by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright July 25, 2003
All Rights Reserved.

till in denial, the Davis brain trust can't read the handwriting on the walls, pointing to a crushing eviction from public office on Oct. 7. Before the impending train wreck, Democrats must break ranks with a doomed incumbent, continuing to fantasize about pulling off one more improbable upset but now threatening to drag down the entire party. “One of my greatest strengths is that people have underestimated me since I was born,” said Davis, casting his fight for survival in personal terms. Voters are simply fed up Davis' excuses, especially after Wall Street downgraded that state's bonds to nearly junk. When Davis approved tripling the vehicle license fee he sealed his fate, once more kicking consumers in the rear end. Now that Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante certified the recall election for Oct. 7, Democrats must wake up or face almost certain defeat. Promising to “fight like a Bengal tiger,” Davis doesn't get it.

      Making the recall a reality, the GOP smells blood at the statehouse, realizing that Davis is on his way out. Showing solidarity with Davis doesn't change the stubborn fact that Davis' approval rating plummeted to 28%, assuring, if nothing else, that Mickey Mouse could win the election. Among the GOP hopefuls, only Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista), who single handedly financed the recall, already declared his candidacy, though it's doubtful he'll prevail on election day. While Davis hopes to keep fellow Democrats off the ticket, they'll have to offer up candidates or face an almost certain liquidation on Oct. 7. “There's no question that there's real fear of losing the governor's office,” said an unnamed Democratic strategist, calling Davis' current strategy “a total game of chicken.” Even popular U.S. senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) played her cards close to vest, declaring, “Nothing that I know right now interests me in running.”

      With two weeks to file for candidacy, Feinstein kept her options open, leading insiders to speculate that she'll toss her hat into the ring. Without Feinstein running, polls show there's no contest between Davis and virtually all other GOP challengers. Leading Republican prospect actor Arnold Schwarzenegger also kept the suspense, speaking to the press in Mexico City promoting his latest version of “Terminator.” Arnold “honestly has not made up his mind,” said spokesman Sean Walsh, fueling speculation that the one-time “Mr. Universe” will indeed jump in. Adding to scenario, former Los Angeles Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Richard Riordan heaped on the praise. “Arnold Schwarzenegger who is my first choice, would do a tremendous job,” Riordan told KNBC-TV Channel 4 in Los Angeles. Keeping the door open, “If, for some reason, Arnold decides not to do it, I will take a hard look.”

      All things considered, Riordan would be the most qualified choice, though Schwarzenegger commands more excitement and hope of revitalizing the state's floundering GOP. Before departing to Mexico, Schwarzenegger met with Riordan, lending more credence to his impending candidacy. Other less popular candidates include businessman and former GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon Jr., state senator Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) and former Green Party gubernatorial candidate Peter Camejo. Whoever Davis faces, they'll get $15 million in attack ads pounding the idea the state risks a right-wing takeover. Davis vowed to fight for abortion rights, gun control, public schools and health care for children. Voters “will choose a progressive agenda over a conservative agenda,” said Davis, forgetting that the state's current fiscal mess preempts any agenda, let alone an ambitious one.

      Davis' great progressive agenda is threatened not by right wing politicians but by a state teetering on bankruptcy. No social programs, no matter how well-conceived or needed, can prevail when mismanagement puts the state in a hole. No one blames Davis for the power crisis or stock market crash, but he must be held accountable for poor leadership, failing to offer competent management to solving real problems. Davis' anemic response to the 2000-2001 energy crisis cost the state, by his own estimates, $9 billion or roughly 25% of today's budget deficit. Refusing to punish out-of-state carpetbaggers, Davis instead passed, with his Public Utilities Commission, whopping rate hikes onto ordinary utility customers. Now he's decided to balance the state's budget on the backs of registered car owners, tripling the vehicle license Oct. 1. It's karma that the recall election falls on Oct. 7.

      Davis plans to “fight like a Bengal tiger” to save his own hide, not do what's best for the state of California. His legal team is no doubt pursuing every legal means to fight the recall, despite the California Supreme Court refusing to block the election. Technicalities or not, over 1.6 million registered voters—60% Democrats—opted to sign petitions seeking a change in Sacramento. Whether petition-takers were California residents or not doesn't erase voters' overwhelming dissatisfaction with his leadership. No progressive agenda—or any agenda for that matter—can succeed when the state faces fiscal insolvency. “I think the recall is a terrible mistake for California,” said Feinstein, ignoring millions of registered voters begging for new leadership. Whether Feinstein jumps into the fray is anyone's guess. Barring an unforeseen stay by the Supreme Court, the people will speak on Oct. 7.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in global and national news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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