Total Recall
Californians face a big decision when they go to
the polls next month. To keep or not to keep the
current governor? And if not, who to replace him?
Those who want to maintain the status quo have two
chances to do so. First, if the recall fails, then
Governor Gray Davis stays in office and finishes
the rest of his term. Second, if the recall
succeeds and Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante
becomes the state's next governor, then Davis still
stays in office and finishes the rest of his term
(for all intents and purposes, anyway). If
California needs new leadership, it won't find it
in Bustamante. If Davis is Vanilla, then Bustamante
is Vanilla Bean.
Critics of the lieutenant governor have given
him the epithet Cruz "Boost Your Taxes" Bustamante.
The nickname may be a cheap shot, but it's an
accurate one. Bustamante has made no secret of his
intentions to raise
taxes to the tune of $8 billion if he becomes
governor. So if you feel your paycheck is too big
or your property tax bill too small, give Cruz a
boost at the polls. It'll be business as usual up
in Sacramento.
Those who want real change for California have a
much more difficult decision before them. They too
have two chances to keep Davis in office, instead
of two chances to boot him out. First, if the
recall fails, then Davis remains in the governor's
mansion. Second, if the recall succeeds, Bustamante
will take Davis' place unless dissatisfied voters
unite behind one of the alternate candidates. Tom
McClintock seems by far the most qualified person
for the job, yet Arnold Schwarzenegger is the
frontrunner in the campaign. Between the two, they
can win enough votes to easily trounce Bustamante;
however, unless one bows out and endorses the
other, they'll split the vote and give Bustamante
the victory.
Which may call for a cynically strategic
decision on October 7. If McClintock and
Schwarzenegger both stay in to the bitter end, then
voters opposed to Davis and Bustamante may have to
vote for the "sure thing," rather than voting for
the candidate they feel is the best choice. For
example, I would vote for McClintock today, all
things being equal. But if Schwarzenegger maintains
his lead up to the election, I'll have no choice
but to vote for him to ensure that new blood flows
in Sacramento.
Anything can happen in four weeks. McClintock
may drop out, Bustamante might fall out of favor,
Schwarzenegger could endorse Gary Coleman. But the
way things stand today, those who want a "total
recall" face an uphill battle.
- If you live in California
and you haven't yet registered
to vote, you
only have
until September 22 to do so.
©2003 Michael
Strickland ALL RIGHTS
RESERVED
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