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The Governator

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 8:20 am
by rufrdr
Back in the early days of Arnold's term as Governor of California he was wildly popular. As Commander in Chief of the California National Guard he put his celebrity status to work for the Guard for recruiting purposes. He also did a lot of work with the families of National Guard soldiers and airmen serving on active duty overseas. He showed up one weekend at the National Guard installation where I serve to present awards to NG soldiers who had returned from Iraq and also to meet with the families of NG soldiers killed in the war. I was present as part of the team smoothing the way for his time on base and of course I made sure to have my camera ready. He shook hands with everyone in sight and posed for photos with every soldier who wanted to have one. I was too busy doing my job to get a picture taken with him but I did shake his hand and speak with him and get these photos. He seemed like a nice guy and certainly had a firm grip!

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The Governator arrives!

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Just after I shook hands with him. First I saluted him.

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One of the CAARNG soldiers and family members

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He made the driver get out of the driver's seat in the Humvee that was to take him to the medal ceremony. He wanted to drive!

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Off he went. My wife was very annoyed that I didn't get my picture taken with him. She was (and still is) a big Arnold fan.

Thus ended one of my Hollywood momentary contacts with fame. Remind me to tell about the time I bumped into the old guy from "The Karate Kid".

Re: The Governator

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 12:58 pm
by Chuck
Cool eh.

Just a pity a man who made so many "violent" action movies became an anti gun nut.

Re: The Governator

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 4:46 pm
by rufrdr
Chuck wrote:Cool eh.

Just a pity a man who made so many "violent" action movies became an anti gun nut.
At least at one time he was a shotgun shooter and would shoot at the trap range down the road from my place. I never saw him there but when he showed up he'd autograph anything you gave him. One guy had the buttstock of his shotgun and the canvas carry case with Arnold's name signed with a Sharpie marker. That was before he was governor though.

Re: The Governator

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 6:28 pm
by Porcupine
Schwarzenegger before power really did corrupt:


Re: The Governator

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 9:39 pm
by Chuck
Commiefornia now seems to have some loopy rules designed to screw legit gun owners, most of which I reckon HE allowed through!