Another article on the Arnold/George "Tet a Tet." I think they can slip Arnold some help, but nothing very public. It is in the Admin's interest to see him succeed.
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Ah-nold to pump W for aid
By HELEN KENNEDY
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU
Wednesday, October 15th, 2003
WASHINGTON - President Bush has nixed arm wrestling with California Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger when they meet tomorrow.
But the new GOP megastar plans to use his new political muscle to try to get Bush to provide federal help for his ailing state.
"I'm looking forward to working with him and asking for a lot, a lot of favors," he said last week. During the campaign, the actor said California sends $50 billion more in taxes to Washington than it gets back and vowed to become "the Collectinator."
Schwarzenegger is in a tight spot: He has promised to terminate a $12billion budget shortfall without raising taxes.
Bush, who lost California badly in 2000, has every reason to want to help Schwarzenegger. But if he gives the Golden State any unusual handouts, there will be a long line of governors at his door asking for the same.
"I look forward to congratulating him on a pretty darn good victory," said Bush, who will be in the state on a similar mission: wringing funds for his reelection from California fat cats.
Schwarzenegger's star power is so strong that the White House has no problem embracing a pro-choice, pro-gay, pro-gun control, apologetic groper. The new governor is likely to be a headliner at next summer's Republican convention in New York.
Meanwhile, another tough guy actor-turned-pol, former Carmel Mayor Clint Eastwood, warned the Terminator that governing would be tougher than campaigning.
"Politicians have to make unpopular decisions," Eastwood told Le Monde in Paris.
"I wish him good luck - he's going to need it. It's going to be difficult for him."
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