Maria Shriver: Threat or Menace?

Many conservatives believe that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's shift in political philosophy must be coming from outside influence, because the betrayal seems so uncharacteristic. They thought he was a conservative. Their first culprit is Maria Shriver, his Kennedy-clan-Democratic-NBC-reporter wife.

Aides to the governor say what Shriver does best is channel her husband--she doesn't mold him. She knows his weaknesses, his strengths, how he speaks, what he believes.

Over on "The O'Reilly Factor" last night, however, Tammy Bruce wasn't buying it. The KABC and Fox News commentator, who worked on Schwarzenegger's transition team after the 2003 recall, had this discussion with O'Reilly about Shriver:

O'REILLY: Tammy, we'll begin with you. What's the conservative beef with Schwarzenegger exactly? What's the beef?

BRUCE: Well, there is a lot of hope for him. I was actually on his transition team. I didn't technically work for him, but there is a hope that he was a legitimate, authentic conservative. He looked the part. He sounded the part. What none of us anticipated, frankly, was the volume or the level of influence Maria, his wife would have. She in 1992 or 1993 noted to ABC Television that his Republican politics were his sickness. And this is the woman this man goes to bed with every night. So you're looking at.

O'REILLY: OK, so you're telling me that Maria Shriver is running the state of California? Is that what you're.

BRUCE: She is having a lot of influence. And this is something that's happened from the beginning. It's disappointing because she is really a hard core leftist.

[Snip.]

BRUCE: Let me tell you this guy is in his heart he's a conservative. I'm convinced.

O'REILLY: I don't think so.

BRUCE: The influencing factor is going to bed with a Kennedy every night.

DOUG MCINTYRE, RADIO HOST: Oh, please. I mean, maybe.

O'REILLY: Look, I wouldn't want to mess around with Maria Shriver.

BRUCE: Come on.

O'REILLY: I don't want to mess with that woman.

BRUCE: A lovely woman, but a leftist.

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(Photos: Rich Pedroncelli / AP; Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP)