# Ghod! California Has Become A Freak Show... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 24, 2002, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506 "2002-09-24T19:56:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506/1 "2002-09-24T19:56:18Z")
but then it _always was._☹ [http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/09/24/reiner.schwarzenegger.reut/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/09/24/reiner.schwarzenegger.reut/index.html) Sitcom characters & robotic Romanians for Governor? :smack: Third party, anyone? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![BF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5ac83/32.png) [@BF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BF)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506/2 "2002-09-24T20:02:44Z")
> [@](#): > > robotic Romanians I think that would be Austrian, **BDT**. ---
**Author:** ![False\_God](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee7513/32.png) [@False\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/False_God)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506/3 "2002-09-24T20:12:25Z")
Has become, nothin’. Always was, always will be, and that’s the way we like it. A joke this third-generation Californian enjoys telling people out here on the East Coast: How is California like a bowl of cereal? 'Cause once you get past the fruits and the nuts, all you have left is the flakes. And FTR we’ve had far worse governors than AH-Nuld. Try Dukemejian, or Jerry “Moonbeam” Brown, or Pete Wilson, or even a little-known movie actor named Reagan or somethig like that. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506/4 "2002-09-24T20:12:45Z")
How about Carrot-top as a third? ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506/5 "2002-09-24T20:40:45Z")
**World Eater** , if that happens, I’m moving out of state. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![No\_Dragons\_Here](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@No\_Dragons\_Here](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Dragons_Here)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506/6 "2002-09-24T20:46:01Z")
I would take Arnold or Meathead long before Greyout Davis or Simon anyday. This coming election is going to suck something fierce. I could have voted for Riordan who is a moderate for the most part, but I can’t vote for Davis and I hate Simon. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506/7 "2002-09-24T21:09:12Z")
Well, that articles didn’t seem to do much but say, “Hey, wouldn’t this be neat?” And then backed it up weakly with a few guys saying anything could happen. But as for the OP calling me and my state a “freak show”? As a native San Franciscan, I have to say this: Thanks! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506/8 "2002-09-24T21:12:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by No Dragons Here \* > \*\*but I can’t vote for Davis and I hate Simon. \*\* You too? ---
**Author:** ![symplicity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@symplicity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/symplicity)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506/9 "2002-09-24T21:49:54Z")
Hating Simon is what Davis wanted, he wanted to go against Simon in hopes he would be back in. Carrottop frightens me but I think I would vote for him over Davis. So bring on the terminator and meathead. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506/10 "2002-09-24T22:04:51Z")
Carrottop is running for Governor?! I’m moving to California! ---
**Author:** ![zen101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c68b51/32.png) [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506/11 "2002-09-24T22:21:24Z")
Carrottop is a native and proud Floridian, I don’t forsee him moving to CA any time soon. ---
**Author:** ![zen101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c68b51/32.png) [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506/12 "2002-09-24T22:22:55Z")
And I like how the article mentions “The Story Of Us” as along with this campain and his other film “North” we will have a trifecta of pain inflicted on the public should his political career get off the ground. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506/13 "2002-09-24T22:25:16Z")
**friedo** , I guess that means I’ll need to move to NYC and take your spot! ---
**Author:** ![UncaStuart](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncastuart/32/404_2.png) [@UncaStuart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncaStuart)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2002, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506/14 "2002-09-25T00:53:20Z")
I’ve always wondered where it was stated that being an actor automatically meant that you could never have a worthwhile thought or a coherent political vision. Does being an entertainer mean one is stupid, uneducated, or manipulative? How is the play-acting a film star does more sinister than that of a successful lawyer (none of them in government, oh no!) or a good-cop-bad-cop team, or a therapist, or a hostage negotiator? It feels to me that in some ways we still haven’t shaken the centuries-old Puritan stigma on actors, no matter how many pages of _People_ and _In Style_ are devoted to them. Now, as a fifth-generation Californian (great-great-granddad showed up in 1847), I enjoy the freak show, and if it repels people, then great. (And somewhere, in a box, I have some currency from Emperor Norton. If he were still around, he’d get some votes this election, for sure!) ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2002, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506/15 "2002-09-25T01:38:12Z")
Minnesota. ---
**Author:** ![Blackeyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@Blackeyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackeyes)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2002, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506/16 "2002-09-25T02:01:50Z")
I live in Texas. California is Paradise, the plce on the other side of the rainbow, the Land of Milk and Honey. Something desirably somewhere off in the distance, but ultimately unattainable. Is it any cooincidence you have to wander through the desert for days before you can see it? ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2002, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506/17 "2002-09-25T02:10:08Z")
> [@](#): > > California Has Become A Freak Show… Jealous? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2002, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506/18 "2002-09-25T03:16:06Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve always wondered where it was stated that being an actor automatically meant that you could never have a worthwhile thought or a coherent political vision. Well, obviously, there is no reason to believe that any actor that enters politics somehow forfeits their intelligence or vision. It is just that, so far, all of them have. ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2002, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506/19 "2002-09-25T03:54:22Z")
Now Tom~ - Is that any way to talk about that cute, adorable Shirley Temple? Shame, shame… [sub]besides, there is no credible evidence that any of them ever _had_ intelligence or vision[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2002, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506/20 "2002-09-25T04:24:38Z")
It’s not that they automatically don’t have any worthwhile thoughts, it’s that so many people equate fame and expertise in one field (acting) with expertise and deep knowledge in every other field. Tomorrow morning, pick a random person sitting at the bus stop and say to yourself “I should listen to everything that person has to say about politics/economics/international relations/environmentalism/quantum mechanics/basketweaving because he obviously knows what he’s talking about.” Feels pretty ridiculous, doesn’t it? Also, since actors are trained to pretend they know what they’re talking about, I’d be less inclined to believe them over a random stranger on almost any subject. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghod-california-has-become-a-freak-show/129506.md?page=2)