Schwarzenegger Says It's Time To Make Nice

(CBS)  Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, R-Calif., says he is in his "post-partisan phase," and he hopes his new attitude will carry over to the 2008 presidential hopefuls from both parties.

"It just means that you ultimately want to serve the people rather than your party," he told Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer. "Because I think the elected officials are public servants and not party servants."

Schwarzenegger said that during his first three years as governor, he has learned to shed the 'us-versus-them' mentality and concentrate on serving the people. When he first sought the governorship, Schwarzenegger came our as a strong fiscal Republican and tried whittle down government, but some of his statewide initiatives failed. After his approval rate dropped to 30 percent, he moved back to the center.

"It was very clear that the people said, 'You know, we don't want you to fight. We want you to get along and we want both of the parties to work together -- that's why we sent you to Sacramento'," he said. "And so we started really giving birth to ideas together rather than they come up with their own package, we come up with our own package, and then we just go and compromise."

On Monday, he will deliver a speech about the importance of being a centrist to the National Governors Conference. He said he will focus on working together with members of the opposite party without losing principals.

Although he said he has no plans to run for another office, Schwarzenegger said the lessons he learned in California could help those running for president in 2008.

"Every human being makes mistakes," he said. "And that's why they understand when a politician says, you know, I made a mistake. It's that simple. Now, with Hillary Clinton, I think that people should, when it comes to the war, should elevate this whole discussion and really not, you know, pick on things like that, but really try to get along in Washington if it is the war or anything else."

Anti-war Democrats have criticized Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., for her original vote to authorize the war in Iraq, and Clinton has endured further controversy because she won't give her constituents a clear apology for her war vote.

Schwarzenegger said politicians should only apologize if they believe they made the wrong choice and perhaps Clinton does not think she was wrong.

The governor said he would not endorse any candidate in the 2008 race until after the California primary, but Schwarzenegger has been very complimentary of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who has long been considered a maverick of the Republican Party.

"I'm very happy with the campaign – I mean, with McCain – simply because he has been a pro-environment person, and someone that believes very strongly in the environment and also protecting the economy at the same time," Schwarzenegger said.

[cdegolier]

"Except for the Democrats like Kennedy and Kerry and other democrat party members of Massachucetts; the only state that has the universal health insurance law plan so far, so I guess Massachucetts and Blue-voting states have some good points"

Massachusetts indeed has some good points with the passage of a universal health care plan requiring everyone to have health insurance, you thanks need to go to the Governor MItt Romney, Republican who inacted the plan, it wasn't Kerry or drunken Teddy.
Gee another Republican with a wonderful plan.

[hissteps4u]

It is truly time for all to work towards the common good what ever party. Unfortunately the Party Loyalists and mentality wont change unless driven by the public and forced to change. Good for Arnold.

For the People and by the People are terms used in our constituation Yet Party Loyalists Both Republician and Democratic want to subvert that message.

Term Limits would be a huge step at de-centralising such Party Loyalists Dem Vrs Rep!

I wonder if I will ever see it in my life time.

[newsjeff-2009]

I am a regestered Democrat, but I am impressed with what some of Governor Arnold has talked about. Governor Arnold has talked about passing a universal health insurance plan to insure all California residents have health insurance; it hasn't happened yet, but at least Governor Arnold has spoke of doing it, something very few other governors and political leaders have spoke of(Except for the Democrats like Kennedy and Kerry and other democrat party members of Massachucetts; the only state that has the universal health insurance law plan so far, so I guess Massachucetts and Blue-voting states have some good points despite what Bush and Cheney say!!)Governor Arnold has won two governor elections in the state of California by working with Democrats and Republicans alike. If Governor Arnold had approval ratings like Bush and Cheney in his home state of California, he would not have won re-election in 2006. Arnold has worked with Democrats and Republicans in a bi-partisan manner to raise the state minimum wage in California(Yes, another minimum wage increase for California, by a GOP governor who wants his residents to earn decent wages; despite the fact that many GOP senators like Lott,Coburn,Inhofe,Talent, have voted against raising minimum wage nationwide several times; check their voting records if don't believe me!!)

[scott4261]

The nutjob chorus still will not admit that George W. Bush is an incompetent boob beholden to the oil industry, whose administration is corrupt from the top down.

So you righties can make fun of Schwarzenegger's leftward turn (which is actually toward the center...you know, where most people ARE), but the GOP is rotting from the indside thanks to the Jerry Fallwells of the world and the Neo-con Kool-Aid drinkers from the Project For a New American Century. Without change, your party will self-destruct!

[us_infidel]

Arnold is a RINO loser. He ran as a conservative and changed his "spots" once he got elected. The lefties out in the drop-off state of CA can have him!

[jdweymouth]

Re: "Leave capitalism for video games, iphones, computers, and automobiles, refrigerators, software, etc." -Posted by droberts71

Wow! A real, live commie in our midst! Buddy, Schwarznegger may be a centrist, and a compromiser, but that sure as he ll doesn't make him a communist! Are you off your rocker???

For those who would criticize me for the above comment: I don't like communists or socialists. They're a greater threat to our system than the Islamofascists.

[jdweymouth]

The executives in our nation must do what they think is best for their city, state, or country. The members of the legislative bodies must be much more conscious of the constituents, but in the end they will vote the way they think is best for out country. So, no skyk and RandalDS, you are not the bosses of the mayors, governors, and mayors. Sorry to intrude on your fantasy, but the president isn't even directly elected by the people; he's elected by the Electoral College. We are not a democracy, we are a republic, and we were never historically called a democracy. It was always "The Republic". Our elected officials do indeed have a duty to the people, and that duty is to do what they think is best. As a matter of fact guys, they're like parents. They may do things we don't like, but they have the job, and we don't. Get over it.

[jsilver2th]

perception5: "Write this down .......Arnie will bring Calfornia into the Republican column in 2008 Presidential elections......."

Ha ha- the only one that can bring California into the Republican column is Raplh Nader.

[randalds]

Write this down .......Arnie will bring Calfornia into the Republican column in 2008 Presidential elections.......no matter if it's Mit, Rudy, or John.......

Wow!
Posted by perception5 at 08:26 PM : Feb 25, 2007

Write this down, Arnie is one or two good pillow talks from Maria from becoming a democrat. He moves further to the left everyday and I'm sure she's gently pushing him that way too.

[j0hnwi11iams]

What I want to know is what was said between Schwarzenegger and Ken Lay just as Enron put the California energy market in a hammerlock. Don't believe what the goons say about California, we were definitely ****** with.