Arnie’s the Man, Says Expert
By Niall O’Dowd

ARNOLD Schwarzeneg-ger would be the best thing ever to happen to California politics says Warren Hinckle, the famed San Francisco newsman who has been a strong Irish activist all his life.

Nowadays Hinckle is the best-known writer at the San Francisco Examiner, the daily newspaper that was recently sold by the Hearst family to a local businessman. Years ago in 1962 he edited Ramparts, one of the great counter-culture magazines of all time.

Writing about Ramparts, a local reviewer stated, “Founded by a rich convert, Ramparts magazine was envisaged as a monthly church-and-secular-affairs magazine for moderately hip Catholic lay people. By a twist of fate, the magazine fell into the hands of journalist Warren Hinckle, who became its editor.”

Nowadays some would claim that Ramparts was the greatest magazine of its time, an investigative tool long before Woodward and Bernstein that helped define the new era of journalism.

At the center was Hinckle, who broke more scoops than any other journalist in America. Ramparts was wild, radical and sometimes great fun.

Once upon a time too, Hinckle and his sidekick Paddy Nolan from Dublin pretty much ran the Irish scene in the city by the bay. Among their stunts were showing up with some pigs when Princess Margaret arrived in the Bay Area shortly after she referred to the Irish as “pigs” in an aside at a Chicago dinner. When few writers bothered to learn about Northern Ireland Hinckle, with his famous eye patch, was a frequent visitor there and wrote knowledgeably about it.

These days, however, Hinckle is casting a cold eye on the California governor’s race which is utterly riveting stuff for every student of politics. His surprising conclusion, given that he is often way to the left of the Democratic Party, is that a win for Schwarze-negger would be the best possible outcome.

“Look, this is a guy who could never win a primary in the Republican Party because he is far too liberal,” says Hinckle. “The Republican Party is controlled in California by a group of right wingers so extreme that they can’t even get a dogcatcher elected statewide.”

On the other hand, he believes the Democrats have gone crazy with power. He says because it is a one party state Democrats dominate everything, and the smell of corruption is everywhere. Hinckle says that they have become very arrogant, as is clear from the way Governor Gray Davis has been acting.

Everyone has an opinion on Davis, says Hinckle, “even people who never have anything to do with politics. Most of what you hear is negative. I am certain he will not survive the recall.” 

Even the intervention of former President Bill Clinton, wildly popular in the Golden State, will not save the governor predicts Hinckle.

If that is the case Hinckle believes that Arnold would be the best man for the job because he would smash the two party monopoly. “This is the only way he could ever get the job. He’d never win in a primary. I really think the people here are ready for something completely different,” he feels.

Hinckle also believes that California politics is not as wild or wacky as some have made it out to be, and that there is method in the madness in the groundswell of support for Arnold.

“We’ve never really had the powerful machines out here, the Irish or Italian or whatever. People grew up without labels, no one tells you who to vote for like back east, and people are ready on their own to make an historic decision,” he says.

Hinckle says that the Democratic Party in particular needs a massive shake up in the state. “They have grown so used to power. They dominate everything and they are utterly incapable of addressing real problems,” he offers.

Hinckle says he doesn’t think the race will be even close. He is certain Davis will not survive on the first vote and that Schwarzeneg-ger will romp home on the second. 

As for all the hand-wringing in the rest of the country he just brushes it off. “Everyone is playing by democratic rules, long established in this state. The more candidates the merrier. This is real democracy at last. May the best person win.”