Davis Falls Flat, While Schwarzenegger Connects

Sacramento

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.

Davis’ was a dud.

Schwarzenegger’s was Reaganesque.

The scary thing for Democrats is that Davis’ performance may have been the best he can do.

I don’t think so, but we may never find out. Why would TV stations ever again free up 20 minutes for a Davis pep rally?

This widely televised, news-hour speech, delivered before a friendly labor audience at UCLA on Tuesday, may have been Davis’ best shot at appealing to viewers in their homes. And he blew it.

The speech was way too long -- for the stations giving freebie time and their viewers.

Worse, it lacked a badly needed mea culpa -- for initial indecisiveness in the energy and budget crises, and for obsessive money-grubbing from special interests.

Americans love to forgive, but they have to be asked. This doesn’t count: “I know many of you feel that I was too slow to act during the energy crisis. I’ve got your message and I accept that criticism. I played the hand I was dealt as best I could. I inherited the energy deregulation scheme....”

Neither does this: “We made our share of mistakes. And like you, I wish I had known then all I know now.”

Nor especially this: “I come here tonight to take responsibility, to set the record straight and to talk about the future.”

Davis did not take responsibility, and he sure didn’t talk much about the future. It was his chance to tell Californians how he’d govern differently and better if they’d allow him to serve out a second term. He should have proposed budgeting reforms to stabilize revenues and balance spending.

Instead, we got the promise of yet another “distinguished commission of knowledgeable people to propose changes.” Here’s a guy, remember, with “experience money can’t buy.” He should be brimming with reform ideas. If not, he could dust off a couple hundred forgotten studies.

There’s no shortage of ideas around Sacramento. There’s an urgent shortage of leadership.

But even worse than the lack of contrition and visionary content was the disconnect between words and body language.

My mind kept harking back to those great old Esquire magazine photos of a howling Richard Nixon with the caption, “Why is this man laughing?”

Davis would deliver fiery, emotional words -- they were “heartfelt,” aides said -- followed by forced, plastic grins. He’d also do hand-chops and lead “no recall” chants like an orchestra conductor, but most distracting were those out-of-place grins.

Just one of many examples, followed by the big smile: “Make no mistake, I am going to fight this recall and the right-wing forces behind it. You can take that to the bank.”

A viewer might ask: Which is to be believed? The fire or the mirth? Or neither?

You’d expect a star actor to communicate superbly with TV viewers and, I suspect, Schwarzenegger did in his first lengthy session with political reporters Wednesday.

Look, it’s obvious that Schwarzenegger doesn’t know beans about how state government works -- how the money flows in and where it goes. But voters already believe him -- as they did Ronald Reagan 37 years ago -- when he tells them the government isn’t working very well.

He has celebrity magnetism that dominates the stage and attracts a huge audience. And he began to convey the notion to people that he may have some core beliefs about improving the business climate and rebuilding the state’s infrastructure.

Sure, his promise to contract with “an outside auditing group” to examine Sacramento’s books -- for how many millions? -- is a stall to avoid taking hard positions before election day. Moreover, this was grandstanding, because as governor, he could command the state number-crunchers to dig out anything he wanted.

He did take one crucial position by refusing to rule out a tax hike. He’s against higher taxes “in principle,” he asserted, “but I’ve learned never to say never.”

What made Schwarzenegger’s performance shine was how he -- a la Reagan -- articulated views that might not satisfy insiders and reporters, but could excite voters.

“The public doesn’t care about figures,” he said, evading a question about details. “They’ve heard figures for the last five years. What they want to know is, ‘Are you tough enough to make the changes?’ I’m tough enough.”

Also: “I haven’t made any deals with anyone. I haven’t sold out to any special interest groups. I want to go up there with no baggage, totally independent.”

Well, he’d still have to make deals. It’s called putting together voter coalitions. Leading.

In a refreshing oddity, the rookie politician turned down a reporter’s invitation to criticize Davis’ speech, vowing: “I will never attack.”

Schwarzenegger must realize something his GOP opponents apparently don’t: It’s a waste of time and money to attack Davis. He’s his own worst enemy.