Wednesday, August 20, 2003

If there were enough rightwing critics in the world then every leftwing politician could have a free out for their own policies and behavior. Enter Gray Davis who is sounding the Bill Clinton alarm.
"The Republicans behind the recall say they want you to vote me out because of past mistakes. But they don't give a rip about past mistakes -- they want power for the future, and with so many candidates, they think they can get it with the support of a tiny fraction of California voters."

It was progressives like Davis that made it possible to oust a sitting politician in California. It was all about the people. Recall is an iffy proposition in general, but it’s the least of the problems befalling California. Bustamante is ready for more of the same.
California's Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, the leading Democrat seeking to replace Gov. Gray Davis, proposed on Tuesday raising taxes by $8 billion to help the state's ailing finances -- while Davis readied a major defense of himself and his administration.

Arnold's choice of Warren Buffett the tax champion isn't much better. Raising taxes is just begging more productive Californians to leave the state. It also ensures that consumer spending will decline. The pirate ship is sinking and instead of plugging the hole, the captains are more interested in getting the treasure.

It would seem that a California politician cannot get elected saying, "We won't provide you a living." Years of social spending programs have convinced people that they deserve even more. Any state can survive in a strong economy, but in a sluggish economy, the irresponsible states are the first to fall apart. Gray Davis has a government solution to every hangnail. Davis is like the spoiled girl who wants diamonds because she “deserves” them. Any interruption in his power or spending is just evidence of an evil plot by conservatives.

I’m less convinced that the viable alternatives won’t make the same mistakes.

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