TWENTY-FIVE MONTHS AGO, Arnold Schwarzenegger celebrated his recall win at Los Angeles’ Century Park Hotel–dubbed the “Reagan Hotel” for its past Republican victory-night parties. So, naturally, Schwarzenegger returned to the same ballroom to celebrate the end of California’s special election. Right?

Well, not exactly. Schwarzenegger and his followers partied instead at the Beverly Hilton, where the Governator celebrated last November’s returns. It illustrates one reason why Arnold suffered a jarring defeat in yesterday’s vote, with all four of his reform initiatives soundly rejected (click here to see the latest results).