'How can one not enjoy a campaign with the slogan “Why the hell not?"'

The question on every Californian’s lips as I write this - will the Terminator ‘be back’?

If you’re asking about the movie, then - despite the fact that Terminator 4 is soon to be in the early stages of production - the answer is ‘unlikely’, and if he is, it will be in a cameo role.

If you’re talking about Mr Schwarzenegger’s political career, however, then it seems possible that he will. (UPDATE: He did - Ed)

At the time of writing the US mid-term elections are fast approaching, and, if the polls are anything to go by, Schwarzenegger is likely to enter a second term as California’s governor with a reasonable majority.

Though I am not by any means a fan of all his policies, as California’s Governor, Arnie has begun to win my grudging respect for his work on environmental issues. During his term of office he has initiated some of America’s most far reaching schemes to combat global warming - flying in the face of the policies of fellow Republican President Bush.

Party line

Despite in most ways being a die-hard Republican, it seems that Schwarzenegger is not afraid to move his toe away from the Republican party line.

This, along with his long-term family connection to the Democrats (Schwarzenegger is married to Maria Shriver, niece of John F. Kennedy) means that even some of the lifelong Democrats among our friends have announced their intention to vote for him.

All of which makes this election an interesting one, as it seems likely that it will be fought out over issues rather than along rigid party lines.

California is not the only State to be fielding a colourful personality as a candidate in the mid-terms (although Schwarzenegger does seem to have traversed the gulf between Hollywood star and credible politician with remarkable agility).

Texas, too, is enjoying a lively election campaign thanks to independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman.

I first came across Friedman some years ago in his incarnation as a writer of detective novels. His style owes something to the American “hard-boiled” school of detective fiction (think Sam Spade), and an awful lot more to his own idiosyncratic and wildly politically incorrect sense of humour. Not my usual preferred genre - but in his case I’m quite a fan.

Claim

Writing is not the multi-talented Friedman’s only claim to fame. He has enjoyed some success as a comedian and country and western singer, earning notoriety for such musical delights as “They Don’t Make Jews Like Jesus Any More” - almost every line of which could (if taken out of context) be taken as a deathly insult by some racial or religious group.

In case you’re wondering, the controversial title refers to the Jewish Friedman’s distinctly un-Christ-like reaction when insulted by a racist redneck in a bar, and the song is, in fact, an entertainingly well-written piece of anti-racism polemic.

When compared to the tight-lipped prudence of other politicians, desperate to avoid even the tiniest hint of political incorrectness, Friedman is as refreshing as a refrigerated beer in a Texas summer.

I’ve been thoroughly enjoying following his election campaign - how can one not enjoy a campaign with the slogan “Why the hell not?”.

If you can get past the wisecracks, his actual policies and opinions are not anywhere near as politically incorrect as out-of context quotations from his comedy club patter might suggest. I’m even inclined to believe his line that “Musicians can run this state better than politicians.

We won't get a lot done in the mornings, but we'll work late and be honest.”

The trouble is, however blunt and refreshing his style might be, a politician who routinely makes use of offensively racist and sexist terms as a rhetorical device to get the opposite message across is going to find himself misunderstood.

Intelligence

Which says depressing things about the average intelligence and attention span of the electorate (and I include the UK electorate here), and goes some long way towards explaining the usual tight-lipped mealy-mouthedness of politicians.

It also says something depressing about the way political campaigns are now run. Every word that has issued from the pen or mouth of Friedman - past or present - has been scoured for material that his opponents might use to damage him.

In fact pundits are saying that in general these particular elections have been distinguished like no other before them by the amount of mud-slinging that has been going on. Television adverts bad-mouthing the other candidate actually seem to outnumber the positive adverts about one’s own side.

Sad though it might be to admit it, it seems that a politician actually needs careful scriptwriting and spin on their side if there are to remain credible. So - were I a Texan voter I would not actually be voting for Friedman.

But I’d be sorely tempted.

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