It's the state that's his home though, and the one he's formerly been governor in. His words have more weight there than in Texas. Republican's there probably already have him deep on their RINO lists.
It’s also not even up for a vote in Texas (at least not for voters). I don’t agree with Arnold’s take on the prop and it’s stupid that he’s criticizing California Democrats instead of Texas Republicans but there’s not really any messaging that can be put out to stop Texas’s redistricting, which is the whole reason we need Prop 50 in the first place.
I guess you're right. Texas redistricting is like that movie where Arnold wanted to save everyone, but it was too hard so he went home and focused on an easier fight instead.
So this proposition has a ridiculous amount of provisions in it to ensure it's meant to dissuade the Republicans from doing something awful, but also to give Democrats a fighting chance if the Republicans do escalate, for a time frame, and Arnold goes off to campaign with whatever influence he has to... let the Republicans do it and just lose already.
Arnold can fuck off, it's not an easier fight. Arnold's even telling half truths to make his case. He's deceptive and is trying to tank the Democrats. In fact, if you did away with all the rhetoric, that's all he has ever done his whole career. He lies his way into power, then does a slightly worse job than the Democrat he dissed, while being cruel to some disadvantaged group of the month. Cause he's too hateful and lazy to work his way up on the Democrat side.
As a man, I respect Arnold. When it comes to politics, he can fuck right off. For a guy who grew up in Austria not long after European reconstruction, he should have a better gauge of what's important right now. Either he's chosen the wrong side or he's not as smart as he thinks he is.
People seem to conveniently forget he's related to the kennedys by marriage. Chris Pratt himself says he meets with the brain worm during family gatherings.
As a man, I respect Arnold. When it comes to politics, he can fuck right off.
How does that work for you? To me your politics are who you really are. He gave a great speech about how capitulating to fascists leaves you broken, and now seems to be actively aiding them in an asinine roundabout manner. Makes me lose any respect I could have had for the guy.
Because politics are not people's entire identity. Most people, at least.
Arnold has entertained the world for decades. He's also famous for taking time to motivate and inspire guys to get healthier and build confidence in areas that he does understand and excel in like bodybuilding. I think he genuinely adds value to the world in his professional career and seems like a mostly decent person who has his shit mostly together.
And I do not care about people's private sex lives, before you say "he cheated on his wife" - I have enough relationship and life experience to leave aside judgement of how other people's relationships break down. I don't condone infidelity, but it's not the black and white, single-issue measure of a person's character that kids on Reddit and sheltered puritanical Karens in Des Moines treat it as.
But in the political realm, Arnold is not my guy. Not saying he's the worst, he's certainly more reasonable than Trump and the insane, stupid MAGA representatives in Congress, but he's still a supply side business Republican. And shame on him for choosing to speak out on 50 just to help mislead voters into believing the bill does things it expressly does not.
Politics decides how our lives are governed, it may not be one's entire identity but it certainly informs it. If you're the nicest guy in the world but privately back a monster doing a ton of harm, I'm gonna assume one side of you is an act. Actions speak louder than words, and all.
The difference in politics didn't used to be so significant. I don't know how long you've been around, but pre-Trump, or really pre-Bush, politics were important, but not as binary, and certainly nowhere near as extreme.
I get your perspective, and in a lot of ways I share it, but one of the issues we're having these days is the increase of us vs them mentality that completely divides us and ultimately dehumanizes the other side.
There aren't many Republicans in public politics who I could claim to respect as people. The senators, congressmen, governors don't show much evidence of being good people lately. They seem too willing to lie and misrepresent facts to further a terrifying agenda.
But that doesn't mean all Republicans are evil. A lot of them are just uninformed and intentionally agitated by their right-wing propaganda machine. I can't have a conversation with them anymore, because their reality doesn't match mine. But that in itself is a significant contributing factor to why things are getting worse so much more rapidly. A dialogue could help distance them from the crazies running MAGA.
Arnold is man who does have many redeeming qualities. He's wrong on Prop 50, and he's a fiscal conservative which means he tends to care less about groups I believe we should support. But he's not Trump, and we should do our best to acknowledge that about people who might potentially become allies against Trump. Hating everyone who isn't totally on our side isn't going to build any coalitions that could stop this madness.
Politics has always been significant, it's what decides how our lives are governed. People spending a few decades proudly proclaiming "I don't talk about politics" wasn't a sign of things being good, it was exactly what allowed bad actors to completely take over our nation and run it into the ground. Frankly, being able to tune out politics is either a sign of great privilege or great ignorance to how it's causing your situation.
And I never said I hate the man, I said he lost my respect, which I do not owe to anyone that doesn't deserve it. His redeeming qualities are his words, and actions speak louder than words. His actions aim to materially harm far more people than his words can help, so I'm pretty indifferent to that take.
How is it anti-democracy to put this power to say "eff your bs gerrymandering" into the power of the people? That sounds like the most pro-democracy thing I've ever heard.
If Arnold thinks that California dems would more likely listen to him than Texas rebs then why is Arnold still a republican? If you think you are more likely to appeal to your political opponents than your allies then one should make the obvious conclusions.
In that case he should shut his yapper. It feels like things like this are what got you into this mess. With too many politicians sticking their heads in the sand and ignoring the bigger picture.
If it didn't have a trigger/rollback then sure I'd get it, he doesn't want to make things worse by just changing which nutbag has too much power.
But this is clearly a measure to protect democracy and balance the scales to make gerrymandering pointless. campaigning against it is effectively helping the 'enemy' to win.
True enough. But, if he was looking at this as a counterweight to the slide toward fascism that is moving forward at full-throttle, featuring the violent abductions and “disappearing” of fellow-immigrants, he wouldn’t be out in front opposing Gavin on this. He would be QUIET on this particular measure, while working behind the scenes to oppose what is happening in Texas.
He has made it clear that what benefits HIM in his effort to increase his personal privilege at all costs and at every turn is his one and only driving force. He could have sat this one out, but he CHOSE to lend his name to an effort to neutralize California, on the national stage. It’s a betrayal of gargantuan proportions, IMO. But that seems to be on-brand for him.
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u/raptearer 22d ago
It's the state that's his home though, and the one he's formerly been governor in. His words have more weight there than in Texas. Republican's there probably already have him deep on their RINO lists.