An Oasis

Governor Elect Schwarzenegger

"All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for their protection, security, and benefit, and they have the right to alter or reform it when the public good may require." - Article 2, Section 1 The Constitution of the State of California.

The people have spoken and their words have recalled Governor Gray Davis and put in place the imminent succession of Governor Elect Arnold Schwarzenegger to the Gubernatorial Mansion. A lot of people seem upset about this turn of events; angry about the recall itself, angry that Arnie won, angry that any of hundreds of others didn't.

The "recall" issue relies on the good sense of voters not to use it unless necessary, the people of California must not use the provision for whimsical or party political reasons or paralysis would engulf California's political machine. It remains to be seen whether threats to immediately recall Schwarzenegger materialise but I believe that Californians will have the good sense not to support such a motion. As a check on elected power though it seems eminently fair to me that the voters who put a candidate in office have a mechanism to remove them from office also.

As for Arnie, well if anyone should be upset it's the republicans. They've been duped. On Education, Immigration, the Environment, Energy, the Economy and Reform Governor Elect Schwarzenegger is to my reading a fairly middle of the road kind of guy. On Abortion he's pro-choice. Guns Ownership & Capital Punishment which are abhorrent to me and many he supports but in doing so is only reflecting the status quo and his stance is alien to neither Republican or Democrat. On Equal Rights he's OK, against gay marriage but I guess he's allowed to be right wing about something.

So I'm kind of at a loss as to why so many people are pissed about this. No track record? Bush had a track record in Texas and that doesn't seem to have helped him much. Whatever.

Posted by Paul at October 9, 2003 01:16 AM |