The Political Insider

As Democrats continue to claim that the push to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom is strictly an effort by partisan Republicans, one of the the state’s most famous former governors begged to differ. 

Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger weighed in on this issue during an interview with Politico published on Wednesday.

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Schwarzenegger: California ‘Republicans Couldn’t Even Get Anyone Elected… It’s Ludicrous’

“This is the crazy thing here, when they say it’s a ‘power grab’ of the Republicans,” Schwarzenegger told Politico. 

“Let me tell you, the [California] Republicans couldn’t even get anyone elected,” the former governor noted. “It’s ludicrous – the Republican Party doesn’t exist.”

These are the signatures of the ordinary folks that have signed on,” Schwarzenegger insisted.

The former “Governator” added, “People are dissatisfied. [The recall is] the people’s way of kind of letting off some steam, and then they decide: Do we want to follow through, or not follow through?” 

Republican Schwarzenegger himself became California’s governor in 2003 as a result of Democratic Gov. Gray Davis being recalled.

Schwarzenegger Sees Similarities In How He Was Elected In 2003

The former bodybuilding world champion and movie legend said there are similarities between the two eras.

“It’s pretty much the same atmosphere today as it was then,” Schwarzenegger said. “There was dissatisfaction, to the highest level.”

He continued, “And it’s the same with the momentum. Something that sets it off to a higher level, kind of the straw that breaks the camel’s back … like an explosion.”

“In Newsom’s case, it was the French Laundry thing,” he added. “With us, it was the power outages in 2003.”

According to Fox News on Wednesday, “Newsom has already begun amassing a war chest to fight the recall effort against him. His opponents have already poured millions into the recall effort, and Republicans, including former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and wealthy businessman John Cox, have launched campaigns.”

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Some Praise For Newsom

Schwarzenegger did have some praise for California’s embattled governor.  

“Newsom is doing something very smart, and that is that he is engaged now,” Schwarzenegger said.

He continued, “The people have already succeeded with that, even if there’s no recall, because he now has gotten out of Sacramento.”

“He is traveling around the state, is being seen everywhere, is involved and engaged with the vaccine, is involved with education,” Schwarzenegger added.

“I see him on the news all the time now.” Schwarzenegger finished.