[Blitzer:] Arnold Schwarzenegger limped to his inaugural on crutches today. But the California governor may be politically stronger than ever, after mining the middle ground. The Republican told supporters at his swearing-in ceremony that centrist does not mean weak. CNN's Peter Viles is joining us from Sacramento with more Peter.
[Peter Viles, Cnn Correspondent:] Wolf, the governor recovering from a broken leg and major surgery on that broken leg, but he managed to stand up today long enough, about 15 minutes, to give a very provocative speech. In that speech, he said Americans are frustrated and fed up and disgusted with partisan politics, and they deserve something better, and so does our democracy. He said, what they deserve is not bipartisanship. It's something different. He called it post- partisanship. Here is how he explained what he meant by that.
[Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger , California:] We don't need the Republican roads or Democratic roads. We need roads. We don't need Republican health care or Democratic health care. We need health care. We don't need Republican clean air...
[Schwarzenegger:] ... or Democratic clean air. We all breathe the same air.
[Viles:] Now, specifically, on that issue of global warming, the governor took issue with those even within his own party who say they're not certain, they're not sure, they're not convinced that global warming is a real problem. He said he is convinced. He believes it's not just a real problem, but it's such a big problem that government needs to act immediately to solve it.
[Chief Justice Ronald M. George, California Supreme Court:] I, Arnold Schwarzenegger...
[Schwarzenegger:] I, Arnold Schwarzenegger...
[George:] ... do solemnly swear...
[Schwarzenegger:] ... do solemnly swear...
[Viles:] California's Republican governor is rapidly becoming one of his party's leading environmentalists, promoting solar energy, fuel cell research, and signing a Democratic bill to combat global warming, a trend some in the Republican Party believe is a myth.
[Schwarzenegger:] We simply must do everything that we can in our power to slow down global warming, before it is too late.
[Viles:] Before he was sworn in, Schwarzenegger threw this green dream party, celebrating everything from freshwater fish and organic granola to pedal-powered taxis. The governor's wife, in a green leather jacket, stood in for her husband.
[Maria Shriver, California First Lady:] Think green, eat green, live green, and live with zero waste in your home. Thank you so much. Thank you.
[Viles:] It's more than slogans. Environmental groups generally give the governor high marks.
[Bill Allayaud, Director, Sierra Club California:] Right from the get-go, he said something that was pleasing to our ears. He said, there is no conflict between the environment and the economy. He has stayed that course pretty well.
[Dan Schnur, Republican Political Consultant:] What Schwarzenegger is doing is showing national Republicans how to reach beyond the conservative base using environmental protection as an issue with which to do so.
[Viles:] Schwarzenegger admits his agenda on this goes far beyond California. He says other states and other nations will follow California's lead.
[Schwarzenegger:] And so will, finally, also, our federal government follow us. Trust me.
[Viles:] Now, Schwarzenegger will make a major speech on Monday on health care insurance. It is already being reported here locally, Wolf, that he will propose universe health care cover for all California children, including the children of illegal aliens. Now, the governor's office says they haven't made a final decision on that, but he will speak on it on Monday. So, it appears that this governor is heading straight into controversy on the immigration issue, Wolf, very early in his second term Wolf.
[Blitzer:] Fascinating material. Thanks, Peter, for that Peter Viles reporting from Sacramento. Up next, the Schwarzenegger strategy, we're going to have more on that. Is it something Republicans across the nation should be copying? J.C. Watts and Paul Begala will weigh in. And they will join the great troop surge debate as well. Are Democratic leaders in Congress going to fight Mr. Bush on Iraq at every turn? All that coming up in our "Strategy Session." We will be right back.