One instance of silencing a critic for speaking the truth is offensive enough.  Two incidents and you start thinking about patterns. So, with the news that Governor Schwarzenegger has asked for the resignation of Fish and Game Commissioner R. Judd Hanna within three months of the firing of California Air Resources Board Chair Robert Sawyer, it made me a little uncomfortable. You see, if this becomes a pattern, it becomes a pattern we are all too familiar with from DC. Silencing critics, scientists, etc.

But Arnold, even after all this time of watching him, still carries an air of mystery. For example, after sacking Sawyer, he hires Mary Nichols to head CARB, who has been doing a pretty good job at pushing the requirments of AB 32, the global warming emissions bill.  But the resignation of Hanna looks to have been Arnold tossing a bone to the right-wing of the GOP that is heavily represented in the Legislature. He hasn't been giving them a whole lot else in the way of victories, so why not let the NRA bully a Fish and Game Commissioner who has the temerity to speak up in the protection of, dare I say, fish and game. 

UPDATE: Here are the thoughts of the President of the Human Society on Hanna's firing resignation. So we have three more years of Arnold. Flip it 

Buth the thing that I wrestle with is how much do we try to work with Arnold. Sure, it aggravated me to no end last year when the Legislature handed Arnold another term in office, with a nice little bow on top. (Well, it could be argued that the bow was the Democratic campaign's shoddy worksmanship, but that's a different story.) But, now we have him in office for another three years or so, so what do we do with that time.

Part of Arnold's appeal is that he sees himself as some kind of visionary for the post-partisan generation. (Except that he hasn't found it within his purview to actually drop the R beside his name). But he has so much potential to leave a lasting mark on the state.  For example, with one signature on AB 43, Arnold could become one of the greatest leaders for civil rights in the 21st century by finally granting marriage equality. His initial reluctance could wear down.  In 50 years from now, the Randy Thommason's and Fred Phelps will be seen as no better than George Wallace and your everyday, run of the mill Klan wizard. Arnold can be on the fronteir of history, or he can be the last reluctant pol on the bandwagon.  Now is his chance.

And marriage equality is certainly the only front of this Arnold self-battle.  There's the Dirty Tricks initiative, will Arnold support the “loser's mentality?” There's the lead shot bill sitting on his desk right now. He has in his hands the California Condor's future? Does he care to be a leader and protect our natural resources or will he surrender to the special interests that he so decried in 2003?

Arnold has always had the opportunity to be a truly great leader, but has never lived up to his rhetoric.His position in history is up to him.