Pumping up the vote for the Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger

With the Arnold Classic just around the corner, I thought we could use our Maxim Monday here to speak on the politics of Arnold Schwarzenegger, a man once appointed by President George H.W. Bush to serve as chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, from 1990 to 1993, to springboard well beyond for a future possible chance at the Presidency. Quite like his athletic drive in the gym, Arnold's civic fight in the political arena against all odds and resistance from partisan gridlock in the legislature started early in life, read between the lines of various quotes of his like "The resistance that you fight physically in the gym and the resistance that you fight in life can only build a strong character." Schwarzenegger, as an action superstar hero from Hollywood, took all his blockbuster popularity and box office prominence towards a bigger show in Sacramento, a shot at becoming the next Governor of California, and with the 2003 California recall election against Democrat Gray Davis, the Republican Arnold would do just that with a total recall by 4,206,284 votes and by 48.6 percent of those who voted.

The Governator never intended to change his tact politically as the moderate balance, instead he campaigned from the left and governed from the right, bringing a social conscience to a time of fiscal restraint, all while refusing to accept the governor's yearly salary of $175,000, which follows the old Kennedy public service maxim of "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country," as Schwarzenegger alludes to by asking those citizens to "Help others and give something back. I guarantee you will discover that while public service improves the lives and the world around you. Its greatest reward is the enrichment and new meaning it will bring your own life."

For a repeat performance as the running man in 2006, Schwarzenegger took his Republican primary by 1,724,281 votes and 90 percent and then the general election by 4,850,157 votes and 55.88 percent, but after the first year in office his approval rating dropped as the state debt gained in size and scope and taxes began to increase. His constant policy tug of war between the economy and the environment kept his agenda split throughout his time in office, never solidly finding that balance and consensus he strove to make with all his might, as Arnold become the first governor to start with the highest approval rating at 89% and finish with the lowest approval rating of 23% next to that of his predecessor. But even in defeat Schwarzenegger finds his victory, helping to found and chair the Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy, part of the Sol Price School of Public Policy, at the University of Southern California in 2012, which follows his belief that "Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender and that is strength."