PRESTOPUNDIT

Schwarzenegger appearance sets off a frenzy. Quotable:

"I have a very, very good agenda," he said. "The first and most important thing that we have to do is we have to overhaul our economic agenda and California. We have to bring back businesses to California, to make sure that everyone in California has a great job, a fantastic job."

"The second-most important thing is our children. . . . I'm very passionate about children's issues," he said. "It is very important that our children have the first access to our state treasury, and the money, so that they can have great schools and great education."

Then, he took questions about details, details, details.

What about a plan to cut the budget?

"We will have a detailed plan very soon on how to face those kinds of problems, and how to solve those kinds of problems," he said. "The important thing is to know that we have a crisis here in California."

What about that Hummer? How does he stand on the environment?

"I have always been environmentally friendly, and I will fight for the environment," he said. "Nothing to worry about that."

Immigration?

"I love immigrants. You know, I'm an immigrant myself."

What kind of campaign are you going to run?

"As you know, I believe in selling, selling a philosophy," he said. "The same thing as I did on Prop. 49 (the after-school care initiative). I will be going to every school, I will be knocking on doors. I will be going from one TV station to the next. I will be going to fund-raisers. I will be reaching out to families. I will talk to everyone."

His qualifications to be governor?

"The most important thing to have when you run a state is leadership . . . and in everything I ever did, I showed great leadership. There were times when people said it could never be done, that an Austrian farm boy can come over to America, and get in the movie business, and be successful. . . . And you know what happened? I became the highest-paid entertainer in the world."