[litany_of_lies]

CA is so big that its meltdown would certainly hurt the economy seriously.

I agree that a meltdown is the Dems goal. What else explains why they would spend precious time passing laws mandating employment protection for cross-dressers (not kidding, Savage covered it earlier in the week)?

The Dems figure that a meltdown will cause a serious recession in the entire country--a perfect opportuntiy to declare a "health care crisis" (so single payor is the answer), an "energy crisis," a "social services crisis" (punitive taxes to pay for expanding programs), a "faiilure of capitalism" (guaranteed employment laws), etc.

Possible ways to address it:
- If available, publish data on regional Gross Domestic Product, and note how the rest of the country is being dragged down by CA, to counter claims that CA is just symptomatic of the rest of the nation. I don't think it exists now, and it needs to.
- Point out that the entire crisis has occured during 5+ years of full democratic control of all branches of govt.
- Recall Davis and successfully get him out of there while CA is near hitting bottom. Any improvement accrues to GOP.
- Get the cronies out of CALPERS and invest strictly in bond and stock index funds, to take the politics out of investment decisions that is currently ruining what was a great organization. If CALPERS isn't fixed, the state pension crisis will make the current one look like child's play.
- Fight legally tooth and nail to protect homeschoolers, who the state is currently trying to harass out of existence.
- Enforce the English-only referendum that CA passed a few years ago.

This is not an impressive list. The most impressive thing W could do to neutralize the impact of a CA meltdown would be to tell the INS to enforce the law and deport every illegal alien who can be located, included those currently sucking the prison system dry. I don't think W has the will to do this, but if he did, those who vote would support him even more than they do currently. Heck, he might even win CA.

[doug from upland]

Several hosts have talked about the cross-dressing bill. A possible 150K fine for not allowing a young man to dress in high heels and lipstick in your Christian book store or funeral parlor or professional office, etc. That's my state.

[oceanview]

your analysis is correct, but although the solutions you propose are thoughtful, they won't solve the short term crisis. CA should raise taxes, a mix of different increases in all areas, to avoid the default. Because if they default, Bush is taking the hit, the media coverage will kill us.