Nothing unusual is going on this week. Aside from chickens disappearing from campus everything is normal by California standards. Superhero action figure Arnold Schwarzenegger is flying overhead on his personal jet to claim California as his territory. Jay Leno and David Letterman are talking about politics more than CNN.

It’s a circus everywhere.

The media hasn’t had this much fun filtering information into the mainstream for ages. Folks the line between entertainment and politics has finally been crossed.

The truth is, media propaganda is used to make Americans feelmore connected to the political process. It’s supposed to be there to help us decide who the most qualified people are for office. Instead, it’s the richest rat in the race,who can afford the most commercials that wins.

Last week, the meaning of democracy changed as its greatest weakness shone its light on the rest of the nation. The recall proved a vote means nothing if there’s enough money to change it. Now, states across the U.S. are looking into dumping their governors after seeing how easy it is to recall one.Gov. Gray Davis is a recluse without a winning personality, but he is a good administrator and a qualified politician. The California Republican party blatantly used his bland image against him. They found a candidate people could relate to.

Schwarzenegger didn’t need much publicity due to his movie star status. He’s also the guy who could only win without a primary.

Schwarzenegger appears to have substance, but it is just that appearance of substance that has proven success in winning a popularity contest. No other candidate qualifies like him, though. He’s got a history of sexual assault and drug abuse, no political experience, a lousy voting record and a campaign built dodging questions about his goals for California and how to reach them. Schwarzenegger is, however, an intelligent person and has big plans for California. He surrounds himself with both liberals and conservatives which could help to establish some objectivity.

He wants to lower taxes on businesses and corporations, to make an employer-friendly state. He wants to reduce state spending and has appointees and a transition team to balance the state budget. He’s pro-choice and slightly liberal on gay rights, although he opposes same-sex marriage.

He puts family first and early childhood education is on his priority list for California. He has no plans to reduce fee hikes facing colleges, however.These are all just plans with no nuts and bolts tightened.

Some of Schwarzenegger’s plans are: to repeal more stringent workers compensation rules to save businesses money and to repeal the increased vehicle license fee.

At least the Bush administration is paying attention to California now. Bush will meet with Schwarzenegger this week to talk about a few “favors,” as the new Gov.-elect would call them. Bush wants to help California now that a right-winger is about to take over.

Schwarzenegger mentioned closing down the California Environmental Protection Agency . He wants to lower taxes on the wealthiest Californians and opposes immigrant rights. George W. agrees and he needs all the California votes he can get in 2004. Arnold can help.

The two even use the same monosyllabic vocabulary.

Schwarzenegger’s $21 million campaign, the largest of all the candidates, definitely contributed to winning a plurality of the votes. The total amount spent by all candidates combined was $81 million.

The recall last week was a popularity contest won by strategic planning on the part of Republicans. Let’s hope our new Gov.-elect is as qualified as the people think. He can’t bulldoze loopholes through the problems of California with his Hummer.

It’s up to the people to hold the Governator accountable for his actions. This isn’t the movies. Let’s hope Californians don’t head for the exits.

Is Angela bulldozing over Arnold’s plans? Send comments to [email protected].