LA Times Editorial: After the Jokes, Then What? (CA recall)

[Dudley_DUright]

Will Arnold run? Probably not. Will former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan go for it? Maybe to probably. What about Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein? That's a mystery. Why not Angelyne, Los Angeles' all- image-and-no-substance professional celebrity? She may well be on the ballot, the ultimate symbol of this incomprehensible election.

Is Democratic unity behind Gov. Gray Davis shattering? Perhaps crumbling slowly. Will a promised legal challenge delay the election? That's a wild card. Or could a court case make Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante governor if Californians vote Oct. 7 to recall Davis from office? Probably not, but who knows? The untested law governing recall elections is vague in some places and seemingly in conflict with itself in others. One more chore for the Legislature next year: fix the previously untested recall process.

One certainty is that the flood of potential candidates cements California's reputation as the political loony bin of the nation. They range from past losers such as Bill Simon Jr. and Michael Huffington to Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt, who reasoned that a progressive California wouldn't "have a problem with a smut peddler as governor." Quite a contrast to the soccer moms and at least one teenager who have done the preliminary filing.

County registrars are having heartburn over the compressed election schedule and a possible mile-long ballot. Not to mention that some counties are in the midst of switching from the old punch-card voting system to new voting machines. Will they be forced to revert to the discredited punch cards?

more...

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-recall3aug03,1,7812916.story?coll=la-news-comment-editorials

[Cha]

1. Good Luck California! I'm sorry it has to come down to this but

I hope there is a silver lining in the dark cloud days!

I don't think this right and I want the Calif. repigs to be shoved back under the rocks from where they came.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Yeah, we could use a silver lining.

In the July 16 Field Poll, the recall lead 51-43%. Davis' approval ratings are at 27%. The good news is that those figures are better than they were earlier in July.

Related thread on this discussion board:
San Francisco Chronicle editorial: Energy crisis blame game opened by your humbel servant ealier today