The American Spectator

Democrats, however, sent to the ballot only a repeal of term limits and told Arnold what he could do with his reapportionment. Meekly, Schwarzenegger endorsed the idea.

Voters were not as agreeable and rejected the obvious power grab. Arnold has been in political free fall ever since.

Schwarzenegger is an obvious improvement on Gray Davis. But the recall that put him in office was not intended merely to replace a failed politician with a better one. It was a desperate attempt at lasting reform, which is only possible through a partisan political process in which consequential issues get debated, one side wins and one loses.

Still, Republicans cling to their own audacity of hope: The one-time Mr. Universe will understand that while he has sought to rise above the fray and appeal to a sense of statesmanship, this won’t work in Sacramento, a town with nothing but contempt for honest brokers.