Political Notes #2

California Expert Software

Truth is Everything

Vicious Beasts of Prey ...

Belong behind bars, and so do those behind the California Recall election.

Rep Issa and his stooges are spending millions to convince Californians to spend more millions to dump the Governor. Republicans in the California Legislature are using the Republican-sponsored Recall to prevent any solution to the State's budget problems. But, they won't spend one cent to help the schoolchildren, the poor or the disabled who are being injured everyday by their antics. They would rather have the State go bankrupt.

The major complaint against Governor Davis is that the State has fallen on bad times. There is a truly monumental deficit. The economy, especially in Northern California, is in trouble as a result of the .com bust, an oversupply of wine grapes, water problems, recessions in many Pacific Basin countries as well as elsewhere in the United States, & c. People are disappointed in the Governor, because he hasn't fixed all those problems.

Then there's the blackmail of $9 billion or more the State had to pay to recover our electric power. That was the result of our last Republican Governor Pete Wilson's ingenious "deregulation" schemes, and the crooks at Enron and other companies who illegally traded energy. California has been trying to get the money back, but the crooks have been shielded by President Bush's appointees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

It is noteworthy that, recently and reluctantly, the Republican controlled FERC found that the energy traders were crooks, but decided California was only entitled to $3 billion in damages. None of these crooks are in jail. None are being made to pay for their crimes. Many of them and their bosses were (are?) major contributors to the Republican Party and George W Bush; for example, Kenneth Lay, former chairman of ENRON.

While I reluctantly voted for the Guv last Fall, I don't think he's solely responsible for California's difficulties. I think he's the fall guy when it comes to energy problems. And, I think the Bushies and other Republicans have gone to great lengths to frame him in everything else.

The Bush Administration is one of the most ideological ever. Since California didn't vote for the Prez last time, and probably won't next time, Californians are getting the back of HizHonor's hand. No help with the State's deficit. Tax cuts which will further reduce State revenues. No help with MediCal. Unfunded mandates: "No Child Left Behind," but no money either. Reduced protection of California's rivers, forests and public lands. No money for eliminating toxic wastes left by military bases. Mandating costly ethanol when it is not needed.

ON AND ON: Scarcely a day passes that George W Bush and his minions haven't done something to harm the lands and peoples of California. Now they have instigated the Recall, designed to sow discord, dissension and disaster among Californians.

So, who is responsible for California's poor condition? In my opinion, the President, George W Bush, far more than Governor Gray Davis. Unfortunately, there is no recall of the President.

Now, I won't let the Guv off the hook entirely. It's a sad commentary that Gov Davis is such a weak leader, that he is less responsible for our terrible problems than the President. Gov Davis went along with the deregulation schemes until they backfired. Gov Davis is in the Clinton-era DLC camp, unsympathetic to the majority of California's progressive Democrats. The Governor arrived in his position by working his way up the ranks. He's a career bureaucrat, not someone with great vision or proven ability to innovate or master difficult problems. Unfortunately for the Governor, he would have had a better time of it, had he been Governor instead of Pete Wilson. The present colors of California are flaming, not gray.

I hold one other thing against the Governor, and the California Democratic party. This is the arrogance of assuming people won't throw him out, and not placing an alternate on the ballot. It isn't just Republicans who have problems with the Governor; Democrats are also dissatisfied.

I don't like political bosses and machines. So, the Democratic party approach to this recall sticks in my craw: "Hey, you, Democratic voters, you just line up behind the Governor. No matter what." Now, just why should I let myself be ordered about, get out there and save the party bosses' a--es?

So, a difficult situation. Here's my analysis of the alternatives.

A Miraculous Outcome: People rush to the aid of Governor Davis. The budget problems are resolved in his favor. The State doesn't shut down or go bankrupt. The recall effort is defeated in the November election.

A Near Miracle: As above or not quite as good, but the election is held in March. Democratic primary voters bail out the Governor. [Probably the best bet for the success of the party bosses' plan.] Of course, this distorts the Democratic Presidential primary, and probably weakens the Democratic nominee in the 2004 election.

A Reasonable Outcome: If things don't go in the Guv's favor - and I do not think they will - I hope the party bosses will see the light and get Gray Davis to resign. This will abort the recall election, and bring to power Lt Governor Cruz Bustemonte. This solution has several advantages:

1. The Republican coup d'etat is defeated at their expense and without cost to the State or to California's progressive voters.

2. The Lt Governor is Hispanic and is widely supported. He has a clean record, so Republicans cannot get started on him. This gives Lt Gov Bustemonte an advantage in brokering a settlement over the budget, and an opportunity to show some highly visible leadership.

3. It allows California to try to solve its problems without more ideological warfare. It undercuts those Republicans in the Legislature who are doing a "Newt," hoping to shut down the State.

4. It allows partisans to concentrate on the 2004 elections.

Throw the Bum Out: Gov Davis loses the recall. In this case, it is likely a Republican will be elected Governor. This will throw a monkey wrench into the works in Sacramento. The State will probably be unable to handle its financial affairs, and may risk bankruptcy. Democrats could try to recall the Republican Governor. This will help George W Bush get re-elected, as California's money and energy are unlikely to be available for the Democratic nominee. That doesn't mean California will vote for Bush; it just means California will be the victim of its own dissension.

Note: One of the big losers in 2004, if the recall passes, will be Sen Barbara Boxer.

My Position: As I said, I think the Governor is likely to lose. The Democrats just aren't prepared for the nasty and expensive fight it will take to win. So, I hope for the Reasonable Outcome. If that doesn't happen, I will vote against the recall.

Note: In this recall election, you also get to vote for another Governor.

I recommend PETER CAMEJO, GREEN PARTY. I am perfectly happy with this choice, since I agree more with Mr Camejo than Mr Davis. I feel Mr Camejo is perfectly capable of doing an excellent job as Governor.

I also think it's high time we booted the Republicans and the Democrats, who've caused so much grief. I'm exasperated; it's time to try something else.

July 16, 2003

Last update: 11/02/2007