Californians were fed up, tired of a state drowning in fiscal
irresponsibility led by the soon-to-be former governor, Gray Davis,
who had an open door policy: he1d open the door as long as you came
in with boatloads of cash.
Californians were fed up, tired of a state drowning in fiscal irresponsibility led by the soon-to-be former governor, Gray Davis, who had an open door policy: he1d open the door as long as you came in with boatloads of cash.
Californians were so tired of the Democratic charade posing as a competent administration that they elected an actor with no political experience and plenty of baggage for opponents to take aim at. This historic recall election wasn’t about a right-wing conspiracy to dethrone the Democrats as many spin-doctor quasi-intellectual pundits have suggested. It was more like a desperate cry for help from a frustrated electorate feeling more and more distanced from the political process.
Fittingly, Californians elected an actor in a gubernatorial recall election that struck the same chord, metaphorically speaking, as TV news anchor Howard Beale did in the movie “Network” when he exorted people to go to their windows and shout, “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!“
Frustrated with a state ensnared in regulatory shackles, angry with a governor who lacked the leadership skills to stave off an energy-price scheme by oil companies, sick of skyrocketing workman1s compensation costs and weary with the news of more and more job losses, voters turned not to “The Terminator” per se but to “The Outsider.”
The election of Arnold Schwarzenegger is a message from Californians sick and tired of a state that does business based on big money special interests – regardless of whether it’s the newly minted Indian casino tycoons, the prison guards’ union or the attorneys chasing multi-million-dollar settlements.
The people have been ignored long enough. Common sense should outweigh campaign cash. Californians want the Golden State back and the historic recall of Gray Davis is the exclamation point on that message.
Voters clearly showed they’re not interested in business as usual in Sacramento. It will be interesting to watch as the Democratic Party-dominated Legislature deals with this new actor-politician.
The statewide primary election is in March and the presidential election is in November 2004. Stay tuned.
