"Seduction worked for a while because he's a very charming man and the people were so relieved to be rid of [recalled Gov.] Gray Davis and have someone entertaining in his place."

But Huffington warned, "When the seduction doesn't work anymore, the bully comes out. The expression 'girlie man' is the bully speaking. It's not something you can imagine 99 percent of politicians saying."

Huffington sounded as if she was still smarting from an exchange she had with Schwarzenegger during one of the recall debates, when he blasted the wealthy political gadfly for paying little income tax.

"You personally, your personal income taxes have the biggest loophole. I can drive my Hummer through it, that's how big the loophole is," the one-time movie star said, prompting audience howls.

Editor's note: