FT.com Home US: "For voters, Mr Schwarzenegger is running literally as a strong man - a pre-verbal, pre-Guttenberg candidate whose only claim to lead is the charisma of his physical prowess. He is probably intelligent enough to seek the governor's office by making his points in debate, but has decided not to bother. He and his handlers reckon we are entering an age in which non-rational appeals reach voters more effectively than rational arguments. Next Tuesday, they stand a good chance of being proved right."

Like 9/11, Bubba Ahnold may be providing us a new landmark in time. This may be the end of the political diliberation process as we know it, flawed though it may be. The new political landscape will feature action heroes elected by joystick-wielding constituants with little time to consider policies, economies or results.