Advice for Arnold: Don’t Go South

Re “Thin Skin May Terminate Schwarzenegger’s Hopes,” Commentary, Jan. 30: So, Garry South is giving political advice to Arnold Schwarzenegger. South, as Gov. Gray Davis’ right-hand man, helped Davis become the most unpopular sitting governor in the state’s history and to run up a huge budget shortfall. Arnold, don’t listen to a word.

Paul Knopick

Laguna Hills

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South accuses Schwarzenegger of “lofty self-appraisal.” With his own ego inflamed by altitude sickness, South does speak from experience. He crows about faxing tabloid articles as if it were a monumental achievement in California politics. In 2002, his personal bluster reached gale force when the Richard Riordan campaign derailed after Davis’ interloping in the Republican primary.

Let’s not forget the true South legacy: an unpopular and uncharismatic governor who mustered a hollow victory over a political novice. Schwarzenegger and the rest of California can do very well without South’s “advice.”

Jason Karpf

Thousand Oaks