CA Gov: GOP could replace Arnold with Mel Gibson

[Joe Republic]

Source

Mel cast as best hope to take on Arnie's role

By Gerard Wright in Los Angeles
December 9, 2005

IS IT hasta la vista for The Governator? To be replaced by Mad Max?

With segments of the political base of the California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, in revolt, another actor, Mel Gibson, is being proposed as a possible replacement by the California Republican Assembly. This week it announced its attentions online with the creation of a website, melgibsonforgovernor.com.

Mr Schwarzenegger's approval rating has dropped almost 25 points from the start of this year. His political vulnerability was further emphasised by the failure of four ballot measures he supported at a special statewide election last month, only two years after he swept into office.

Republicans of every stripe have been dismayed by Mr Schwarzenegger's tack back to the centre after a brief flirtation with the conservative wing of the party, which included a rousing, nationally televised embrace of the party's values at its national convention last year.

Last week he announced the appointment of Susan Kennedy, a former cabinet secretary for his Democratic predecessor, Gray Davis, and a leading abortion rights activist, as his new chief of staff. At the time the Governor welcomed Ms Kennedy as "someone who could implement my vision".

The president of the California Republican Assembly, Mike Spence, says there are several reasons for putting Gibson's name forward, including the suspicion that the decline in his poll numbers may decide Mr Schwarzenegger against running in the election next November.

"He has abandoned everything that he ran on," Mr Spence said. "Mel Gibson is someone who can catch the attention of people and articulate a vision better than the Governor."

And besides, Mr Spence added: "His [Gibson's] last movie made more money than the Governor's [Terminator 3]."

Another factor forcing the group's hand is that Warren Beatty and Rob Reiner*, both outspoken Democrats, are flirting with the possibility of entering the field. A spokeswoman for Gibson's production company, Icon, said he knew nothing of the approach by the Republican group. Apart from widely publicised conservative Catholic views, Gibson, 49, has kept a relatively low political profile by Hollywood standards.


* Rob Reiner has announced he won't be running next year.

[Yates]

Does the stupidity ever end?

[ATFFL]

Does the stupidity ever end?

In California?  Never.

[Max Power]

So they want to replace the son of a Nazi with a son of a Holocaust denier? Funny. And ironic.

[YRABNNRM]

Good joke.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Well they should decide which Republican actor they would rather lose with.

[CARLHAYDEN]

Well they should decide which Republican actor they would rather lose with.

Well, it they're going to go for a Hollywood actor, there really is limited choice as conservatives are a presecuted minority in tinsle town.

[© tweed]

Well they should decide which Republican actor they would rather lose with.

Well, it they're going to go for a Hollywood actor, there really is limited choice as conservatives are a presecuted minority in tinsle town.

They could run Bruce Willis.  He is a conservative.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

LMAO! Yeah, run a super far right winger in California.

[Everett]

Mel Gibson should stick to being an actor.

[The Duke]

No, they really couldn't replace Arnold with Mel.

If you run Mel, though, you can replace Arnold with Phil Angelides.  Why don't these goddamn fundies ever learn?

[Joe Republic]

Dammit, I thought the 'California Republican Assembly' was akin to the actual state party leadership.  Turns out they're just some two-bit pressure group, and this whole article is rendered as plain silliness.

[Gabu]

Gibson might have a chance in, say, Alabama or something like that.

California?  Uh, no.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Well they should decide which Republican actor they would rather lose with.

Well, it they're going to go for a Hollywood actor, there really is limited choice as conservatives are a presecuted minority in tinsle town.

Umm, that President of the screen-actors guild who became President of the US? He wasn't a Democrat.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

LMAO! Yeah, run a super far right winger in California.

You mean like someone who is buddies with Ken Lay? Oh, wait....

[memphis]

I'm so sick of this! We need a Constitutional separation of Hollywood and state in this country. Please, no more Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon activist types and no more Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzeneggar b-movie politicians.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

You may not like him, but I think Arnold has proven to be a competent Governor.  California is almost impossible to manage fiscally or politically.  I am sick of the right-wingers in California who don't seem to understand that you have to have a united GOP and a moderate candidate in order to win there.

[Speed of Sound]

I'm so sick of this! We need a Constitutional separation of Hollywood and state in this country. Please, no more Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon activist types and no more Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzeneggar b-movie politicians.

doesnt it seem a bit unusual to say, "if you have been a celebrity, you cant run for office, no matter how good a leader you would be."?

[Max Power]

"California Uber Alles"

I am Governor Jerry Brown
My aura smiles
And never frowns
Soon I will be president

Carter power will soon go away
I will be Fuhrer one day
I will command all of you
Your kids will meditate in school

California Uber Alles
Uber Alles California

Zen fascists will control you
100% natural
You will jog for the master race
And always wear the happy face

Close your eyes, can't happen here
Big Bro' on white horse is near
The hippies won't come back you say
Mellow out or you will pay

California Uber Alles
Uber Alles California

Now it is 1984
Knock knock at your front door
It's the suede/denim secret police
They have come for your uncool neice

Come quitely to the camp
You'd look nice as a drawstring lamp
Don't you worry, it's only a shower
For your clothes here's a pretty flower

Die on organic poison gas
Serpent's egg's already hatched
You will crack, you little clown
When you mess with President Brown

California Uber Alles
Uber Alles California

[Gabu]

You may not like him, but I think Arnold has proven to be a competent Governor.  California is almost impossible to manage fiscally or politically.  I am sick of the right-wingers in California who don't seem to understand that you have to have a united GOP and a moderate candidate in order to win there.

Quick, let's have Arnold switch parties and then ask Don what he thinks of Arnold's performance.

[Gustaf]

Mel Gibson should stick to being an actor.

He should definitely quit directing, if that's what you mean...he should stick to his faith and not meddle in movies at all, really.

[CARLHAYDEN]

Mel Gibson should stick to being an actor.

He should definitely quit directing, if that's what you mean...he should stick to his faith and not meddle in movies at all, really.

Gustaf,

That was a really strange post on several levels.

First, Gibson has been asucessful director.

Second, he has been in the film industry (quite sucessfully) for a long time.

Third, while conservatives are a persecuted minority in Hollywood, I find the implication that the religiously inclined should NOT make movies to be a little strange.

[minionofmidas]

Well they should decide which Republican actor they would rather lose with.

Well, it they're going to go for a Hollywood actor, there really is limited choice as conservatives are a presecuted minority in tinsle town.

Umm, that President of the screen-actors guild who became President of the US? He wasn't a Democrat.

IIRC He was when he was President of the screen-actors guild.

[Gustaf]

Mel Gibson should stick to being an actor.

He should definitely quit directing, if that's what you mean...he should stick to his faith and not meddle in movies at all, really.

Gustaf,

That was a really strange post on several levels.

First, Gibson has been asucessful director.

Second, he has been in the film industry (quite sucessfully) for a long time.

Third, while conservatives are a persecuted minority in Hollywood, I find the implication that the religiously inclined should NOT make movies to be a little strange.

First, I do not contest that. Many successfull directors should not be making movies beccause the movies they make are bad. That goes for the second point too. I did not imply that religious people should not make movies. One of the best movies I've seen this year, Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter was made by a devout Catholic Korean director. I have no problem with religious people making movies, as long as they're good (not like The Prince of Egypt, for instance).

To sum up, I was not making a religious or political statement, merely a statement of taste.

[The Duke]

Mel Gibson should stick to being an actor.

He should definitely quit directing, if that's what you mean...he should stick to his faith and not meddle in movies at all, really.

Gustaf,

That was a really strange post on several levels.

First, Gibson has been asucessful director.

Second, he has been in the film industry (quite sucessfully) for a long time.

First, I do not contest that. Many successfull directors should not be making movies beccause the movies they make are bad... I have no problem with religious people making movies, as long as they're good (not like The Prince of Egypt, for instance). 

Mel Gibson directed "Braveheart", and won the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director.  I'd say he's a pretty damn good director.