California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans visit to US troops in Iraq

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office says the governor will visit U.S. troops in Iraq next week.

Schwarzenegger's communications director, Matt David, says the Republican governor will spend a couple days in Iraq early next week, but he said he could not give specifics on where or when the visits will take place.

... Schwarzenegger entered the Austrian army in 1965 for his compulsory year of service, but temporarily went AWOL during basic training so he could compete in a bodybuilding competition. He won, and later returned to his base.

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_13764157

[Xipe Totec]

1. At least he returned, unlike dubya. n/t

[tularetom]

2. Um, why is he doing this?

And who the fuck is gonna pay for it?

[Auggie]

3. Yeah...

Probably my tax dollars

[Mz Pip]

5. At least he doesn't collect a salary

and probably a visit from the Terminator might cheer up a few GIs. Who knows, he might be paying for this himself. I really don't have a problem with it.

CA was screwed long before Arnold became Governor.

[Bette Noir]

7. That's a helluva good question.

As governor, he's a lame duck, and he's ineligible for the White House.

[Zoeisright]

9. Because it's all about HIM!!!!!

And nobody else!!!

That melting piece of shit is obsessed with the limelight and himself. No other reason.

[paulsby]

11. i gotta disagree

his politics aside (and fwiw, a pro-choice, pro-gay rights republican... he's not THAT bad), he's done a lot of good stuff.

i am referring to his promotion of the arnold classic in ohio every year (a mecca for any strength athlete), his work to promote fitness and health, etc.

he also was a huge part of taking a sport that had sideshow freak status in the USA, and turned it into something that more people were exposed to, respected, etc. he kind of did for bodybuilding, what jim fixx and prefontaine did for running. granted, the weiders played a big part, but still.

i just like the guy.

you can't watch "pumping iron" and not like him.

[Joe Bacon]

12. Live with him as governor!

You'll be amazed at the complete ineptitude he has had from the start. He is the most incompetent governor this state has ever had. From the minute he was installed by his corporate masters, he's cut spending to the bone and cut taxes for his masters. THe state has gone way downhill since his little coup took place. and as for the Democrats, well Angiledes and Westly mortally wounded each other during the primary, so Arnold just sat back and did nothing, which is what that steroid junky does best!

[paulsby]

16. sounds a bit rhetorical to me

"installed by his corporate masters?"

he won a popular election. period

"steroid junky"?

he admits to using steroids in the past, they are not physically addictive (thus, "junky" is a little silly) and they were not controlled substances at the time he used them.

i am certainly not saying he is a good governor, but it sounds to me like you are not being fair

[Joe Bacon]

25. Tell that to the people Arnold has hurt

Tell that to the defenseless people on SSI whose checks have been cut three times this year.

Tell that to the students whose fees have gone through the roof

Tell that to the women forced out of shelters because Arnold closed them.

Tell that to disabled and seniors who lost their home support services.

Tell that to children who have been removed from health insurance.

Tell that to the prison guards who have had their pay frozen since Arnold took over as governor

Tell that to drivers who see more and more roads in disrepair.

Tell that to state workers who are on forced furloughs twice a month.

Tell that to a disability applicant who waits and waits and waits for their claim to be processed because Arnold cut the staff.

Then tell me that I am not being fair because I see all the damage that fucking phony steroid junky has done to this state.

[Brother Buzz]

26. You neglected to mention teachers and the underfunded school districts that hire them

Juxtaposition, I find it both alarming and intriguing that prison guards, on average, earn $l0,000 more than the average teacher's salary, a testament to the power and strength of the the California Correctional Peace Officer's Association that has managed to almost triple the guards income in the last thirty years. Very powerful and almost scary union!

[Thothmes]

27. More importantly, tell that to the Legislature of the State of

California. The Governor cannot pay for these programs out of now where. The California Legislature cut these programs.

[Joe Bacon]

30. Our legislature is paralyzed

As long as Republicans hold more than 1/3 of the seats, they hold the whip. It takes a 2/3 vote to pass the budget and with every last Republican in the legislature a nutcase in the $arah mold, we're stuck.

[Crzyrussell]

18. Arnold is only

dealing with what his predecessors have left him...

[Tikki]

22. See, that is not an entirely true statement....

If you live in California....Maybe, we can talk.


Tikki

[Mz Pip]

28. We are still dealing

with some of the effects of when Reagan was Governor.

Much of our decline seriously began in 1976 with the passage of Prop 13 which restructed taxes and required that State budgets have a 2/3 majority to pass.

can't put all of this on Arnold, that's for sure.

[jberryhill]

15. CA National Guard Troops

Other governors have and do visit the National Guard troops from their state who have been federalized for service abroad.

[dixiegrrrrl]

19. He wants to run for President. Seriously.

And he seems confident that he will be allowed a free pass on the citizenship issue.
The Republican Party is already testing the waters by running candidates who do not live in their
districts.
So Ahhhnold is practicing a walk onto the world stage.

Yes, I am serious that he is serious.

[DavidDvorkin]

20. Impossible without a Constitutional amendment

There would be no free pass on the citizenship issue, and he knows that. To claim otherwise is silly.

[tularetom]

21. He may be serious but he'd never pass muster with repub primary voters

He's waaaaaaay too moderate on social issues for the red meat voters that participate in republican primaries. Plus he'd have to start now, working on a constitutional amendment, in order to be a candidate by 2016. I think by then he'd be well into his 70's, so regardless of what he thinks, it ain't gonna happen.

And I haven't even touched on how badly he has fucked up the already fucked up state of CA.

[dixiegrrrrl]

24. No disagreement here. I was in Ca when he was elected,

and paid close attention to his ego-maniacal dreams.
The man has his eyes set on a distant horizon, tho, no doubt.
If only in his own mind.

[Lurks Often]

29. A number of governors have done this

Keeping in mind that this is not a complete list, but just 5 minutes of searching, the governors of the following states (in no particular order) have visited Iraq:
Colorado, Oklahoma, Alaska, Oregon, Georgia, Wyoming, Mississippi, Arkansas, Wisconsin and Texas.

the governors of the following states (again, in no particular order) have visited Afghanistan: Texas, Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota and Nevada.

I don't doubt that there are more governors that have visited Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan that didn't show up in my quick search.

[Cleita]

4. Why? Don't they have enough problems?

OTOH, maybe this time is a good time to stage a coup and take back California!

[onehandle]

6. That's what entertainers should do. Good for him. nt

[tomm2thumbs]

8. instead, increase their pay with the money this stupid trip costs and send a card

what a stupid self-serving game

send them a bonus instead

[BeHereNow]

10. While the state sinks in economic melt down... YEAH! That makes sense...

Just slap the people in CA in the face!

Hell yeah, Mr, Met WIth Enron Before Gray Davis Was Removed From Office While
Trying TO Get The Billions Of Dollars Back~~

SPEND SOME MONEY!
GO FOR IT YOU FUCK.


How do I find out how much money this is going to cost me?
BHN

[Brother Buzz]

23. He's not using public money for this trip

The California State Protocol Foundation, a nonprofit with ties to business groups, will pay for Schwarzenegger and staff to travel to Iraq, according to Aaron McLear, the governor's press secretary.

But you can bet dimes to donuts the state will ultimately pay down the road.

[lonestarnot]

13. Is he taking his neighbor Jan Brewer, they do have something in common ya know.

[Hubert Flottz]

14. He may be groping for a seat in Washington.

Maybe Di-Fi's or Senator Boxer's...The birthers and tea baggers don't care that Arnold wasn't born in the USA! They'd like to see Arnold in the White House. The GOP base is tired of dithering around with NAZI lite and they are looking for a REAL LEADER...a second coming of Der Fuhrer!

[mulsh]

17. He's a crapy governor but there are a lot of troops from CA

deployed to Iraq. There are also a lot of dead and wounded troops from CA. The last time I checked, about a year or so ago, CA lead the states in dead troops. I'm not sure if we're still a leading state but that may be why Arnold wants to go there. Or it could be a publicity stunt.

[Owl]

31. Why? Isn't CA already broke?