May 4, 2004
California’s Accidental Governor
Here’s one recipe for political success: Wealth, independently acquired. Enormous self-confidence. A brand of Republicanism coupling liberal social views with fiscal pragmatism…

April 1, 2004
First Cut’s the Deepest
The Legislature is ignoring the need for real structural budget reform and thus billions of dollars in savings

March 5, 2004
Many happy returns for governor
Voters in Tuesday’s election elevated Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s political clout as they handily approved his two economic recovery measures.

December 29, 2003
Governor was right
GOV. Schwarzenegger has been taking heat from Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill and some lawmakers for his executive order returning lost vehicle license tax money to cities and counties.

December 5, 2003
Law and order? You bet
Schwarzenegger has shown a commitment to law and order that the governor he replaced sadly lacked.

December 4, 2003
The Golden State, From Red to Black
For the past five years, California government has spent $23 billion more than it has taken in. Over the past five years, while revenues have increased by 25%, state expenditures have risen by 43%. If government had simply spent at the same rate that California’s economy has grown, the state’s budget would be balanced today.

October 9, 2003
Pols should heed Arnie’s angry army
Riding the crest of one of the more astonishing people’s insurrections in modern memory – a rebellion of historic proportions

September 28, 2003
…Arnold the outsider
Arnold Schwarzenegger is no ordinary candidate. His gubernatorial bid more closely resembles…

September 27, 2003
Recall Davis, elect Arnold
Gov. Gray Davis is a career government bureaucrat who ascended too high. His shameless pandering to campaign contributors…

September 25, 2003
Schwarzenegger holds his own, so race remains a tossup
The odd dynamics of the two-part recall election and the media frenzy over movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger’s improbable bid for the office — including his refusal to participate in other debates — raised anticipation levels to stratospheric heights.

September 24, 2003
My Economics
I have often said that the two people who have most profoundly impacted my thinking on economics are Milton Friedman and Adam Smith. At Christmas I sometimes annoy some of my more liberal Hollywood friends by sending them a gift of Mr. Friedman’s classic economic primer, “Free to Choose.”

September 18, 2003
Bad News for Democrats: GOP Pipes Down on Social Issues
The California Republican Party is missing something. At least, I couldn’t find it at the GOP’s state convention last weekend in L.A. Neither could others I talked to.

September 17, 2003
Farewell to goodwill
THE NINTH CIRCUIT should set up an 11-judge (en banc) panel to reconsider Monday’s three-judge ruling to postpone the Oct. 7 recall election.

September 15, 2003
Schwarzenegger Tries an Update of the Role Reagan Defined
There is a familiarity to this movie. I keep thinking I’ve seen it before.

September 3, 2003
Public citizen
HOW CAN Republicans who bashed President Bill Clinton for his boorish behavior with women support Arnold Schwarzenegger?

September 1, 2003
Look who’s driving the wedge now
Cruz’s appearance on “Face the Nation” Sunday and his campaign manager’s comments in the Bee this morning suggest that Bustamante is going to try the ethnic left’s favorite trick: yelling “divisiveness” in a crowded political theater.

August 28, 2003
Students Support Arnold
California — Students ban together to support Arnold. They have launched a new website detailing their support. Visit the site

August 23, 2003
The strong, silent type.
ACCORDING TO the pack journalists’ manual, I’m supposed to be wringing my hands right now because Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn’t detailed and substantive when he talked to reporters after meeting with his economic advisers Wednesday. I can’t.

August 21, 2003
Davis Falls Flat, While Schwarzenegger Connects.
This has been a bad week for Gov. Gray Davis. He gave his first major performance of the recall campaign. Then actor Arnold Schwarzenegger gave his.

August 13, 2003
Schwarzenegger could be top pick for Latino voters
DALLAS — As a Mexican-American native of California, I never thought I’d be reacting with such ambivalence to the possibility that the state might elect its first Latino governor in modern times.