Arnold Schwarzenegger did a rotten thing in his final moments as governor. He commuted the sentence of a politically connected killer.
And I'm betting that Schwarzenegger himself knows it was shameful.
How do I know what Schwarzenegger is thinking?
Actions, my friends, speak louder than words.
If Schwarzenegger truly believed that Esteban Núñez -- son of former Assembly Speaker Fabián Núñez -- had received a raw deal when given 16 years in prison for manslaughter, the governor would've had the courage to tell the victim's parents before reducing the sentence.
But he didn't. Nor did Schwarzenegger have the courage to tell the San Diego County District Attorney's Office. Instead, he issued an 11th-hour statement and high-tailed it out of town.
Schwarzenegger often talked about sticking up "for the people." Most of the time, he stuck it to the people and stuck up for his buddies instead.
Although Schwarzenegger is a Republican and Fabián Núñez is a Democrat, they are political allies. Núñez helped pass the state global warming law that Schwarzenegger is so proud of. Núñez also is a partner in the lobbying firm Mercury Public Affairs, along with other Schwarzenegger cronies.
To read the complete column, visit www.fresnobee.com.
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