Questions About the Recall

[Taxi Driver]

1. Cruz Bustamante will remain Lt. Governor unless he wins the governorship. What would this mean for Arnold? What role does the Lt. Gov. play in state government?

2. If Davis is recalled, when does the new governor take office?

3. Is Arnold's movie career over no matter whether he wins or loses? In both cases, explain why. Would his career still have been over without the sexual allegations? Is it safe to say that T3 (which sucked) is his last film?

4. Do we have the right to start a recall of our own if Arnold wins?

5. Does this recall really have the national implications that some suggest (i.e. that it would pave the way for a Bush win in '04)? Why or why not?

[Taxi Driver]

1. kick.

[MoonGod]

2. Answers

1) Lt. Gov. has very little direct power in California. Kinda like the vice pres of the U.S.

2) Immediately after the vote count is certified

3) Arnold will still have a movie career if he loses. If he wins, he may wind up spending the rest of his action-star years (which are limited) in politics.

4) Yes, but we can't start collecting signatures for a couple of months and can't actually initiate an election until he's been in office for 6 months. Either way, I'd say it's VERY unlikely to succeed and would only solidify Arnold's position and leave Cali dems with egg on their face.

5) National implications? I don't think so, unless Arnold is really willing to let them completely subvert the vote in California. The worst implications though are for the state. Unions/laborers here are gonna be screwed. Worker's comp is gonna become a joke. We'll have offshore drilling up and down the coast. We'll kiss our beautiful forests and other natural resources goodbye, etc. etc.

[slackmaster]

3. My answers

1. Lt. Governor is a largely ceremonial position in California. The LG sometimes temporarily assumes the duties of Governor when the Governor is indisposed or out of the state.

2. New governor takes over when the election results are certified, BUT there could be legal challenges that delay the transfer of power.

3. Arnold will always have a movie career no matter what happens in the election. Any contracts he's under surely have exit clauses to accommodate him taking office should that happen.

4. Yes, a recall can start immediately. The six month delay some people refer to applies only to an officer who has defeated a recall election.

5. There is no way Bush will carry California in 2004 no matter what happens in this recall election. He's very unpopular here and slipping lower by the hour.

[qb]

4. #2

NPR said the certification will probably take about a month, after which the new governor will take power (if the recall is successful). The new governor will be in power during any challenges or recounts.