Arnold likes Mandela, Gorbachev, and country music - somewhat eclectic, but interesting. He insists his kids wash their own clothes, make their beds daily, and removes lightbulbs from their rooms if they leave the lights on regularly - a little weird, but interesting.
This is the stuff we discovered from Carlos Watson’s interview with Governor Schwarzenegger on CNN last Sunday. We also learned about policy: Arnold pushes for a hydrogen highway while driving in his hydrogen Hummer - symbolism that strangely works in California.
Then, there’s politics: Arnold pulls back from his earlier playful comments about running for President. He’s probably beginning to realize that the challenges in Sacramento require his undivided attention. He won’t succeed simply by removing the lightbulbs from Don Perata’s office. Also, he’ll find out that Californians will sour on a governor who spends too much time on the national stage. (Note to Arnold: read Jerry Brown’s never published book, That’s President Moonbeam.)
Carlos Watson, a Mountain View resident and San Jose Inside guest blogger, was able to draw out of Arnold personal tidbits, policy rationale, and political plans - all signs of a skillful interviewer.
I first met Carlos in 2003 when I arranged for him to interview Governor Howard Dean for a CNN special. He asked all the tough political questions. But what I really noticed was that unlike other national reporters, even those traveling with Dean, Carlos got the Vermont governor to talk about his personal life - something Dean hadn’t done at that point. He even got Dean to play the harmonica on the plane- a rare time that Dean let his proverbial hair down with a reporter.
Carlos Watson is a young, hip reporter worth watching because he can get people to talk about elements of their lives that they normally don’t reveal. He’s Larry King minus the suspenders and alimony payments.
District 7 update - A well placed San Jose Inside reader tells us that former District 7 councilman George Shirakawa, Jr. has asked City Attorney Rick Doyle if the City Charter’s ban on a third consecutive term will prevent him from running for the seat vacated by Terry Gregory.
If there’s a special election and Shirakawa runs, he’s the instant frontrunner. He and his father have represented the district since 1990 and have tremendous name identification and a loyal following. Also, it doesn’t hurt when the major community center in the district bears your last name.
Shirakawa wins that race easy. No one knows the other candidates.
I thought the Hummer couldn’t be made into a hydrogen car. He needs to get rid of the thing and drive a hybrid.
I’m still wondering why a bloger is writing a glowing piece on another blogger? Can we expect Carlos to now write a glowing piece about Mr. Barry and Mr. McEnery?
Shirakawa was on KLIV last week saying he was interested in the Dist. 7 office.
George Shirakawa, Jr is what the District needs, I hope he runs.
If this guy is Larry King without suspenders then I don’t like him. Larry King is the weakest guy on TV as far as throughing out slow pitches and softball questions. Why do you think he gets all the good interviews. As for Arnold he is the only hope for California. Where would we be wtihout him? In big trouble to answer my own question. The best possible thing that can happen is to get rid of those districts so there can be some competition for elected office and no rigged districts. Also. why don’t we have term limits in Washington. I’m sick of all these same old Senators saying the same old things. Lets give them two terms and out. Isn’t 12 years enough.
Jude, I’m happy to see your comment on Carlos Watson and the very interesting facts he elicited from the Governor.
Gives me a chance to disclose that Carlos Watson’s first job after graduating from college was here in San Jose. The undergraduates at the Harvard radio station know that we (at KLIV and KRTY) are always eager to get qualified interns. So Carlos, who was a Harvard graduate and a worker on that radio station, applied.
Within a very few weeks of his arrival, he had graduated from the “intern” designation and had become a salesman for KLIV. Within a few more weeks, he had become the TOP salesperson for KLIV.
Unfortunately, he left and became legislative aide to a Florida state legislator.
Then one day he called to tell me that he was returning to the Bay Area—to attend Stanford Law. He did. And he became editor (I think that’s the designation) of the Stanford Law Review.
After getting his second degree, he worked for one of those dumb (sorry!) management consulting firms. Some time later, he opened a school designed to help kids prepare for and get into good colleges. I believe that the one school grew to a chain of them.
He sold the chain. And the next thing I knew, he was one of a trio of commentators on election night, on CNN.
That may be more than you all want to know about Carlos Watson, but I think the guy is superb and that we’ll be seeing a lot of him in the years ahead.
Thank you and God Bless you.