Maybe so . . . after all, Californians have in the past elected the likes of Gray Davis, Willie Brown, and Barbara Boxer, so maybe the Russians have a point. 

This morning's Moscow Times carries an article about how some Russians are reacting to Arnold's election in California:

. . . . Deputy State Duma Speaker Vladimir Lukin said Russians were too smart to elect someone like Schwarzenegger.

"Our Russian voter is more intelligent than the American voter, and therefore he perfectly understands the difference between a president and an actor who plays a president," he told Interfax, adding that the same goes for an actor aspiring to be governor.

"An actor is in a good position to take part in elections and schmooze the electorate," he said. "But to work as a president or a governor, this is not the best starting point."

Lukin might have a point. If Schwarzenegger's bid had taken place not in California but on Pushkin Square at about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, his chances would have been slim to none.

"Who's Schwarzenegger?" said Anna Khafizova, an 18-year old student. Told he was the star of the "Terminator" movies and that he had just been elected governor of California, she was at a loss for words. "He's the governor of California? What a nightmare!" she exclaimed. . . . (article)