Regardless of how you feel about Arnold Schwarzenegger’s politics or qualifications to serve as governor of California, it’s refreshing to see an elected public official who is willing to take responsibility and admit his mistakes.

There was, of course, little denying the defeat Schwarzenegger suffered in Tuesday’s election. California voters soundly rejected four initiatives that would have changed the way California legislative districts are drawn, implemented a state spending cap and given the governor authority to make midyear budget cuts. In all, eight proposals went down to defeat.

The voters didn’t approve any of their governor’s ideas. But rather than rationalize or try to blame someone else, Schwarzenegger went to the podium Thursday to say he had made a mistake in pressing for the election and took full responsibility for that decision. He even showed a little humor, saying, “If I was to make another ‘Terminator’ movie, I would tell Terminator to travel back in time to tell Arnold not to have another special election.”

California taxpayers probably weren’t in a laughing mood, having spent between $52 million and $54 million on Tuesday’s special election, and it’s likely Schwarzenegger will pay a price for his decisions if he decides to seek re-election.

As an aside, it’s unfortunate that Schwarzenegger’s ideas to reform legislative redistricting didn’t catch on with California voters. The proposal would have de-politicized the redistricting process by taking it away from elected legislators and placing it in the hands of a panel of retired judges.

Drawing legislative districts is a highly partisan exercise in almost every state, but the process is closely guarded by party organizations and legislators because it allows them to draw districts in a way that vastly favors incumbents and solidifies the dominance of the respective political parties. A look at elected California representatives clearly illustrates the problem. California has 80 seats in its state Assembly, 40 in the state Senate and 53 in the U.S. House of Representatives. Of those 173 positions, only three changed parties in the 2002 elections; in 2004 none did.

As occurs in many states – including Kansas – state legislators carefully negotiate district lines to preserve the status quo of both parties. By so doing they give incumbents a huge advantage and vastly reduce the chances of a successful challenge by anyone who would upset the balance. The current system also reflects the saying, “to the victor go the spoils.” The system will not change until voters demand a change.

The California proposal drew little support from lawmakers who wanted to protect their turf and it perhaps was seen by voters as an attempt by Schwarzenegger to create turnover in a state Legislature that has been less than friendly to the governor’s proposals.

So what was a good idea probably will become another political liability for Schwarzenegger, whose political career already seems to be on the ropes. The fact that he is not a native-born American may not be the only thing that will prevent him from running for president, but it’s nice, nonetheless, to see any major official who’s confident and honest enough to admit that he’s wrong.