In almost shockingly candid interview with the Los Angeles Times, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger concedes that his earlier answers for solving the state's budget and governance problems were based on his poor understanding of the problems and the system.
You might recall the 2003 recall campaign, when Schwarzenegger said he could solve the state's budget problems simply by eliminating "waste, fraud and abuse." He now says these things are not a factor in the state's projected $14.5 billion budget deficit.
The governor also has changed his mind on term limits. Here's what the former term limits supporter has to say now: "The special interests and lobbyists up there are so much more sophisticated and so much more advanced than the politicians are. ... So who is it really helping? I am seeing this firsthand. The people I finally got used to working with now will be kicked out."
What is most remarkable to me is not Schwarzenegger's new positions, but his willingness to admit publicly that governing California is not the piece of cake that he said it would be. Long-time Sacramento insiders and observers might respond, "No kidding."
You can read the full interview here.
- Paul Shigley
