Arnold may be selling an illusion of unity

ANALYSIS: Schwarzenegger touts his 'post-partisan' style, but GOP critics say there's no magic: He just joined the other side.
By Peter Nicholas
LATimes Staff Writer

March 11, 2007

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has plunged into the debate over the nation's future with his call for a new, "post-partisan" governing style aimed at ending political gridlock.

But the Republican governor, who intends to take his message to Iowa, New Hampshire and other critical states as the presidential campaign proceeds, is selling something that may be illusory.

Schwarzenegger used raw political muscle to forge the big legislative victories of his first term, allying with the Democrats, who dominate California's Capitol. Along the way, Republicans felt quashed.

Post-partisanship, said a rueful state Sen. Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) "is the process by which Arnold sits down with Democratic leaders and gets them to do exactly what they wanted to do all along."

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