Our govunoor can beat up any one elses govunoor. Although, he'll be in his trailer groping a production assistant while a stunt double does the fight scene.
- mark 10-08-2003 4:46 pm [add a comment]

Congratulations Mark, you and your fellow Californians must be really, uh, pumped up.
- jimlouis 10-08-2003 5:25 pm [add a comment]

• Pumped without the courtesy of ... well, you get the picture.
  - mark 10-09-2003 1:09 am [add a comment]

"From Ronald To Arnold" Sin-a-Max Productions Presents....
- Skinny 10-08-2003 5:28 pm [add a comment]

I liked the gawker take:

California: The Victim State

Dear California,

I used to have this friend in high school. She wasn't a slut, exactly; she was just really needy. And whenever some hot new jock guy would breeze into town, she'd think, "Yes, he's the one! He'll fix everything that's wrong with me!" Then she'd throw herself at him in the most demeaning way possible.

That always worked out well for her. Jesus. What happened, California? Did your dad fuck you up that much?

I'm doing take-backs on taking back all those things that I said about you, California. You are a state of stupid self-hating fruitcakes. But we're still concerned. We'll build the political equivalent of a battered women's shelter for you when your hot and totally dysfunctional love affair with Arnold is over.

And now who's gonna help you out when Arnold's beating you senseless in the middle of the night? You think Nevada gives a shit? Christ. It's tough love time, Cali. Let's never speak again.

Your concerned -- and really embarrassed -- ex-friend,

New York State

LOL!
- tom moody 10-08-2003 9:25 pm [add a comment]

Jello, where are you?

California Uber Alles

I am Governor Aaaarnold
My aura smiles
And never frowns
Soon I will be president

Dubya power will soon go away
I will be Fuhrer one day
I will command all of you
Your kids will pump the iron in school

California Uber Alles
Uber Alles California

Image fascists will control you
Ten percent natural
You will pump for the master race
And always wear the happy face

Close your eyes, can't happen here
Big Bro' on white horse is near
The action heroes won't come back you say
Pump up or you will pay

California Uber Alles
Uber Alles California

- mark 10-09-2003 1:21 am [add a comment]

I understand why Arnold did this. His movie career (always a bit of a fluke) was waning and he needs to stay in the public light. But what were California voters thinking? He's been a success in Hollywood so he'll be a success here? I just don't get it.
- tom moody 10-09-2003 1:57 am [add a comment]

I don't entirely get it. But here are some thoughts ...

Governor Davis made Al Gore look exciting. Davis comes across as a lifeless bureaucrat, and never had high positives. He worked his way up the political food chain in the California Democratic party, was good at fundraising, and was excellent at the playing the attack game. For example, Davis' campaign was one of the highest money spenders in the 2002 Republican gubernatorial primary. Davis took out Riordon, a moderate Republican, in the primary leaving Simon, a favorite son of the conservative wing. The 2002 general election wasn't about who you liked. It was about the lesser of two evils. I blame the Democratic party for failing to find and groom good candidates for leadership positions. Bustamante is no prize either.

The energy crisis created a lot of ire in California. Californians should be pissed at Enron, Duke and El Paso first and foremost. Intially Davis had a deer-in-the-headlights sort of reaction that later made him a target of anger. Davis tried to blame FERC and Bush, who did in fact stand aside as spectators rather than fulfilling their statutory duties. But the charges didn't stick.

The car tax issue was a big negative for Davis. In a state of car-holics, don't fuck with the car tax. The property tax on cars was cut by a factor of 3 as a rebate during the fat years with the idea that it would be restored in lean years. Davis took the fiscally responsible act of restoring the car tax to its previous level, but failed to properly frame the issue. This "tax hike" pissed people off to no end.

Arnold's fame, the short election cycle, the fact that recall and replacement were on the same ballot, and the lack of a primary all worked in Arnold's favor. Normally Arnold would not have survived a Republican primary. The Republicans in California tend to be both fiscal and social conservatives. Arnold's gangbang and grab-ass lifestyle would have doomed him in the primaries. (Especially with Democrats kibbitzing in the Republican primary campaign.) In general, the short fuse gave inadequate time for vetting and gave room for charges of "last minute smears" when vetting did occur.

Ultimately, the Democrats failed by failing to acknowledge that Davis was doomed. Perhaps Davis could have just resigned, giving the office to Bustamante. That would have been a nice dodge. Or they could have twisted Feinstein's arm to get her to run. She could have consolidated the base in a way that Davis and Bustamante failed to.

I'm confident that we'll rewrite the flawed recall law just like we abolished the electoral college after the 2000 election. Oh, right.
- mark 10-09-2003 2:35 am [add a comment]

Awesome Mike Davis piece here.

- tom moody 10-14-2003 2:28 am [add a comment]

If you've seen the graphics I've linked elsewhere, it's clear that Southern California, with the exception of LA county, was the hotbed of support. The Mike Davis piece provides some good insight into the reptilian mindset of that region.
- mark 10-14-2003 4:03 am [add a comment]

can we do another recall??
- Skinny 10-14-2003 7:28 am [add a comment]

damn straight! that's the beauty of mob rule direct democracy. we can do whatever we want.
- mark 10-14-2003 11:29 am [add a comment]

More on Schwarzenegger's plans to let the energy companies have their way with California.

Recall Fever! Catch it.
- mark 10-15-2003 4:57 am [add a comment]