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Arnold already has agreed to deploy 1000 National Guard to the CA border. 250 are already there and have been for years doing construction work. It's not our burden to pay for. The border is a federal issue and so he demanded the Feds supply the funding. He did refuse to add another 1500 on top of that 1000. Since fire season just began, they may be needed elsewhere.

The Guard deployment is just a rouse to get folks to think W is "getting tough" on the border so he can get his amnesty bill through the House. Arnold's not falling for it.

Spending is too high but unfortunately a lot of that spending is mandated. Tax receipts are up on a good economy and Arnold wants to apply that to debt payments while your liberal pals want to spend it! The overall direction of CA is better than it was, better than it would be under Angelides. In November, that's the KEY question. We need to get Arnold reelected and help him bring back a policy of REFORM with his new political capital.

The Guard deployment is just a rouse to get folks to think W is "getting tough" on the border so he can get his amnesty bill through the House. Arnold's not falling for it.

No argument there--your point is spot on!

The overall direction of CA is better than it was, better than it would be under Angelides.

Yes, but the overall direction of California is still into the gutter. Spending is still increasing faster that revenue under Arnold, and while much of that is out of his control, much of it his responsibility. Saying Arnold sucks less than the other guy doesn't mean Arnold doesn't suck. And, his cozy demeanor with Antonio Villalaraza is rather troublesome, to say the least.

The cynic in me is still saying that Arnold ran to keep Tom McClintock out, and the alarmist in me is saying that Arnold is lining Villalaraza up to keep McClintock out. While he may be better than Gray Davis and Phil Angelides, that really isn't saying much.

I will try to be optimistic, though, since that's really all I have left.