Anyone who reads this blog knows I distrust the Republican Party more than a congressional page during initiation week. With that being said, I truly want the Democratic candidate in the California gubernatorial race, Phil Angelides, to lose. Not just lose, but to lose so hard that it shames him to the point of never returning to the public eye (until one day when he too makes a movie about global warming).

Phil Angelides is the epitome of what’s wrong with the Democratic Party, and actually calls himself the “Anti-Arnold”. He beat a more appealing candidate, Steve Westly, (also a millionaire) for the Democratic nomination. During his campaign against Westly, Angelides presented himself as a working class man, even though he probably has more personal and special interest cash than Arnold does. The people of California had to choose between two millionaires for the primary, and now between two millionaires for gubernatiorial election. If the Democratic Party wants to stand for something other than what the Republicans stand for, how about NOT putting millionaires at the helm?

A friend and I listened to the recent debate between Angelides and Schwarzenegger on the radio, which was Angelides’ only chance to reverse his favor in the polls. Even without the comical vision of a weasely Angelides sharing the stage with a former Mr. Universe, the debate in audio was still satisfying. Schwarzenegger was bombarded by Angelides’ immature assaults as every answer started with a cheap shot. Rarely did Angelides ever get around to actually addressing the issue raised. Not only did he make his lack of character visible, but Angelides was painfully desperate. He wasn’t convincing people to vote for him so much as he was begging them to. I was simply unimpressed.

At a time when the Democrats have public favor on every major issue nationwide, how does a Democratic candidate in an extremely blue state like California manage to do so horribly against a Republican who once described Nixon’s politics as a “breath of fresh air”? Angelides is probably the only candidate who can make liberals feel more shitty by association than conservatives do about Bush. The problem is that Angelides’ plan since day one was to smear Schwarzenegger’s image rather than to build up his own. One prime example of this childish strategy can be seen on his website. On the main page of Angelides’ site is a link to a cartoon animation of Arnold in his underwear. Your goal is to dress him up and make him look as stupid as possible. Yeah, that’s the way to win. If by being the “Anti-Arnold” Angelides means he’s Arnold without the physique, charisma, or votes, then he’s correct.