Ahnold

Posted on November 28, 2003 in California Watch

So far, Ahnold has looked more like a liberal than a libertine. He’s pardoned two murderers who Gray Davis overlooked. According to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. he aims to be the best environmental governor in California history by supporting strong clear air regulations and appointing Santa Monica Baykeeper Terry Tamminen to be the new chief of the state’s Environmental Protection Agency.

On the other hand, his budget includes many cuts on aid to the elderly which indicates that, seeing his own future secure, he is expecting the rest of us to store up a couple of million for our own retirement. Which — as long as our banks and brokerages do not go belly up and our savings end up in the pockets of the CEOS — may be possible for Lynn and myself, but not for your average working father and mother.

I’m not yet won over. I need to see him carry out his promise to RFK Jr. and I need to see him show more compassion towards the working class before I can say that maybe I was wrong. I need to see him stand up to his handlers — especially Pete Wilson — and to the national GOP. I need to see more than a few symbolic acts. I need him to not sell off pieces of the commons and to avoid indebting us without good cause. I need to see him do something about the energy hogs. I need to see his fingers point at the powerful and not the powerless when he explains to voters why we’re in this energy mess. I need to see actual progressive change in the way that the state handles business.

RFK, Jr. speaks glowingly about how Ahnold is converting his Hummers to hydrogen, but I will be more impressed when he helps the guy who owns a 1989 Chevy Malibu make the change. He has to transcend the strictly personal act of environmentalism and make sweeping changes that will benefit the commons as a whole without pointing a finger at those too poor to do as he does.

He’s getting his chance here. I can’t do anything else but give him one for the time being. But he remains unproved.

Thanks to bill of Prairie Point for his pointer to the RFK Jr. interview.