and even if the governor was elected God, he couldn't change that.' -- Democratic Senate ex-President Pro Tem John Burton
Posted on 12/05/2004 9:03:18 PM PST by NormsRevenge
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is nearing a decision on whether to press for a special election next year at which he would seek to end the conflict of interest that allows legislators to draw their own district boundary lines. I say, go for it.
Not only that, Schwarzenegger should double the bet by proposing a measure to allow new lines to be drawn in time for the 2006 elections.
Such a special election in the fall of 2005 would be extremely risky for the governor. If he were to fail, he would lose much if not all of the political momentum he worked to build throughout 2004. The Legislature would go from hostile to his ideas to hostile to him personally. His ability to call on the public as a lever to influence lawmakers would be severely diminished. His re-election prospects for 2006, should he choose to run, would take a crippling blow. Not only would he have raised and spent millions of dollars for the ballot fight that he could have saved for his own campaign, he also would have sullied his image as a man of action in tune with the people.
But that high level of risk is all the more reason for Schwarzenegger to pursue this approach. We need political leaders willing to put themselves on the line, spell out an agenda and engage the electorate in helping to pass it. Schwarzenegger fancies himself the people's governor. If he can't be bold, nobody can.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Appropriate quote ... The Democrats really do think they are God.
Weintraub's column is precisely on-target. Arnold MUST make this move. No if's, and's, or but's ...
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