The Governator

Grayson

Conspiracy Cafe
Messages
1,117
The Governator

Arnold Schwarzenegger has had his moment basking in the glory of G W Bush, but what do the Americans here make of his speech?

ARNOLD: Californian Governator stands up for George.

Thank you.

What a greeting!

This is like winning an Oscar! ...As if I would know! Speaking of acting, one of my movies was called \"True Lies.\" It's what the Democrats should have called their convention.

My fellow Americans, this is an amazing moment for me. To think that a once scrawny boy from Austria could grow up to become governor of California and stand in Madison Square Garden to speak on behalf of the president of the United States. That is an immigrant's dream. It is the American dream.

I was born in Europe ...and I've traveled all over the world. I can tell you that there is no place, no country, more compassionate, more generous, more accepting and more welcoming than the United States of America.

As long as I live, I will never forget that day 21 years ago when I raised my hand and took the oath of citizenship.

Do you know how proud I was? I was so proud that I walked around with an American flag around my shoulders all day long.

Tonight, I want to talk about why I'm even more proud to be an American ? why I'm proud to be a Republican and why I believe this country is in good hands.

When I was a boy, the Soviets occupied part of Austria. I saw their tanks in the streets. I saw communism with my own eyes. I remember the fear we had when we had to cross into the Soviet sector. Growing up, we were told, \"Don't look the soldiers in the eye. Look straight ahead.\" It was a common belief that Soviet soldiers could take a man out of his own car and ship him off to the Soviet Union as slave labor.

My family didn't have a car ? but one day we were in my uncle's car. It was near dark as we came to a Soviet checkpoint. I was a little boy, I wasn't an action hero back then, and I remember how scared I was that the soldiers would pull my father or my uncle out of the car and I'd never see him again. My family and so many others lived in fear of the Soviet boot. Today, the world no longer fears the Soviet Union and it is because of the United States of America!

As a kid I saw the socialist country that Austria became after the Soviets left. I love Austria and I love the Austrian people ? but I always knew America was the place for me. In school, when the teacher would talk about America, I would daydream about coming here. I would sit for hours watching American movies transfixed by my heroes like John Wayne. Everything about America seemed so big to me so open, so possible.

I finally arrived here in 1968. I had empty pockets, but I was full of dreams. The presidential campaign was in full swing. I remember watching the Nixon and Humphrey presidential race on TV. A friend who spoke German and English, translated for me. I heard Humphrey saying things that sounded like socialism, which is what I had just left. But then I heard Nixon speak. He was talking about free enterprise, getting government off your back, lowering taxes and strengthening the military. Listening to Nixon speak sounded more like a breath of fresh air.

I said to my friend, \"What party is he?\" My friend said, \"He's a Republican.\" I said, \"Then I am a Republican!\" And I've been a Republican ever since! And trust me, in my wife's family, that's no small achievement! I'm proud to belong to the party of Abraham Lincoln, the party of Teddy Roosevelt, the party of Ronald Reagan and the party of George W. Bush.

To my fellow immigrants listening tonight, I want you to know how welcome you are in this party. We Republicans admire your ambition. We encourage your dreams. We believe in your future. One thing I learned about America is that if you work hard and play by the rules, this country is truly open to you. You can achieve anything.

Everything I have ? my career, my success, my family ? I owe to America. In this country, it doesn't make any difference where you were born. It doesn't make any difference who your parents were. It doesn't make any difference if, like me, you couldn't even speak English until you were in your twenties.

America gave me opportunities and my immigrant dreams came true. I want other people to get the same chances I did, the same opportunities. And I believe they can. That's why I believe in this country, that's why I believe in this party and that's why I believe in this President.

Now, many of you out there tonight are \"Republican\" like me in your hearts and in your beliefs. Maybe you're from Guatemala. Maybe you're from the Philippines. Maybe Europe or the Ivory Coast. Maybe you live in Ohio, Pennsylvania or New Mexico. And maybe, just maybe, you don't agree with this party on every single issue. I say to you tonight I believe that's not only okay, that's what's great about this country. Here we can respectfully disagree and still be patriotic, still be American and still be good Republicans.

My fellow immigrants, my fellow Americans, how do you know if you are a Republican? I'll tell you how.

If you believe that government should be accountable to the people, not the people to the government, then you are a Republican! If you believe a person should be treated as an individual, not as a member of an interest group, then you are a Republican! If you believe your family knows how to spend your money better than the government does, then you are a Republican! If you believe our educational system should be held accountable for the progress of our children, then you are a Republican! If you believe this country, not the United Nations, is the best hope of democracy in the world, then you are a Republican! And, ladies and gentlemen, if you believe we must be fierce and relentless and terminate terrorism, then you are a Republican!

There is another way you can tell you're a Republican. You have faith in free enterprise, faith in the resourcefulness of the American people, and faith in the U.S. economy. To those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say: \"Don't be economic girlie men!\"

The U.S. economy remains the envy of the world. We have the highest economic growth of any of the world's major industrialized nations. Don't you remember the pessimism of 20 years ago when the critics said Japan and Germany were overtaking the U.S.? Ridiculous!

Now they say India and China are overtaking us. Don't you believe it! We may hit a few bumps ? but America always moves ahead! That's what Americans do!

We move prosperity ahead. We move freedom ahead. We move people ahead. Under President Bush and Vice President Cheney, America's economy is moving ahead in spite of a recession they inherited and in spite of the attack on our homeland.

Now, the other party says there are two Americas. Don't believe that either. I've visited our troops in Iraq, Kuwait, Bosnia, Germany and all over the world. I've visited our troops in California, where they train before they go overseas. And I've visited our military hospitals. And I can tell you this: Our young men and women in uniform do not believe there are two Americas!

They believe we are one America and they are fighting for it! We are one America ? and President Bush is defending it with all his heart and soul!

That's what I admire most about the President. He's a man of perseverance.

He's a man of inner strength. He is a leader who doesn't flinch, doesn't waiver, does not back down. My fellow Americans, make no mistake about it. Terrorism is more insidious than communism, because it yearns to destroy not just the individual, but the entire international order. The President didn't go into Iraq because the polls told him it was popular. As a matter of fact, the polls said just the opposite. But leadership isn't about polls. It's about making decisions you think are right and then standing behind those decisions. That's why America is safer with George W. Bush as president.

He knows you don't reason with terrorists. You defeat them. He knows you can't reason with people blinded by hate. They hate the power of the individual. They hate the progress of women. They hate the religious freedom of others. They hate the liberating breeze of democracy. But ladies and gentlemen, their hate is no match for America's decency.

We're the America that sends out Peace Corps volunteers to teach village children. We're the America that sends out missionaries and doctors to raise up the poor and the sick. We're the America that gives more than any other country, to fight AIDS in Africa and the developing world. And we're the America that fights not for imperialism but for human rights and democracy.

You know, when the Germans brought down the Berlin Wall, America's determination helped wield the sledgehammers. When that lone, young Chinese man stood in front of those tanks in Tianhammen Square, America's hopes stood with him. And when Nelson Mandela smiled in election victory after all those years in prison, America celebrated, too.

We are still the lamp lighting the world especially for those who struggle. No matter in what labor camp they slave, no matter in what injustice they're trapped, they hear our call, they see our light, and they feel the pull of our freedom. They come here as I did because they believe. They believe in us.

They come because their hearts say to them, as mine did, \"If only I can get to America.\" Someone once wrote: \"There are those who say that freedom is nothing but a dream.\" They are right. It's the American dream.

No matter the nationality, no matter the religion, no matter the ethnic background, America brings out the best in people. And as governor of the great state of California, I see the best in Americans every day ? our police, our firefighters, our nurses, doctors, and teachers, our parents.

And what about the extraordinary men and women who have volunteered to fight for the United States of America! I have such great respect for them and their heroic families.

Let me tell you about the sacrifice and commitment I've seen firsthand. In one of the military hospitals I visited, I met a young guy who was in bad shape. He'd lost a leg had a hole in his stomach, his shoulder had been shot through.

I could tell there was no way he could ever return to combat. But when I asked him, \"When do you think you'll get out of the hospital?\" He said, \"sir, in three weeks.\" And do you know what he said to me then? He said he was going to get a new leg, and get some therapy, and then he was going back to Iraq to serve alongside his buddies! He grinned at me and said, \"Arnold, I'll be back!\"

Ladies and gentlemen, America is back! Back from the attack on our homeland, back from the attack on our economy, back from the attack on our way of life. We're back because of the perseverance, character and leadership of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush.

My fellow Americans, I want you to know that I believe with all my heart that America remains \"the great idea\" that inspires the world. It's a privilege to be born here. It's an honor to become a citizen here. It's a gift to raise your family here, to vote here and to live here.

Our president, George W. Bush, has worked hard to protect and preserve the American dream for all of us. That's why I say, send him back to Washington for four more years!

Thank you, America, and God bless you all!

I am agog at this speech.

But what say you Yanks?
 

CaryP

Senior Member
Messages
1,432
The Governator

Grayson,

First of all, I'm not a "Yank" or a "Yankee". I'm American by birth, but Southern by the Grace of God. I know "Americans" in general are seen as "Yanks" around the world, but I ain't one of 'em. It's an inside joke, but relevant none the less.

Arnold is a Republican stooge is all. Sounds "good" to the faithful with his accent and "came up by my bootstraps" immigrant story, but he's part of the political machine that gave us George M.F. Bush. Makes me want to puke. All the "if you.... you are a Republican" crap was just that - more dung for the dung heap. Sorry Sosuemetoo, I know he's one of your heros. He just sucks less than "W" and co. in my book. Love the man's movies (most of them) but can't stand who he's lining himself up with.

Cary
 

Phoenix

Active Member
Messages
631
The Governator

Originally posted by Grayson@Sep 2 2004, 05:54 PM
Arnold Schwarzenegger has had his moment basking in the glory of G W Bush, but what do the Americans here make of his speech?

ARNOLD: Californian Governator stands up for George.

Thank you.

What a greeting!

This is like winning an Oscar! ...As if I would know! Speaking of acting, one of my movies was called \"True Lies.\" It's what the Democrats should have called their convention.

My fellow Americans, this is an amazing moment for me. To think that a once scrawny boy from Austria could grow up to become governor of California and stand in Madison Square Garden to speak on behalf of the president of the United States. That is an immigrant's dream. It is the American dream.

I was born in Europe ...and I've traveled all over the world. I can tell you that there is no place, no country, more compassionate, more generous, more accepting and more welcoming than the United States of America.

As long as I live, I will never forget that day 21 years ago when I raised my hand and took the oath of citizenship.

Do you know how proud I was? I was so proud that I walked around with an American flag around my shoulders all day long.

Tonight, I want to talk about why I'm even more proud to be an American — why I'm proud to be a Republican and why I believe this country is in good hands.

When I was a boy, the Soviets occupied part of Austria. I saw their tanks in the streets. I saw communism with my own eyes. I remember the fear we had when we had to cross into the Soviet sector. Growing up, we were told, \"Don't look the soldiers in the eye. Look straight ahead.\" It was a common belief that Soviet soldiers could take a man out of his own car and ship him off to the Soviet Union as slave labor.

My family didn't have a car — but one day we were in my uncle's car. It was near dark as we came to a Soviet checkpoint. I was a little boy, I wasn't an action hero back then, and I remember how scared I was that the soldiers would pull my father or my uncle out of the car and I'd never see him again. My family and so many others lived in fear of the Soviet boot. Today, the world no longer fears the Soviet Union and it is because of the United States of America!

As a kid I saw the socialist country that Austria became after the Soviets left. I love Austria and I love the Austrian people — but I always knew America was the place for me. In school, when the teacher would talk about America, I would daydream about coming here. I would sit for hours watching American movies transfixed by my heroes like John Wayne. Everything about America seemed so big to me so open, so possible.

I finally arrived here in 1968. I had empty pockets, but I was full of dreams. The presidential campaign was in full swing. I remember watching the Nixon and Humphrey presidential race on TV. A friend who spoke German and English, translated for me. I heard Humphrey saying things that sounded like socialism, which is what I had just left. But then I heard Nixon speak. He was talking about free enterprise, getting government off your back, lowering taxes and strengthening the military. Listening to Nixon speak sounded more like a breath of fresh air.

I said to my friend, \"What party is he?\" My friend said, \"He's a Republican.\" I said, \"Then I am a Republican!\" And I've been a Republican ever since! And trust me, in my wife's family, that's no small achievement! I'm proud to belong to the party of Abraham Lincoln, the party of Teddy Roosevelt, the party of Ronald Reagan and the party of George W. Bush.

To my fellow immigrants listening tonight, I want you to know how welcome you are in this party. We Republicans admire your ambition. We encourage your dreams. We believe in your future. One thing I learned about America is that if you work hard and play by the rules, this country is truly open to you. You can achieve anything.

Everything I have — my career, my success, my family — I owe to America. In this country, it doesn't make any difference where you were born. It doesn't make any difference who your parents were. It doesn't make any difference if, like me, you couldn't even speak English until you were in your twenties.

America gave me opportunities and my immigrant dreams came true. I want other people to get the same chances I did, the same opportunities. And I believe they can. That's why I believe in this country, that's why I believe in this party and that's why I believe in this President.

Now, many of you out there tonight are \"Republican\" like me in your hearts and in your beliefs. Maybe you're from Guatemala. Maybe you're from the Philippines. Maybe Europe or the Ivory Coast. Maybe you live in Ohio, Pennsylvania or New Mexico. And maybe, just maybe, you don't agree with this party on every single issue. I say to you tonight I believe that's not only okay, that's what's great about this country. Here we can respectfully disagree and still be patriotic, still be American and still be good Republicans.

My fellow immigrants, my fellow Americans, how do you know if you are a Republican? I'll tell you how.

If you believe that government should be accountable to the people, not the people to the government, then you are a Republican! If you believe a person should be treated as an individual, not as a member of an interest group, then you are a Republican! If you believe your family knows how to spend your money better than the government does, then you are a Republican! If you believe our educational system should be held accountable for the progress of our children, then you are a Republican! If you believe this country, not the United Nations, is the best hope of democracy in the world, then you are a Republican! And, ladies and gentlemen, if you believe we must be fierce and relentless and terminate terrorism, then you are a Republican!

There is another way you can tell you're a Republican. You have faith in free enterprise, faith in the resourcefulness of the American people, and faith in the U.S. economy. To those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say: \"Don't be economic girlie men!\"

The U.S. economy remains the envy of the world. We have the highest economic growth of any of the world's major industrialized nations. Don't you remember the pessimism of 20 years ago when the critics said Japan and Germany were overtaking the U.S.? Ridiculous!

Now they say India and China are overtaking us. Don't you believe it! We may hit a few bumps — but America always moves ahead! That's what Americans do!

We move prosperity ahead. We move freedom ahead. We move people ahead. Under President Bush and Vice President Cheney, America's economy is moving ahead in spite of a recession they inherited and in spite of the attack on our homeland.

Now, the other party says there are two Americas. Don't believe that either. I've visited our troops in Iraq, Kuwait, Bosnia, Germany and all over the world. I've visited our troops in California, where they train before they go overseas. And I've visited our military hospitals. And I can tell you this: Our young men and women in uniform do not believe there are two Americas!

They believe we are one America and they are fighting for it! We are one America — and President Bush is defending it with all his heart and soul!

That's what I admire most about the President. He's a man of perseverance.

He's a man of inner strength. He is a leader who doesn't flinch, doesn't waiver, does not back down. My fellow Americans, make no mistake about it. Terrorism is more insidious than communism, because it yearns to destroy not just the individual, but the entire international order. The President didn't go into Iraq because the polls told him it was popular. As a matter of fact, the polls said just the opposite. But leadership isn't about polls. It's about making decisions you think are right and then standing behind those decisions. That's why America is safer with George W. Bush as president.

He knows you don't reason with terrorists. You defeat them. He knows you can't reason with people blinded by hate. They hate the power of the individual. They hate the progress of women. They hate the religious freedom of others. They hate the liberating breeze of democracy. But ladies and gentlemen, their hate is no match for America's decency.

We're the America that sends out Peace Corps volunteers to teach village children. We're the America that sends out missionaries and doctors to raise up the poor and the sick. We're the America that gives more than any other country, to fight AIDS in Africa and the developing world. And we're the America that fights not for imperialism but for human rights and democracy.

You know, when the Germans brought down the Berlin Wall, America's determination helped wield the sledgehammers. When that lone, young Chinese man stood in front of those tanks in Tianhammen Square, America's hopes stood with him. And when Nelson Mandela smiled in election victory after all those years in prison, America celebrated, too.

We are still the lamp lighting the world especially for those who struggle. No matter in what labor camp they slave, no matter in what injustice they're trapped, they hear our call, they see our light, and they feel the pull of our freedom. They come here as I did because they believe. They believe in us.

They come because their hearts say to them, as mine did, \"If only I can get to America.\" Someone once wrote: \"There are those who say that freedom is nothing but a dream.\" They are right. It's the American dream.

No matter the nationality, no matter the religion, no matter the ethnic background, America brings out the best in people. And as governor of the great state of California, I see the best in Americans every day — our police, our firefighters, our nurses, doctors, and teachers, our parents.

And what about the extraordinary men and women who have volunteered to fight for the United States of America! I have such great respect for them and their heroic families.

Let me tell you about the sacrifice and commitment I've seen firsthand. In one of the military hospitals I visited, I met a young guy who was in bad shape. He'd lost a leg had a hole in his stomach, his shoulder had been shot through.

I could tell there was no way he could ever return to combat. But when I asked him, \"When do you think you'll get out of the hospital?\" He said, \"sir, in three weeks.\" And do you know what he said to me then? He said he was going to get a new leg, and get some therapy, and then he was going back to Iraq to serve alongside his buddies! He grinned at me and said, \"Arnold, I'll be back!\"

Ladies and gentlemen, America is back! Back from the attack on our homeland, back from the attack on our economy, back from the attack on our way of life. We're back because of the perseverance, character and leadership of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush.

My fellow Americans, I want you to know that I believe with all my heart that America remains \"the great idea\" that inspires the world. It's a privilege to be born here. It's an honor to become a citizen here. It's a gift to raise your family here, to vote here and to live here.

Our president, George W. Bush, has worked hard to protect and preserve the American dream for all of us. That's why I say, send him back to Washington for four more years!

Thank you, America, and God bless you all!

I am agog at this speech.

But what say you Yanks?
I think it is a potent and beautiful speech.

I am still voting for Howard Dean as a write in vote just as I have said I will be.

I did vote for George Bush in 2000. How did I know it was possible for him to find a war and follow in Reagon's foot steps? The Patriot Acts are quite scarey but Bush was far more pro-freedom when he was coming into office, well his platform and speeches were. Over all I don't object much to what George Bush has done, including the war in Iraq. I don't like the extra departments of national homeland security. I am glad the liberal issues have taken a back burner and been nearly forgotten. There was far too much belief that government should be the solution to problems, far too many special interest takes as to what those problems were, and far too much "education" of the people to get a particular law, tax, or program. Just more and more bloat and sense of the right and responsibility of people to tell other people how to live their lives.

I did vote for Arnold in the recall election. I was very pleased to see all of the established people to be shocked and offended that Arnold was elected. The thought of Arnold being elected rubbed all of the people I hated the wrong way. I have liked the things that Arnold has said and stood for. I know people are always trying to pose him in a bad light.

There is probably much that is bad that can be said about both of them.

Anyways, I liked the speech.
 

KiraSjon

Member
Messages
172
The Governator

Originally posted by CaryP@Sep 2 2004, 07:14 PM
First of all, I'm not a \"Yank\" or a \"Yankee\". I'm American by birth, but Southern by the Grace of God. I know \"Americans\" in general are seen as \"Yanks\" around the world, but I ain't one of 'em. It's an inside joke, but relevant none the less.


Grayson - you'll find only us southerners are particularly sensitive about this word only because we use it to talk about northerners. :p

i liked Arnold's speech a lot. I even like that he went into the "coming up by bootstraps" as Cary so eloquently put it. It goes back to what I was talking about yesterday - with what we are encouraged to believe about our country. Apparently, even if you aren't American to begin with you can still be governor. I actually haven't made my mind up yet how I feel about these elections. I watched the president's speech last night. I almost wish they could make those speeches hooked up to a polygraph test... :unsure:
 

Unintentional

Active Member
Messages
577
The Governator

I liked the speech. I also liked how he repeated the story of why his a republican: He didn't like socialism (what he though democrats sounded like), because he just left a country that was steeped in socialism, so he decided he was a republican. Everytime I hear that, I laugh a little because it is true and it really torques off democrats. :)
 

Phoenix

Active Member
Messages
631
The Governator

I almost wish they could make those speeches hooked up to a polygraph test...
That is a cool idea, maybe have it displayed in a little window on the screen as the speech is being made, in debates as well. :)
 

Ralan

Member
Messages
361
The Governator

I enjoyed watching the speech a lot. It was very entertaining and really had the audience captivated. But it was fake and obviously phsycologically manipulative, and once I had taken it all in I felt some true bad feelings for the guy. Partly anger that he allowed himself to be used that way, partly sympathy that he has been drawn in and made a puppet for those criminals.

However heart felt a speech is, however humourous and entertaining, you have to remember that its all planned; groups of people have designed this thing to manipulate you. The only real valid things that you should let affect you are the solid facts. So read through it again, and see how many of them there are. Then see how many of them actually shine a good light on the republicans.
 

Judge Bean

Senior Member
Messages
1,257
The Governator

I am agog at this speech.

But what say you Yanks?



Thanks for the text of the script of the canned puppet cant. Now we are supposed to be comfortable (as they would say) with this ape as being "presidential." Almost everything they have in these dog and pony shows is meant to put a spin on the true state of affairs, which, in our right minds, would tell us that this man is nothing but another version of Reagan and Charlton Heston, neither of whom was qualified to play the roles of either Moses or President of the United States.

"Qualifed" is a qualified term. It's probably true that Lincoln wasn't qualified to be the president, that Teddy Roosevelt wasn't, that Truman wasn't, nor Ford nor the current Bush, while each has shown himself able to do the job and find the right people to tell him what to do.

What I don't like at all is the apparent feeling that Arnie is entitled to the job because he is rich, popular, and able to become whatever a lot of people want him to be. It makes me think that, if at all possible, we would elect Batman.
 

StarLord

Senior Member
Messages
3,187
The Governator

Hmm Brother, THAT is a whole nother can of worms, Adam West is none too stable these days.
 

Top