It's still 17 months until the 2004 elections, but the show is starting already, and this time it might have some celebrity guests. \nIn California, politicos and journalists are buzzing about the possibility that a recall vote could replace Gov. Gray Davis, whose popularity level is approaching that of fellow Golden State native John Walker Lindh, with Mr. "the Barbarian" himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger. \n Meanwhile in Ohio, talk show host and symbol for the fall of Western civilization Jerry Springer is working on building support for his Senate campaign. \n If these gentlemen obtain office, they will join a growing list of figures to blur the line between pop culture and government: Jesse Ventura, Sonny Bono, Sen. Fred Thompson, and -- most famous of all -- Ronald Reagan.\n Some folks might find this trend disturbing and make high-handed remarks about how they despair for an American public seduced by fame. But without endorsing anyone involved, we see this trend as part of the exciting, eccentric and often wondrous process of American democracy. And here are four reasons why.\nFirst, celebrities have been involved in American politics since the beginning. As Time magazine recently rediscovered in the July 7 issue, founding father Benjamin Franklin was an international superstar. He might look a bit like your great-aunt, but in his time Old Ben was a cross between Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, Henry Kissinger and JFK. And he employed that fame to achieve what today seems like the world's most unlikely military alliance. America saved by France, who knew?\nSecond, who said that non-celebrities are better qualified to be politicians? An editorial in The Columbus Dispatch on May 18 recently said that Jerry Springer "cannot hope to persuade anyone that he has been a high-minded, principled statesman entitled to a place in the world's greatest deliberative body." True, but how many high-minded, principled statesmen do we actually get? With his rats-nest toupee and tendency to threaten to kick reporters "in the nuts," former Ohio Representative James Traficant would make an ideal guest for Jerry's show -- that is, if he weren't in the pokey for bribery and racketeering.\nThird, they're not in it for the money. Power, perhaps. Maybe even a desire to do some good. But one thing is clear: to Schwarzenegger, Springer or any other actual celebrity (not a Joey Buttafuoco or an '80s child actor) political office means a pay-cut. Of course, this assumes they don't take on side-projects such as being an announcer for an ill-conceived alternative football league (Oh Jesse, Jesse, Jesse ...).\nFinally, they've been in the public eye for years. Nothing is certain, but chances are the tabloids have already un-closeted any skeletons. And voters should hardly be surprised by any new scandals. After paying for prostitutes with checks (The Associated Press, June 11) and being videotaped making whoopie with a record-setting porn queen -- 350 men in one day -- and her stepmother (San Francisco Chronicle, May 22, 1998), who could be surprised if Jerry Springer had an affair with an intern?
-- Brian McFillen for the Editorial Board
