Jesse Has Advice for Arnie. Be yourself. Be Arnold. Scripts are for actors.
An Actor, Yes, but No Ronald Reagan
[D]on't be negative. Be Arnold. Let people get to know your sense of humor, your work ethic, your leadership and your genuine concern for the average Joe. Think about what you want to say, and talk from your heart. Scripts are for actors. When I was running in Minnesota, I saw my two opponents with stacks of briefing books and advisers galore giving them instructions. A debate organizer once came up to me and offered a pen and pad. I said, "No, Ma'am, thanks anyway, but you see, if you tell the truth, you don't need a long memory."
There is a better-than-even chance that come early October, Arnold Schwarzenneger will be GOVERNOR Terminator to you and I. He would hardly be the first governor/politician in California- merely the latest in a state where the electorate expects not only to be governed, but entertained (Yeah, like Bill Simon's capable of THAT...).
It will be interesting to see what a Gov. Schwarzenegger might mean to California. In truth, he may well be better prepared than most of us realize. Not only is he a successful actor (which means he is used to dealing with leeches and hangers-on), he is also a very successful investor (he's used to dealing with money and makes sound fiscal decisions). His charity work is unparalleled, and he genuinely seems to care, which is more than you can says for the current occupant of the Governor's Mansion.
Schwarzenegger may be a Republican, but he is clearly a moderate on social issues. While I am loathe to endorse a Republican, I can stomach Scwarzenegger. Of course, since I don't live in California, my opinion counts for nada (which is as most of y'all probably think it should be...).
California could do a whole lot worse than Arnold Schwarzenegger- Larry Flynt, f'rinstance. At least Schwarzenegger has made an effort to give something back to the culture that made him a fabulously wealthy and successful man.