Rumors and speculation are regular grist for the mill here in Sacramento - we usually discard them out of hand here at CCN - but there's one that continues to persist and has even started to make its way to mainstream television and newspaper media: Would Arnold Schwarzenegger leave California mired in the midst of economic turmoil to take a job in an Obama or McCain administration?
Open speculation around here has many tongues wagging. Governor Schwarzenegger would be a prize for either new President - giving a nod to Californians for McCain and an equally important nod to Republicans for Obama. And, as the politician in the country with perhaps the most significant environmental credibility, his international recognition and Hollywood fame, "Arnold" would be just what the doctor ordered for a President looking to heal relations here in the country and across the world.
From a city perspective, there has been no greater champion of local government than Schwarzenegger - the first Governor to actually mean what he says and hold the line against ERAF shifts and Prop 1A borrowing. Sure, he's not solid (note the RDA takeaways this budget year) but is there a chance we'd really get any better?
Lt Governor John Garamendi, already an announced candidate for Governor in 2010, isn't a known quantity to city folks. And, while we'd like to think the Lt. Governor would be as big a champion for cities as Arnold has - we just won't know until we know.
So, regardless of who wins Tuesday night - keep this nagging question alive in the back of your mind and until then read more about it in the Sacramento Bee
