Arnold & Her

Barbara Outland Baker, Schwarzenegger's first real love, has written a book about their relationship in the '70s. Baker now teaches English at Moorpark College, but back then she had a wild, rollicking ride with the Austrian Oak.

In her memoir, recently published by AuthorHouse, she includes letters and recollections about Schwarzenegger that collectively form a sort of unrequited love letter to Arnold. In an introduction, he says he didn't realize how painful their breakup was to her until he read the book and discovered that she had been watching him "from the outside."

Outland Baker doesn't offer much to embarrass Schwarzenegger, but they clearly lived in a ribald world back then. She describes how enraged he became after being tricked into allowing footage of his posing routine to be inserted into gay porn.

Like many people who have written about Schwarzenegger, Outland Baker describes his unique ability to psych out people. He clearly tried to use the same techniques on lawmakers — calling them girlie men, threatening a part-time Legislature. But now, when he deals with Democrats, he's much more like the Schwarzenegger who seduced bodybuilding judges.

She writes about him on the stage:

"He'd developed an obsessive desire for public acclaim, well aware of his personal charm and mesmerizing self-confidence.... Unlike any former competitor, this twenty-year-old knew how to psyche out all involved. He would befriend all the judges throwing a compliment to each. 'Only you know zie body so perfectly!' He'd tease the bodybuilders into submission. 'Your skin is so pale your muscles don't even show up.'"

Outland Baker would write Schwarzenegger letters. In context, it's very much something a young woman in her 20s might write, only perhaps to cringe at years later.

"Guten morgen, Sweetheart! What a surreal day in Munich (Munchen to you, huh?) First Doreen and I went to Dachau and just freaked over the Nazis killing all those Jews. How could they have done that? Then, after feeling such sadness, we guiltily switched moods and went to the Hofbrau Haus. You are right! We had such fun there — even sneaked out a gargantuan mug for you! Auf Weidersehen! Liebe, Deine Schatzi."

UPDATE: Whoops. The above letter was written by Outland Baker, not Schwarzenegger. Corrected now.

(Photo: AuthorHouse)

Slice-and-Dice Politics for California

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaign is using the long tail of cable television to reach voters. Shane Goldmacher of Capitol Weekly looks at slice-and-dice politics.

By advertising on the Golf Channel and Fox News, a Republican campaign can still mobilize GOP voters in liberal strongholds like San Francisco.

According to 2005 data compiled by Scarborough Research, a leading market-research company, a Republican is 78% more likely than the average San Francisco resident to be watching the Golf Channel, and 69% more likely to be watching Fox News.

What's more, a campaign can choose to air cable ads in only the more conservative pockets of the Bay Area media market.

News Alert: Angelides Relents on Debate

Phil Angelides finally has agreed to debate Schwarzenegger, the Democratic campaign just announced. The debate will take place Oct. 7 — the anniversary of Schwarzenegger's election in the 2003 recall — and be broadcast on TV stations around the state. That's a Saturday.

Angelides is still objecting to the format of the debate, despite being powerless to change it. He wanted to be standing, rather than sitting at a table. Cathy Calfo, his campaign manager complained: "Frankly, Gov. Schwarzenegger’s refusal to stand next to his opponent to debate the issues is a bit bizarre. I guess the next thing he will demand in addition to a 'sitting' debate is having the questions in advance just like he did during the recall campaign debate."

Why would Angelides care? I've seen Angelides in action on the campaign trail, and he does well in casual settings. He's far more personable than in the TV ads. Perhaps there is fear that Schwarzenegger will appear folksy or the debate will be seen as too casual, giving the governor an edge. Angelides believes he can win on the facts, not personality.

Calfo again on Wednesday said they were "mystified" why Schwarzenegger didn't want to stand at a podium. She said the Oct. 7 debate would not be a "true debate."

UPDATE: The Schwarzenegger campaign thinks all of this is ridiculous. Angelides agreed to this debate long ago, then started complaining about the debate format, which the broadcasters said all along was not open to changes. Now, under a 5 p.m. Wednesday deadline to make a final "yes" or go away, Angelides said he will show up Oct. 7 under the California Broadcasters Assn. guidelines.

Katie Levinson, Schwarzenegger's campaign communications director, said: “It is unclear – at this hour – who in fact is in charge at the Angelides campaign. After appointing Senator Burton as their debate negotiator, Mr. Angelides’ campaign manager appears to be relitigating past commitments made in writing by her campaign and conducting an ongoing debate with other members of her team in the press.”

Angelides had concerns about debating on the recall anniversary as well. But both candidates could easily use it as a peg to answer the question: Was that extraordinary election three years ago — which unseated a governor for only the second time in U.S. history — worth it?

(Photo: Rich Pedroncelli / AP)