Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Hides From Bad California State Budget News

By Bonnie Erbe, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

How did you spend your New Year's holiday? California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger spent his many miles from the state capitol building, avoiding the camera as his aides released California's harshest and most depressing budget plan in decades.

In prior budget cycles, Gov. Schwarzenegger has paraded himself before as many cameras as would attend the unveiling of his financial plan for the state. This year he hid out in Sun Valley, Idaho, as his aides were forced to tell state taxpayers to expect deep cuts in services and higher tax bills due to the state's dire fiscal condition.

What does Schwarzenegger care? Not much, apparently, or he would have been there himself to dole out the tough news. He's term-limited out as governor and probably would not do well as a senator, as he's used to doing his own thing in politics and in business. He won't be running for president anytime soon unless he gets the Constitution changed, as it bars foreign-born citizens from serving in that lofty office.

Am I the only one who senses more than a mite of arrogance in Schwarzenegger's dodge?

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--Read more about Arnold Schwarzenegger.

By Bonnie Erbe