Dan
However typically and poorly based in legal or political reality. There is a lot that Arnold could have done from within his legal powers.
Arnold is the chief of the militia per Article 5 Section 7 of the California Constitution.
SEC. 7. The Governor is commander in chief of a militia that shall be provided by statute. The Governor may call it forth to execute the law.
Here is the distinction between Arnold and Lockyer:
SEC. 13. Subject to the powers and duties of the Governor, the Attorney General shall be the chief law officer of the State. It shall be the duty of the Attorney General to see that the laws of the State are uniformly and adequately enforced.
Arnold can order an arrest of Gavin Newsome on grounds of probable cause that Mr. Newsome has committed felony malfeasance (if not criminal fraud for modifying State documents and representing them as official). Should Arnold choose not to do that, preferring to go through channels, he can file a memo to Lockyer stating that there is obvious probable cause for an indictment of Mr. Newsome and a demand that he take action on an act of felony malfeasance.
He didn't do either. Now, lest you think that taking such precipitous action is foolishly extreme, I remind you that when these marriage licenses are canceled there is a very likely possiblity of a riot. (You do remember "White Night"?) The longer he waits, the worse it will get.
Lest you fail to consider the seriousness of this situation, I remind you that what Gavin Newsome did was an illegal act of pure dictatorship. To allow this to go on is an affront to the law and akin to literal mob rule. It cannot stand and neither can these "marriages."