that an actor could become governor.
“I thought it was a total joke and ridiculous, but it
wasn’t too surprising because people were talking about him
for a long time,” said Jack Connor, a first-year linguistics
and anthropology student.