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Saturday, November 12, 2005I spent the last few days in Pasadena in meetings for work, hence the absence. That meant, however, that I got to watch the referenda results coming in on television.After three years without television, what the last few days taught me is I could probably handle another three without any major difficulties. LA television is really something to watch. We did not hear, for example, about competing health care propositions. We heard about the "big pharmaceutical company proposition" and the "consumer health advocate proposition". The phrase "paycheck protection" was never uttered but the talking points about "shutting down the unions" was oft heard in paraphrase. If the rest of California media looks anything like the media down south, the wonder is that Arnold hasn't been dragged from the statehouse and drawn and quartered. That some of the props did as well as they did is to his credit. That two of his props came close while his opponents' went nowhere is also to his credit. But... The state of California doesn't get much credit here. All the surveys show a desire for change, a desire for the branches of government to work together, etc. But Californians don't seem to willing to do much other than complain. So the governor is hated and the legislature is hated and it's time for a change. The solution? Don't pass the props and don't boot the legislature. Complain that the guv isn't doing anything, then complain and back away if he does... Which is why the quality of the political debate will keep going down... the California electorate would rather complain than contemplate actual change and most of the politicians know this well enough not to waste their time. Those who don't, in the meantime, will get a quick education in studying the election results and the subsequent spins offered. Of particular interest, I would note, is the redistricting prop and the reactions is drew. Schwarzenegger would do well to leave the GOP and run as independent. He will likely lose, regardless, but he ought not waste his energy on a group of people who, given the chance to shake things up and usher in an era of more competitive politics, chose instead to protect the safe seats they'd negotiated, indifferent to the long term consequences for the party and vision they ostensibly honor. A few years back, there was much chatter about whether Schwarzenegger was a real Republican or just a wealthy opportunist. Subsequent events have shown that we may have it backwards, with the governor, McClintlock and a handful of others being the only real Republicans in a state where most of the GOP is more interested in respectability at the chi-chi country clubs and a safe spot in the Capitol than the ideas for which their party stands. 
posted by gbarto at 12:31 AM |
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