EDITORIAL MEANINGLESS GESTURES.

POLITICS does indeed make strange bedfellows. Just consider this: California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, and state Senate President Don Perata, a Democrat, are on the same side when it comes to President George W. Bush's plan to put National Guard troops at the border.

Both the governor and Perata are trying to put the brakes on the deployment proposed by the president during a national address Monday. Schwarzenegger says he won't comply with the request until he gets some more details, and called the plan a ``logistical nightmare.''

Perata has also said no to Washington until he can hold committee hearings to gauge the effect of the deployment.

While it's nice to see these two rivals fighting for California side by side, they are engaging in meaningless gestures. Bush could bypass the state altogether and federalize the troops.

It's too bad Schwarzenegger and Perata couldn't fight together for things that actually count -- like the state budget, redistricting the unfair legislative districts, and fast-track construction for transportation projects.