[calcowgirl]

CATOs last report was so flawed for California (i.e. totally ignored the massive borrowing and deficit spending), I pretty much wrote them off. This one is at least a little closer to reflecting the record.

Schwarzenegger is no longer the small-government crusader he claimed he was when he auditioned for the role of governor. He has instead become a borrow-and-spend version of the big-spending governor he unseated in 2003.

[newzjunkey]

This is why last year's reform agenda was so important. The legislature has worse approval numbers the Bush and yet they keep being shipped back to Sacramento and churning out crazy bills the people don't want (like driver's licenses for illegals) while the unions trash the governor for even trying to hold the line on growth.

After calling his efforts good ideas in the debate with Angelides, I'm dismayed he's decided to give up on the paycheck protection and redistricting reforms.

His big mistake was thinking the voters would trust and help him against the insanity of the legislature-union duopoly leading headlong into the ultimate ruination of CA.

Arnold's a populist, not an ideologue, thus a well-informed California, not drowning in $100 million in slanderous union propaganda, is critical to moving fiscal policies in a "common-sense conservative" direction. Contrary to what he said about moving too fast with his reform agenda, I believe he waited *too long* after the recall (I blame the Wilsonites).

Reelection will renew Arnold's political capital but I think McClintock's election is *critical* because he'll have a bully pulpit from which to articulate more sane fiscal discipline. I think it's great they're running as a pseudo-ticket although Tom's being hammered heavily by ads designed to appeal to moonbat fems.