The Governator
From Muscle Beach to His Quest for the White House, the Improbable Rise of Arnold Schwarzenegger
by Ian Halperin


(Click for Amazon book review)

OnTheIssues.org BOOK REVIEW:

This book is Arnold Schwarzenegger's biography, not just his political biography. It includes stories from his time as a bodybuilder, through his time as an actor, and then as governor. The book's purpose is to explore Arnold's political future after he retires from as California Governor in January 2011. The book is unambiguous in its message about that future: Arnold wants to be President, and a Constitutional Amendment is needed to accomplish that.

The book portrays Arnold as a true independent. He has been a Republican since hearing Nixon's economic views in 1968 (p. 172) but is no hard-core social conservative, with liberal stances on everything from abortion to healthcare. The book provides background for why Arnold came to be pro-gay rights (mostly) and pro-choice (mostly) but pro-economic freedom (mostly). Arnold's independence is perhaps best encapsulated by his justification for supporting ObamaCare: "I'm a public servant; not a party servant." (p. 307).

Many attribute Arnold's liberal compromises to his wife, Maria Shriver, the niece of John F. Kennedy and Ted Kennedy. The book offers substantial insight into the "power couple" (devoting all of chapter 15 to "Meeting Maria"), focusing on how Maria brought political savvy to Arnold's campaigns. The book also details how Maria knew all along about Arnold's philandering, not only because of the philandering history of the Kennedy clan, but also because of plenty of evidence along the way. Hence the 2011 revelations about Arnold's teenage child, with another woman while he was married to Maria, should not have been such a surprise to Maria (the book was published before those revelations).

Alas, those 2011 revelations--and the subsequent filing for divorce by Maria--have doomed Arnold's hopes for a presidential run. The book lays out in great detail a path to the presidency in 2016, starting this year with a Constitutional Amendment to remove the native-born requirement for the presidency (this too warrants a full closing chapter, starting on p. 310). Those plans seem outdated now--Arnold must first plan a personal comeback before taking on a Constitutional Amendment. And he'll have to do it without the Kennedy clan's help.

The book's author, Ian Halperin, is a liberal, who never attended a Republican event until he went "under cover" to attend a Tea Party rally to research this book--but the book is primarily observational rather than partisan. A great read for fans of independent politics, or just for fans of the Terminator series.

-- Jesse Gordon, editor-in-chief, OnTheIssues.org, November 2011

OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Pro-choice but no partial-birth abortion.

Budget & Economy     Legislature needs guts on budget; don't be girlie men.

Civil Rights     Changed bodybuilding culture from gay to straight.     Gay marriage should be between a man and a woman.

Drugs     Admitted to marijuana usage, but no hard drugs.

Energy & Oil     Global Warming Solutions: cut greenhouse gas by 25% by 2020.

Environment     1992: First civilian to purchase a Hummer.     Protect air & landscape: world's strictest emission rules.

Families & Children     Treat kids with iron fists, to respect parents completely.     Adults go to gyms, but don't pay attention to kids' fitness.

Government Reform     2004: Self-financed campaign; no special interest money.

Health Care     Discount drugs to 6 million low-income Californians.

Homeland Security     Performed one year of compulsory military service in Austria.

Immigration     Voted for Prop. 187 in 1994; apologized for it in 2006.

Jobs     Bodybuilders on Muscle Beach are "bums and parasites".

Principles & Values     Father was member of Austrian Nazi party.     As child in Austria, known as prankster & bully.     As teen, some girls knocked out by his body; other repulsed.     1970s: Took steroids, which were then legal.     Hitler was a great public speaker but misused talent.     Maria Shriver "wanted someone different, not some preppy".     1979: prepped acting career like regime for bodybuilding.     Secret to success: endurance, hard work, & patience.     1983 naturalization was "realization of my dream".     OpEd: More motivated by power than money.     2004: "Amend for Arnold": let non-natives run for president.

Social Security     2005: privatize public employee pensions.

Technology     1988 royalty deal changed way film industry operates.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Arnold Schwarzenegger

The above quotations are from The Governator
From Muscle Beach to His Quest for the White House, the Improbable Rise of Arnold Schwarzenegger
by Ian Halperin.

Autobiographies and Biographies of Governors: American Crisis, by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D,NY) What A Party!, by gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe (D, VA) The Last Line of Defense, by gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli (R, VA) Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power, by Bob Ingle and Michael Symons Can`t is Not an Option, by Gov. Nikki Haley, April 2012 Governor`s Travels, by Gov. Angus King, Oct. 2010 The Governator, by Ian Halperin (about Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, R-CA), Aug. 2011 A Governor`s Story, by Jennifer Granholm (D-MI), Oct, 2005 The Agenda for America, by Gov. Haley Barbour (R, MS), April 1996 Blue Man in a Red State, by Greg Lemon, (about Gov. Brian Schweitzer, D, MT), June 2008 Scorpions for Breakfast, by Gov. Jan Brewer (R, AZ), Nov. 2011 Crossroads: The Future of American Politics, by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D, NY), Oct. 2003 A Reason to Believe, by Gov. Deval Patrick (D, MA), April 2011 Against the Tide, by Gov. Lincoln Chafee (I, RI), April 2008 Teachers Under Attack, by Mike Spina, about Gov. Chris Christie (R, NJ), Feb. 2011 Press Releases etc. from Governors, Mayors, and Justices: Gubernatorial Press Releases, 2019-2021 Gubernatorial Press Releases, 2016-2019 Gubernatorial State of the State speeches, 2019 Gubernatorial State of the State speeches, 2018 Gubernatorial State of the State speeches, 2017 Gubernatorial State of the State speeches, 2016 Gubernatorial State of the State speeches, 2011 Gubernatorial State of the State speeches, 2010 Mayorial State of the City speeches, 2007-2011 Gubernatorial Press Releases, 2020 Gubernatorial Press Releases, 2016-2019 Gubernatorial Press Releases, 2011-2015 Gubernatorial Press Releases, 2010 Gubernatorial Press Releases, 2001-2009 Gubernatorial Ad-Watch, 2018-2020 Gubernatorial Ad-Watch, 2014-2017 Mayoral Press Releases, 2011 Senatorial Press Releases, 2020 Senatorial Press Releases, 2020 Senatorial Press Releases, 2010's Mayoral Campaign websites, 2011-2019 Gubernatorial Campaign websites, 2010-2019 Gubernatorial Campaign websites, 2010 Gubernatorial Campaign websites, 2001-2009 My Grandfather's Son, by Justice Clarence Thomas, Oct. 2008

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