Governor, Legislators Less Popular Than Ever

Only 28 percent of Californians approve of the job Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is doing, according to a poll by the Public Policy Institute of California.

But at least they like him a little better than the state legislature, which a mere 17 percent liked.

And even fewer, 14 percent, believed the state was headed in the right direction.

In the midst of a worldwide economic slump, facing billions in deficits and issuing IOUs instead of checks to residents, Sacramento politicians could hardly be less popular.

Of course, don't blame them! "The worldwide economic downturn has had a negative effect on poll numbers across the country," a spokesperson for the governor told the Associated Press.

Meanwhile, Schwarzenegger gave San Quentin the go-ahead to renovate its death row over objections from lawmakers, citing "unnecessary increased costs" from any delay.

The nation's largest facility for those condemned to death by the state will get even larger, but not large enough to keep the prison from double-booking available cells.

Legislators wanted to put the project on hold until a pending lawsuit on prison overcrowding was resolved and the attorney general or a court ruling approved the double-occupancy plan.

Jackson West thinks Schwarzenegger may have taken his barbarian character a bit too far.