Fantastic: The new Survey USA shows the approval ratings for governors in all 50 states. The Republican governors of Connecticut and both Dakotas are at the top of the list, with ratings in the 70’s.
But you have to scroll way down the list to find Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. He’s fifth from the bottom, and below him are Republicans Gov. Bob Taft of Ohio, with an 18 percent approval; Gov. Frank Murkowski of Alaska (26 percent); and Gov. Ernie Fletcher of Kentucky (32 percent) – and one Democrat, poor Gov. Kathleen Blanco of Louisiana, with a 34 percent approval.
And then there is Arnold, with his 35 percent.
Word from Sacramento is that Gov. Schwarzenegger’s moves to shake up his cabinet are not being well-received. He’s appointed Susan Kennedy, a Democrat (and very out lesbian) as his chief of staff.
Kennedy’s appointment has annoyed California conservatives who represent nearly 100 percent of the 35 percent who approve of the governor. It is obviously a calculated gambit: We’ll risk losing the knuckledraggers – who have been suspicious of Schwarzenegger’s squishines on social issues – in order to win back the middle.
But Susan Kennedy is a DLC-er type Dem who serves on the powerful Public Utility Commission and is considered by California liberals to be too cozy with business interests.
The governor’s analysis of his failures in last month’s special election is a bit shaky. He appears to believe that his policies were okay but the message was wrong. By bringing in a new team, he hopes to improve his standing by refining his message.
Maybe if this new strategy doesn’t work, he’ll get the message, quit while he’s still got a little dignity and go make another movie.
(Btw – Jeb Bush ranks 21 among governors, with awhopping 59 percent! Whatup with Florida? Nearly two-thirds of the state’s population are masochists.)
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