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Gov. Schwarzenegger took his vision of post-partisan love to the National Press Club in Washington and invoked the image of his cigar-sharing refuge back home in Sacramento: "In the courtyard of the State Capitol, I have a politically-incorrect smoking tent. People come by, light up a stogie and schmooze. How come Republicans and Democrats out here don't schmooze with each other? You can't catch a socially transmitted disease by sitting down with people who hold ideas different from yours. My parents-in-law-the Shrivers-would have Republicans over for dinner. They would talk about the Peace Corps or Special Olympics, but it was also bridge to other ideas they could agree on, or not agree on. But you can disagree with your opponent and still maintain respect....To the president, I say get yourself a smoking tent."
Political Muscle says Schwarzenegger "wants to be the Realist Governor who tries to find common ground without jeopardizing political principles. He plans to travel around the country making a similar pitch to change the political discourse. Full text of the speech.
Photo of smoking tent: Charles Dharapak/AP