Californians may have thought they were voting for the Kennedy's?

Why not? Everyone knew the Shriver/Kennedy connection. Does anyone think if "Auhnold" hadn't been married to a Kennedy that he would have won? If California is a Dem leaning state, wouldn't it make sense that a desperate voting population thought that somehow the Kennedy mistique might give them hope and resurrect some glory that CA has lost since the "Dot Com Bubble" burst? To say nothing for the tremendous job drain in the state before the "Dot Com."

California has lost it's former glory as the place that sets the agenda for the rest of the country. Just as New York has lost it's former lustre as the center for Arts/Culture/Finance. Our country has changed. Where is the "IN PLACE/HAPPENING PLACE" in America today? Most people are just trying to get by today. California thought "Kennedy Mystique/Terminator Power" and suddenly Californian's can feel they are special again? :shrug:

They voted for Arnie, they voted for the Terminator. I bet that less than 10% were aware of any Kennedy connection and less than 1% gave a shit.

big time IMHO. It was the old "he is not a crazy repug if they support him" and they did.

I think we underestimated, also that he would get excellent coverage (wall to wall) from the MSNBC/Newsweek/CNBC/NBC/GE Media Monstrosity because Maria Shriver is an employee and GE is like Bush! NEPOTISM RULES!

I think it's worth considering. Before we decide that California is a state filled with clueless idiots, we should think that some may be clueless idiots, but others may have been more drawn to the Kennedy factor than the "Auhnold/Conan" factor. And that's also why the groping incidents didn't stick with him. If Maria (neeKennedy) said he didn't do it .....then he didn't do it....his character must be excellent if she defended him. (Now, we here on DU think something else about why Maria might have defended him, but we are a cynical bunch here who are excellent observers).

I live in California and I don't buy the Kennedy mystique at all. Swatzengroper was the outsider running to shove his head under the hood just Henry Ross promised in '92. The people bought into the repuke propoganda because he was promising SOMETHING. The groper had the support of the cable news whores, but I really question just what effect Tweety's endorsement has in Kallifornia. If Henry Ross had the advantage of a stampede of candidates like the recall was, he would have been elected. Bismark said two things should not be viewed up close, the making of sausage and politics. Ahnuld is going to have to make some sausage, and it isn't going to be as pleasant as he would like.
I have been one of the posters heaping crap on Eunice Shriver for even entering the sate, but I truly her affect, and Maria's affect are overestimated. Ahnold won because people believed his simplistic, bullshit solutions.

It basically says that Maria was their most valuable political asset.

Campaign says Shriver was its secret weapon
She helped with women and Democrats

Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer Thursday, October 9, 2003

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Los Angeles -- She stood by her man throughout the most bruising moments of California's recall election. She passionately talked up his strengths to women -- and angrily brushed back attempts to question his personal problems as "gutter journalism."

In the end, Maria Shriver's campaigning -- reaching out to women, swing voters and her fellow Democratic Party members -- on behalf of her Republican husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger, may have been the X factor in a precedent- busting recall election for governor. The governor-elect acknowledged as much on election night, when, standing before cheering supporters, Schwarzenegger thanked her first, saying, "I know how many votes I got today because of you."

"Maria all through this campaign has been our secret weapon," said Todd Harris, the campaign's spokesman. "Having her insights and guidance on all aspects and all issues was invaluable. She understands this process both behind the camera and in front of it."


http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/10/09/MN17507.DTL