The real message of the recall vote (good news!)

[diplomats]

http://www.emergingdemocraticmajority.com

"Schwarzenegger may be governor, but California remains California and incumbents are in trouble. That’s the message DR takes away from Tuesday’s election results.
It’s hard to read this election as anything other than a manifestation of anti-incumbent feeling. The California electorate detested Gray Davis and were thoroughly dissatisfied at the situation the state was in. So they voted for the recall. They didn’t see Bustamante as representing a change from Davis’ administration and business as usual. So they took a chance on Schwarzenegger and voted for him.
Does this mean that Republicans are suddenly competitive in California in ‘04? Hardly. Indeed, you could argue that the only shot they had in California in ‘04 was if Davis had remained in office and they could have gotten voters to vote Republican in protest against the state’s incumbent. But now he’s gone and California voters will be free to focus their dissatisfaction on the nation’s incumbent–George W. Bush.
And how do they feel about Bush? They are not happy campers. In a recent Field poll, Bush received a 46 percent job approval rating from California’s voters, including a 42 percent rating among nonpartisan/independent voters and a 19 percent rating among Democratic voters. Since Republican hopes in California in ‘04 must rest on cutting into the Democratic partisan vote and doing well among independents, as both the recall and Schwarzenegger did, this does not bode well for GOP chances."

[cally]

1. This is basically how I see the recall after my shock has worn off

Dems controlled both the Legislature and the Governor's office and could be blamed for everything. Now, voters can blame Arnie. Some very painful budget cuts will have to be made and now a Republican can take some of the blame. I hope.

[diplomats]

3. Yeah, I feel much better than I did the day he won

A few days' perspective has helped.

[confusionisnext]

15. Arnie will remind everyone

how much they hate the Legislature. Remember how there were polls that showed the Legislature getting even lower approval ratings than Davis? Arnie will blame everything on the Dems for not giving him what he wants, and he'll put on the ballot anything that couldn't even get onto the legislative calendar. I'm really starting to fear this state's electorate.

[Spazito]

2. I agree, this was a discontent vote, not an approval of ....

Swartzencreeper. I hope the democrats are VERY helpful to him in helping him screw up royally. The key is to look helpful while doing everything possible not to be.

[Gin]

4. I hope Davis clears the desk for AS and appoints Judges, signs bills.

and does whatever he needs to do...then AS should travel, travel, travel.

[Spazito]

6. LOL Maybe we should invite him here for a LONG visit or, better yet...

send him to clear Bush's brush for a month!

[papau]

5. The 40% Hispanic vote for Arnold over Busta is disturbing

Granted a mojority did not vote for Arnold - but that is a very high percentage - esp. when you have a popular Hispanic running.

[diplomats]

7. It's almost like Bustamante was an afterthought in this campaign

It was Davis vs. Arnold, and that was a bad situation for us.

[mot78]

8. I think it's unfair

to say that Hispanics would vote for Bustamante just because he's Hispanic. Many Hispanics are becoming assimilated into California society as the population becomes 2nd and 3rd-generation. Besides, if Davis's approval ratings were in the 20's, naturally it's safe to say that Hispanics and Blacks would hate him just as much as whites.


About Repubs in California....Arnold's popularity is because voters were steaming about Gray Davis, and because he's a celebrity (God help us when people vote based on this). Arnold will be more like Jessie Ventura or JC. Watts, since both of were said by the media to have cross-over appeal that would help englare their parties, but both of them are now out of office.

[qwaszx]

9. It's unfortunate

that most do not want California to succeed ... no matter whose governing it. That's bad karma. California is one of OUR states and I want her to be successful.

[Clete]

10. Well, Schwarzenegger isn't going to do it.

He still is a Republican and whether anyone realizes it or not, you really don't vote for the man, you vote for the party because that's what you get. What we are going to get is a Pete Wilson retread, the Governor who put this state in the mess it's in to begin with. I mean when Bush stole the election, we got Reagan/Bush's old retreads back. Will Americans ever learn.

[wildwww2]

12. Arnold`s Planet Hollywood did not succeed. He will not run OUR state

of California any more successfully I would imagine. I do not even think he can act. So I would have no confidence in his ability to run a state and balance a budget. Again, why didn`t the liberal media tell about his failed Planet Hollywood chain? The GOP excuse themselves for lousy fiscal leadership but recall Democrats for the same things they are famous for. The Media pushed Arnold down the voters throats in my opinion. And I can see the media making excuses for him as they do the squatter in Al Gore`s White House.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[hunter]

11. Leon Panetta said...

"It's a revolt of people who are increasingly angry at the crises that face them, and the failure of leadership. If I were a Republican, I wouldn't get too cocky about what happened."

[Dover]

13. Yes, BUT what disturbs me most is that Californians weren't able

to recognise the Republican role in creating the current crisis....a la Enron. Nor was the issue of Arnold's presence in the meeting with Enron and other principles ever investigated fully or discussed publically. The media had a lot to do with this, but even Arnold's Democratic opponents didn't raise the issue to my knowledge.

[calimary]

14. one other matter that should make the GOP put away the champagne

Arnold is too moderate for many of 'em - and is pro-choice. Besides, not many of the Bible-belters will want to embrace him too closely with all those "Gropenator" charges still swirling around him. He's damaged goods already. And he doesn't have a magic wand to "fix" everything with.