But How's His Transition Game?
More e-mail input from Folsom, California's own James Phillips (somebody get this guy a blog!):
First, I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment that the more the L.A. Times and others make the Nazi cracks about Ah-Nuld, the more I am inclined to support him. The editorial cartoon you posted the other day speaks volumes. Suddenly it is funny to make Nazi jokes (L.A. Times "Gropenfuhrer")? How cute.
Anyway, I am sure you have seen the Governor Elect's transition team.
Some very good people, but....
Willie Brown? Mayor and former Assembly Speaker Brown was so disliked in California that he became the poster child for term limits, becoming almost the exclusive reason for the passage of the initiative. His legacy includes an opposition to a redistricting initiative that resorted to out-right lies (which he admitted after the fact, saying he pulled the wool over the eyes of voters) in TV commercials by Jack Lemon and, as I recall, James Garner. The commercials against the initiative were not at all misleading. There were outright lies.
The problem with Willie is he is genuinely charming and likeable. But he is a master manipulator and even more of a master at picking Republicans' pockets. I cannot see him taking a secondary role to anyone, including, truthfully, a GOP Governor. The dynamics between Pete Wilson and Willie should be entertaining.
And Susan Estrich? Well, I guess maybe that explains her blistering (justifiably so) criticism of the L.A Times before the election.
Most of the transition team I don't know. Of the ones I recognize (I especially like Eloise Anderson), I give Ah-Nuld a win loss record of 20-10. 21-10 if you include Jeb Bush's "budget terminator" Donna Arduin .
Not too bad.
Finally, there is Frank Jordan. Former S.F. Police Chief Jordan is most famous for pre-maturely tanking his political career when he appeared on a morning radio show (with some real "shock jocks") and had his picture taken with them in a shower, naked from the waist up. Smooth move, dude.
I guess it depends who amongst this crew has the real influence with Ah-Nuld. Some of the big names, irrespective of who they are, may be a good sign. As President Reagan said:
"...there is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit."
- January 21, 1981
For now there is still hope.
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