Our faithful readers will recall a recent effort from Dizbiz, a.k.a. Chuck Oberleitner, on the upcoming California recall election. As the clock ticks down and election day draws closer, the media is attempting to whip voters into a frenzy by holding various events. Here in the northern half of the state, we’ve had town hall meetings, “live” appearances and a so-called “debate” among the top “five” candidates on television. In many ways, it’s better entertainment than any season of “Survivor” yet to air.
Watching and reading various media coverage of the debate (minus Arnold — who was getting egged in Long Beach instead) from Walnut Creek’s Dean Lesher Regional Arts Center (Dean Lesher was a local newspaper owner/publisher who was somewhat famed for his very right political views), it was obvious that folks in the Republican stronghold of Contra Costa County really don’t care all that much about either the media-generated hoopla or the recall effort. Many expressed a displeasure at the disruption of the community for the event, and felt that money could be better spent — both what the city shelled out for the silliness and what the state will shell out for the whole election.
I guess you can add me to that group as well. I see this whole affair as a boatload of sour grapes. This whole recall effort started the day after the 2002 election results were in, and officially began less than three months later. While I am not a fan of the “Guv,” I can’t say that anything Gray Davis has done or has failed to do, warrants a recall from office. There is no smoking gun, no malfeasance, and no criminal act for which he can be indicted.
Was he involved in the state’s efforts to control the cost of energy for consumers? Sure was. Could he have done better? Maybe, but hindsight isn’t something you take advantage of when you really need it. If he really had been such a bum, wouldn’t you think that the voters of this state would not have re-elected him to office?
The fact was that some folks, Darrell Issa (a Republican Representative from San Diego) chief among them, simply did not like election results. So using the state constitution, they decided to take advantage of the system and have another election to challenge the results. All quite legal… (and ironic, as there are folks warming up to do the same as soon as Arnold is elected!)
The fact is that we could have had anyone as our governor, and the state would have been in the same situation. No one could have foreseen the lasting effects of 9/11 on this state. The tech-based economy was on the rocks long before then, and the dot-com bust was gaining steam in the spring of 2001. Tourism was down already, and the terrorist attacks only helped drive a bigger spike through the profits. And since that time, there has been no miracle to spur any economic rebound. The hi-tech sector still has a surplus of workers out on the streets. Tourism isn’t doing what the pundits expected, and businesses are still leaving California, thanks to a variety of factors; high costs such as labor and insurance being only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
Now, I have never thought much of Gray Davis. If Al Gore was in need of a charisma transplant, then Gray Davis needed a personality transplant. He’s just not that interesting. Let’s face it. If you look in the dictionary for the word “dull”, you’ll find his picture to go along with the definition.
Let’s not be mislead about what politics in this state is all about. Since day one, back in 1849, it is and has always been about one thing — influence. Whoever is in power has control over the business of the state. Why do you think that the Central Pacific and its owners (again with the Big Four — Crocker, Hopkins, Huntington, Stanford) were so much involved in both the state and federal governments? Because it was good for their interests, that’s why!
As well, the simple truth is that no one goes into politics at any level simply out of the goodness of their hearts. They do so because being in office will benefit them in one way or another. Sometimes, what it takes to get there is a lot of money. And even though this money comes in the form of “donations,” it is being paid to gain influence from a candidate. Give enough and you get the ear of the candidate, if not the soul.
If anyone says different, I ain’t buying any of it. Sorry, you can’t sell that manure door-to-door in my neighborhood.
The salaries that politicians get for doing these “thankless” jobs will never be on the same level as those found in the private sector. If they were, then we might get what we pay for. As things stand now, I have to defer to Will Rogers, who so appropriately said “We have the best Congress money can buy.”
That’s where the lobbyists come in to play. These consultants manage quite well by making sure that your elected representatives are informed on all of the “proper” subjects so that they can make the “right”, make that, “correct” decisions when voting on legislation. Special interests of all kinds employ these tactics to be sure that the milk of prosperity (in the form of government funding) continues to fill their bank accounts.
So far, we (a.k.a. the voters here in California) haven’t seen or heard much beyond the usual election fluff to make a decision about how to vote. Arnold is promising great changes, but isn’t offering specifics. It’s almost like a moment from any of his films. He’s going to clean house, change the course of government, return control to the people, and on and on and on… “Hasta la vista, baby.”
But he’s not alone. All of the candidates don’t really have clue. The funny thing about all of this hoo-hah is that no one person can be elected as governor in this state, and make any changes worth noting. You see, there’s all the people who vote on legislation that really control what happens here. The “Guv” only signs the final product. And we have a yearly effort to see which party has the bigger idiots. This state hasn’t had a budget produced on time in years. Each summer we get a fight by the parties that eventually dissolves into a big pissing contest with one side declaring they won’t support this while the other says they won’t support that. Comedy should be so easy…
If we really wanted to have a recall election that would make a difference, we should be recalling every representative from every district in the state senate and assembly. The failures of these people to do what the state needed and still needs is the real crime here. No governor could make them work together if they don’t want to…
Now to the East, the Nevada legislature only meets every other year, and for a calendar of 120 days. (They also have special sessions as needed.) Wish we had that here. It would force the clowns to get the job done, and stop wasting everyone’s time.
But as the day draws closer, the polling pundits predict more voters and more results. The latest efforts have Davis being recalled and Arnold being elected in his place. Candidates are falling off as expected. It looks like we’ll end up with the major choices being recall or not, and Cruz (our loyal Lt. Gov) or Arnold (our loyal Terminator). Personally, the whole thing reminds me of a very old joke…
A college student is given the task of testing two young boys in an identical situation. Both are placed in a room hip deep in manure.
One boy just sits and cries about how bad this situation is.
The other can’t wait, and dives in digging through the foul smelling pile with all his might. When asked what he’s so excited about, he eagerly replies that with all this horse manure, there must be a pony buried somewhere in the room.
I can’t help but think that the voters who support Arnold are looking for that same pony. Sure, the thrill of the pony is a great thing. But soon, the reality sinks in. That pony needs to be groomed, fed a lot and the stall mucked out on a daily basis.
Since about all we have gotten from Arnold is vague promises and fluff, we don’t really have much to base a decision on how or even what kind of job he’ll do. We know that former Republican governor and Senator Pete Wilson has been a “close” confidant of Arnold as well as Warren Buffet as his “financial” advisor. About the only thing Arnold has clearly promised is a complete independent audit of the state’s books. Wonder who he promised that choice task to? Gonna be one pricey effort, and someone’s going to make out like a bandit spending lot’s of time looking for fiscal shenanigans. Anyone who tells you he or his cronies haven’t sold that to the highest bidder are just giving you a helping of that same manure.
So? Who am I voting for? Good question. I know I’m voting no on the recall, but after that I’m just not sure. Like the last presidential election, I’m certain my vote will simply cancel Michele’s. I didn’t like the choices then and don’t for this one, either.
I suppose I could always follow the advice of Mae West.
“Whenever I’m caught between two evils, I take the one I’ve never tried.”
Or…
“Give a man a free hand and he’ll run it all over you.”
Wonder if she ever met Arnold…
Next up? Roger’s off to the Islands for a long weekend. Not sure what’s in store, but you can guess that he’ll be sharing it here.
And as much as Arnold and company have been asking for your free dollars to fund their brands of folly, why not share with Roger’s Amazon Honor System Paybox? Money for nothing…