Arnold Schwarzenegger

What with Arnold and DSK, male transgression is once again in the news. Let’s not equate the two cases—one is forgivable, the other, if the accusations are true, is not. Together with these male transgressions is the reaction to them, still more interesting. The reaction shows the power of morality to produce disgust and disgrace at the sight of these male weaknesses. Even though morality can’t prevent such excesses, it won’t let go of us.

Matt Welch on why Bernard Henri-Levy is "France's National Disgrace." And a bonus reminder from Jonah Goldberg on BHL's amazing self-regard.

Over 100 pages of threats to Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin have been released.

In October, the Left and the media reveled in Arnold Schwarzenegger's endorsement of Obamacare, but my, how times have changed.

JUST AS LEAP DAY occurs once every four years, there's the quadrennial tradition of California having little--if any--say in the presidential nominating process.

IF ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER hasn't turned Sacramento into a circus, then why the big top on the north lawn of the State Capitol? The outdoor tent was erected to accommodate the media crush that accompanied last night's State of the State Address--there wasn't sufficient room inside the grand old building for the 250-plus journalists who wanted to crash the party. Talk about California politics as unusual: the Governator's first appearance before the legislature, followed by wintertime spin patrol al fresco.

CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS were lining up votes last week for a compromise bill creating a prescription drug benefit for America's 40 million elderly. At the same time, Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle was waving a placard with a picture of a lemon, the letters "Rx," and a slash across both. He chanted, "No more lemons!" In London, President Bush was delivering a speech in defense of the use of military force and solidifying his bond with British prime minister Tony Blair.

THIS IS "JFK WEEK" on The History Channel, which is not the only media outlet obsessed with the 40th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination.

PRESIDENT BUSH has yet to set foot in San Francisco since taking office 33 months ago. Although he's visiting Southern California to inspect the wildfire devastation, the itinerary doesn't include a detour north. Which is unfortunate.

IS CALIFORNIA READY for Dennis Miller as its next United States senator? Laugh if you like, but some Republican strategists (including a few who just sent a certain movie star to Sacramento) see Miller, the sardonic comedian whose late-night talk show lasted just a little longer than Wesley Clark's Iowa campaign, as wholly capable of defeating incumbent Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer next year.

A FTER THE 1972 AND 1980 ELECTIONS, Republicans said political realignment across the country would soon make them the dominant party. It didn't happen. Now, despite highly favorable signs in the 2002 midterm elections and the California recall, Republicans fear a jinx. Realignment? they ask. What realignment?

Matthew Dowd, President Bush's polling expert, notes heavy Republican turnout in 2002 and the recall, a splintering of the Democratic coalition, Republican gains among Latinos, and shrinking Democratic voter identification--all unmistakable signs of realignment.

CALIFORNIA MAY or may not factor into President Bush's reelection strategy, but at least the White House knows the local history. The President and Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger met yesterday at Riverside's Mission Inn, which has hosted GOP presidents as far back as William McKinley. A century ago, Teddy Roosevelt re-planted a navel orange tree on the hotel's grounds. It's also where Richard and Pat Nixon were married, and Ronald and Nancy Reagan honeymooned.

Maybe that's why partnering was the dominant theme of yesterday's tête-à-tête.

LIKE MOST CALIFORNIANS, I am sick of discussing the Los Angeles Times.

I had intended to write this week about the sudden crystallization of the Democratic party around the campaign theme "Higher Taxes, Lower Defenses." This combination of Mondale economics with McGovernite foreign policy is without precedent in American political history and deserves close examination. The appearances of Joe Biden and Jay Rockefeller on the weekend talk shows presented even more opportunities to ruminate on the collapse of coherence within Democratic ranks.

But the Times keeps asking for more.