Turkeys
As I sit here writing in the dining room of my
parents' ranch, I gaze out into the backyard at six
wild turkeys pecking in the grass. Certainly a
sight one doesn't see in the city—but not an
uncommon occurrence here. In fact, I've seen
turkeys all weekend. My father's televisions are
always on, always tuned to "The O'Reilly Factor,"
"Meet the Press" or some other news or political
program. And now, the weekend before the California
recall election, the airwaves are full of turkeys,
mindlessly foraging for scandal like the birds in
the backyard.
A Los Angeles Times reporter squawks about his
paper's exposee of Schwarzenegger's past
indiscretions, rebutting the contention that the
editors sat on the story until days before the
election. They had to verify the accusations, he
claimed. They couldn't run the story without being
sure. If it were some other newspaper,
maybe. But the L.A. Times long ago cemented
its reputation for liberal bias. The editors may
have wanted to double- and triple-check their
sources, but I contend they chose the most
convenient time to conclude their investigative
research. That way, they could claim journalistic
integrity while simultaneously throwing a wrench
into Schwarzenegger's campaign.
Frankly, I don't much care about what
Schwarzenegger did in the past. I don't condone or
defend his actions, whatever they may have been,
but I'm most concerned about what he's going to do
in the future. I would not expect him to treat
women with anything but the utmost respect, if for
no other reason than it would be political suicide
to do otherwise. What this state needs more than
anything is a strong leader. Experience counts, a
practical plan helps, but strength matters most.
Leaving Davis in office—or electing
Bustamante, a virtual carbon copy—would
maintain the status quo that put the state in such
a mess to begin with. McClintock has some solid,
explicit plans to make changes, but he has, as my
father put it, "negative charisma." Whoever moves
into the governor's mansion has to have a strong
personality to go into the largely Democratic state
assembly and knock some heads together.
Schwarzenegger's got that strength, and he's enough
of an outsider to be able to shake things up.
It's impossible to know for sure if
Schwarzenegger will be a good governor—or if
he'll even get elected. But it seems clear to me
that he's the best choice on the ballot next
Tuesday. I see more than a kernel of truth in a
line borrowed from "Terminator 2": "Vote for me if
you want to live." I would add: "Vote for someone
else if you want another turkey in Sacramento."
©2003 Michael
Strickland ALL RIGHTS
RESERVED
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