Movie director/initiative promoter Rob Reiner stepped away from his controversial post as chairman of the First Five Commission yesterday in a private letter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, taking a “leave of absence” through the June primary election. Don’t expect him back.
The governor, who gave a smoothly delivered, politely received speech over an hour later than scheduled to kick off the state Republican convention in San Jose last night, wasn’t taking any press questions. He still wasn’t taking press questions when I ran into him at a private event after his speech.
Some Reiner friends in Hollywood saw the bad situation he is in, as, reportedly, did Reiner himself. His refusal as a public official to return my repeated calls regarding his status and plans coupled with his aides declining to simply say something like “Rob has done nothing wrong and will remain as chairman” made his crisis obvious. As a fellow Hollywood star, Schwarzenegger was in an awkward situtation. This face-saving option to attempt to defuse the situation is the result.
Will it work? Like most half-measures, probably not.
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larry:About the governor’s speech Friday evening–the main headline above the fold in the Riverside Press-Enterprise this morning:
GOVERNOR ENCHANTS FAITHFUL
Smoothly delivered indeed.
Larry
Feb 25, 2006 - 12:24 pm Bill Bradley:Arnold was good,he did what he mostly needed to do. “Enchanting,” however …
Feb 25, 2006 - 12:53 pm Barbara:“As a fellow Hollywood star, Schwarzenegger was in an awkward situtation. This face-saving option to attempt to defuse the situation is the result”
I am not so sure this was the impetus…I think Reiner’s lawyer had a serious conversation with him…to put some serious distance between himself and the Commission…it is not impossible that down the line there will be need for forensic audit…. possible criminal investigation..
Feb 25, 2006 - 5:41 pm Bill Bradley:Rob has not put serious space between himself and the commission. He still has the important to him chairman title, “on leave.” It is actually rather impossible for him to put serious space between himself and the agency he has headed.
Feb 25, 2006 - 5:48 pm Barbara:This is a very interesting development for an election year …”Man plans and God Laughs”
Feb 25, 2006 - 6:00 pm Bill Bradley:Ok, who’s the quote from? Albert Camus?
Feb 25, 2006 - 7:49 pm Barbara:Did Camus speak Yiddish? It is a very wise yiddish saying….
Feb 25, 2006 - 9:16 pm Bill Bradley:Oh, it sounded very existentialist.
Feb 26, 2006 - 9:52 am Barbara:I don’t think most existentialist especially teh French were big on “God” … on the otherhand Yiddish secularist like Singer…whoisreally the only one I have read…appear to me at least to have a very adroit understanding of God…
Feb 26, 2006 - 10:09 am Bill Bradley:We can always try obscure.
Feb 26, 2006 - 10:13 am Barbara:The “hidden” in life is the most fun of all…I think that is what makes Politics, Love, Hate, Passion …. interesting …when it is interesting
Feb 26, 2006 - 10:35 am Ann:Reiner is a fool. His leave solves nothing for him.
Feb 27, 2006 - 9:15 am Prescription Drug Plans:Dave…
Interesting topic… I’m working in this industry myself and I don’t agree about this in 100%, but I added your page to my bookmarks and hope to see more interesting articles in the future…
Sep 7, 2006 - 8:34 pm