Schwarzenegger's Boorish Behavior

[Clancie]

Here's today's carefully researched LA Times article about Schwarzenegger's history of inappropriate and unwanted groping of various women over the past years (also his response to it):

Schwarzenegger's conduct with women

"I've Behaved Badly"

Please note the Times clearly says this was not given to them by anyone who has it in for him politically, and that none of the women approached the paper first. It was researched over many weeks, prompted by numerous accounts and rumors (Premiere and elsewhere) that have followed him--apparently, all true.

The article clearly shows him as an arrogant sexist boor, who likes to be surrounded by a lot of sycophants. Tolerable for a movie star....maybe Not exactly great for a governor.....

 

[Grammatron]

Here's today's carefully researched LA Times article about Schwarzenegger's history of inappropriate and unwanted groping of various women over the past years (also his response to it):

Schwarzenegger's conduct with women

"I've Behaved Badly"

Please note the Times clearly says this was not given to them by anyone who has it in for him politically, and that none of the women approached the paper first. It was researched over many weeks, prompted by numerous accounts and rumors (Premiere and elsewhere) that have followed him--apparently, all true.

The article clearly shows him as an arrogant sexist boor, who likes to be surrounded by a lot of sycophants. Tolerable for a movie star....maybe Not exactly great for a governor.....

Yes and they chose to release the article a week before the election because none of that information was available before?

The odd thing here is that Schwarzenegger was not some recluse who no one heard of. He's one of the most famous movie stars in the world, surely if those women had a case they would have filed lawsuits against him many times over. Yet they did not, why not?

 

[Pyrrho]

The article clearly shows him as an arrogant sexist boor, who likes to be surrounded by a lot of sycophants. Tolerable for a movie star....maybe Not exactly great for a governor.....

Unfortunately those are precisely the qualifications traditionally admired in U.S. politics. The man is not qualified to govern California or any other state. Lack of qualifications hasn't stopped many politicians and it won't stop him.

Man, I'm glad I live in Ohio, where the worst we get is Jerry Springer or Jim Traficant.

 

[a_unique_person]

As Bill Clinton showed quite clearly, many men in a position of power are notorious sex fiends. It seems to come with the territory, for some reason. The number of stories of politicians involved in affairs that come out after they have died (and can't sue), does amaze me. In the past, such behaviour was ignored by the press on the grounds that it was not relevant to the real issue of the politics.

However, I think you have to discern between acts of consent and acts of abuse. Arnie appears to be the type of guy who indulges in abusive acts.

For example, I was interested to hear that Bill Clinton was accused of rape. These allegations, which I would have thought were grounds for impeachment, didn't ever get pursued to the same extent as the Lewinsky charges.

 

[Clancie]

Posted by Pyrrho

Unfortunately those are precisely the qualifications traditionally admired in U.S. politics

Well, I agree Pyrrho that some politicians I can think of have arguably done worse than this (Ted Kennedy; Newt Gingrich) and still had great careers.

But if this article was about Gray Davis or McClintock or Bustamante doing these things instead, I think most voters would find it repulsive. I'm afraid with Arnold that the "cult of the movie star" will protect him and he's going to "govern" (some way or another, I try not to think about it) for the next four years.

I kind of envy you, Pyrrho there in Ohio.....

Posted by a unique person

As Bill Clinton showed quite clearly, many men in a position of power are notorious sex fiends.

Bill Clinton was hardly a "sex fiend". He had a pretty tepid and lackluster, imo, relationship with a woman who had said she wanted to have sex with the President before she even got to Washington. They never did have intercourse, and the details of their relationship (which are unfortunately known to us) hardly qualify him as a "sex fiend" (or even, imo, much of a sex partner).

However, I think you have to discern between acts of consent and acts of abuse. Arnie appears to be the type of guy who indulges in abusive acts.

Yes.

And the "rape allegations" against Clinton (like that other woman's claim that he dropped his pants in front of her in the hotel room) never had much credibility, except to the far right wing that worked so hard (and paid so much) to keep them publicized.

 

[Tony]

But if this article was about Gray Davis or McClintock or Bustamante doing these things instead, I think most voters would find it repulsive.

Have you seen what those guys look like? God damn they are dorks. They should be banned from all sexual activty. Just thinking about those people being sexual makes me want to puke.

 

[Grammatron]

Re: Re: Schwarzenegger's Boorish Behavior

Unfortunately those are precisely the qualifications traditionally admired in U.S. politics. The man is not qualified to govern California or any other state. Lack of qualifications hasn't stopped many politicians and it won't stop him.

Man, I'm glad I live in Ohio, where the worst we get is Jerry Springer or Jim Traficant.

I don't know even know what it means to be qualified to be a Governor. Davis was "qualified" but ran the state into the ground.

 

[Clancie]

Tony,

That's a really interesting new defense of Arnold. And, amazing as it seems, I'll bet there are some men who agree with you (like those described in the article who seemed to feel Arnold was just being "a real guy" with the degrading behavior to women at work).

I think that's what disturbed me the most actually....he hasn't been in government even one day yet, but he already is so well acquainted with what it means by "abuse of power".....

 

[Grammatron]

Tony,

That's a really interesting new defense of Arnold. And, amazing as it seems, I'll bet there are some men who agree with you (like those described in the article who seemed to feel Arnold was just being "a real guy" with the degrading behavior to women at work).

I think that's what disturbed me the most actually....he hasn't been in government even one day yet, but he already is so well acquainted with what it means by "abuse of power".....

Clancie, do you really thing Arnold did all that? Do you realize how much money those women would have gotten from sexual harassment lawsuits if those events really took place?

 

[a_unique_person]

I think you will find that Lewinsky was the only 'affair' that was made public. However, as I say, he was hardly the only politician to get up to this sort of behaviour, that is, not just the odd affair, but quite promiscuous behaviour. There are plenty more, from all sides of politics. Ditto sportsmen, rock stars, actors and powerful businessmen.

 

[Tony]

Re: Re: Re: Schwarzenegger's Boorish Behavior

I don't know even know what it means to be qualified to be a Governor. Davis was "qualified" but ran the state into the ground.

"Qualifications" to hold office are a myth. As you just said, "qualified" guys can still do a sh!tty job. No, the idea of "qualifications" to be a leader is elitism, America was founded on the idea of populism.

 

[peptoabysmal]

As Bill Clinton showed quite clearly, many men in a position of power are notorious sex fiends. It seems to come with the territory, for some reason. The number of stories of politicians involved in affairs that come out after they have died (and can't sue), does amaze me. In the past, such behaviour was ignored by the press on the grounds that it was not relevant to the real issue of the politics.

However, I think you have to discern between acts of consent and acts of abuse. Arnie appears to be the type of guy who indulges in abusive acts.

For example, I was interested to hear that Bill Clinton was accused of rape. These allegations, which I would have thought were grounds for impeachment, didn't ever get pursued to the same extent as the Lewinsky charges.

The difference is that Ahnold got it out of his system before going into office.

 

[peptoabysmal]

Clancie, do you really thing Arnold did all that? Do you realize how much money those women would have gotten from sexual harassment lawsuits if those events really took place?

I think most of the allegatiuons took place on movie sets. Ever been on a movie shoot? Things happen in those that most "normal" people would be shocked at. It is a crazy business with late hours and alcohol and drug use is common. There are women who hang around the sets just to be able to say they boinked a star. I wouldn't be surprised if these women were more upset that he didn't sleep with them than they were at his behavior.

 

[Skeptic]

Go figure. You'd think that Schwarzenneger, of all people, would be the last person on earth who would NEED to grope women in the first place. Somehow, I don't see him as someone who would have problems getting laid...

 

[Skeptic]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Schwarzenegger's Boorish Behavior

"Qualifications" to hold office are a myth.

I sure hope your dentist, doctor, or lawyer don't share that sentiment.

 

[Clancie]

Posted by skeptic

Go figure. You'd think that Schwarzenneger, of all people, would be the last person on earth who would NEED to grope women in the first place. Somehow, I don't see him as someone who would have problems getting laid...

You think groping someone is about getting laid? (Where are the women in this forum????)

I'm wondering how many people who've posted in Schwarzenegger's defense have even bothered to read through all the Los Angeles Times article..... (or any of the other reports that have been about these incidents in the past).

 

[DavidJames]

It's always fun to watch the conservative apologists crawl out to spin the problems with their folks. Today on display are beauties for Rush and now Arnold.

 

[peptoabysmal]

It's always fun to watch the conservative apologists crawl out to spin the problems with their folks. Today on display are beauties for Rush and now Arnold.

Oh no, I don't apologize for Ahnold, Clinton or JFK. It's just that in California we are faced with a choice of Davis, Davis II or Ahnold. I'll take Ahnold any day over Davis or Mini-Davis.

 

[Grammatron]

It's always fun to watch the conservative apologists crawl out to spin the problems with their folks. Today on display are beauties for Rush and now Arnold.

Spin? What spin? All I am asking is why those women never filed lawsuits -- sexual harassment lawsuits would net them millions of dollars even in Hollywood -- and why LA times printing this article now -- a week before the election -- instead of months before if these allegations are indeed so old.

 

[Tricky]

I said it about Clinton and I'll say it about Schwarzennager: a candidate's sex life has nothing to do with their ability to hold office. Clinton was one of the most randy (no offense Randi) little libertines the world has ever seen, but he was unfailingly supportive of women's causes . (One "harassment" case was thrown out because the accuser could not document a single incident where her career had been harmed, but lots of cases where it had been helped.)

And likewise, I don't care at all about Arnold's exploits, past or recent. The question is: "Can he do the job?" The answer I'm seeing is, "No way in hell". He has no experience in any sort of government capacity (other than being married to a Kennedy) and he is woefully bad at explaining what he's going to do. And I have no respect for sissies who won't debate.