California Recall Daily Thread(8/13/2003): 55 Days To Go

California Recall Daily Thread: Up To The Minute News ^ | 8.13.2003 | DoctorZin

[DoctorZIn]

California Recall Ballot to Use Calbonic Alphabet
ridiculopathy

Posted on 08/13/2003 7:29 AM PDT by Sir Gawain
California Recall Ballot to Use Calbonic Alphabet

To read the entire post, go to:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/963288/posts

[DoctorZIn]

Rush: Recall Has Nothing To Do With Cultural Issues

RUSH | 8.13.03 | Joe Hadenuf
Posted on 08/13/2003 9:20 AM PDT by Joe Hadenuf

Rush states it has to do with government fiscal mismanagement, illegal aliens, and taxes. He stated this has little to do with abortion, gay rights etc......

To read the entire post, go to:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/963364/posts

"If you want on or off this RECALL ping list, Freepmail me”

[DoctorZIn]

Pumping Arnold On His Policies

CBS News ^ | Aug. 12, 2003 | DoctorZin
Posted on 08/13/2003 9:50 AM PDT by DoctorZIn

CBS/AP) As state election officials unveiled a complicated system Monday for ranking the scores of candidates expected on California's recall ballot, some opponents pressed movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger to make his policy positions known.

To read this entire post, go to:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/963380/posts

"If you want on or off this RECALL ping list, Freepmail me”

[EternalVigilance]

Here's one you missed:

"Kennedy connections add oomph to Schwarzenegger's political quest, says author "

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/963356/posts

[DoctorZIn]

Thanks.

[DoctorZIn]

California Learning
Recall has its first victory.

By Michael J. New
August 13, 2003, 9:25 a.m.
National Review Online

Fiscal conservatives won a quiet victory last week when California enacted a budget that did not include a major tax increase. Plagued by an immense $38 billion shortfall, the summer months produced much in the way of acrimony and little hope for a resolution. As a result, many were surprised when the assembly passed a $100 million budget, which Governor Davis promptly signed into law on Saturday.

Now, this budget is far from perfect. It triples the vehicle-license fee and hikes other fees. Furthermore, the budget is dependent on one-time borrowing and will likely result in another budgetary shortfall next summer. Still, the fact that the impasse was resolved without a large tax hike exceeded the expectations of all but the most optimistic of observers.

So how was California able to escape from its $38 billion deficit without a substantial tax increase? Several reasons. One, assembly Republicans demonstrated remarkable solidarity in their opposition to tax increases. Senate Minority Leader Jim Brulte even threatened to campaign against any Republican who voted to raise taxes.

Two, California's supermajority requirement played an important role. In California, Democrats possess majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. As a result, the opposition of Republicans would have meant little if only a majority was necessary for a tax increase. However, California's supermajority requirement — enacted in conjunction with Proposition 13 — gave assembly Republicans the ability to block tax increases and obtain concessions from Democrats.

Indeed, during the summer, supermajority limits proved to be effective. Of the seven states with comprehensive supermajority limits that enacted budgets by July, six did so without raising taxes. According to data from the American Legislative Exchange Council, the spending-cut-to-tax-increase ratio in these seven states was an astounding 137 to 1. Conversely, in the rest of the country tax hikes exceeded spending cuts.

However, the actions of the Nevada supreme court in late July showed that California's supermajority was providing Golden State taxpayers with a false sense of security. In response to a lawsuit filed by Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn, the Nevada supreme court effectively nullified Nevada's two-thirds supermajority requirement for tax increases.

This was ominous for two reasons. First, shortly after the ruling, a spokesperson for Gov. Davis refused to rule out a similar lawsuit, saying that it was "something that we could possibly look at in the future." Secondly, California courts have frequently issued rulings hostile to the local government limitations included in Proposition 13. Considering the magnitude of California's current fiscal shortfall, it seemed unlikely that state courts would support the supermajority.

However, in the end it was the recall effort that saved California taxpayers. With Davis's popularity hovering at Nixonian levels, Davis and assembly Democrats realized that any substantial tax increase would damage his chances of surviving the recall. Consequently, Davis and the Democrats were more willing to agree to a budgetary compromise that did not involve a substantial tax hike.

As a result, regardless of the outcome of the recall election, the recall has already scored two important victories. First, it succeeded in preventing an economically damaging tax increase. Secondly, and perhaps even more importantly, it likely prevented a lawsuit that might have effectively crippled both tax limitations and the entire initiative process in California.

Indeed, it was just 25 years ago when another form of direct democracy was used to save California from a different kind of fiscal crisis. With property-tax bills soaring and budgetary surpluses mounting, Proposition 13 provided some much-needed tax relief to beleaguered California taxpayers. However, Proposition 13's impact went far beyond reducing property taxes. Indeed, it inspired activists from across the country to use direct democracy to place a variety of limits on state government.

Today's recall effort might have a similar long-term effect. In the future, recalls could be used to remove profligate legislators and governors from office. They could also be used to remove judges who nullify constitutional tax limitations. However, even if Gov. Davis remains in office and the recall remains a rarity, the recall effort of 2003 has still been a rousing success for the taxpayers of California.

— Michael New is an adjunct scholar with the Cato Institute, and a post-doctoral fellow with the Harvard-MIT Data Center.

http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-new081303.asp

[EternalVigilance]

Here is one of the most significant stories of the day:

"Buffett Recruited as Schwarzenegger's Economic Adviser"

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/963485/posts

[RightField]

I've been on vacation and internet-deprived for 14 days .... please add me to your CA recall bump list.

thanks ..... Vista, CA, resident here

[DoctorZIn]

How Arnold (and Pete Wilson) Will Do It

Fronpage Magazine ^ | 8.13.2003 | David Horowitz
Posted on 08/13/2003 1:45 PM PDT by DoctorZIn

A key to Arnold Schwarzenegger's prospects in the coming recall election is one that few have taken notice of: His campaign is being run by the most brilliant California Republican campaigner since Ronald Reagan. Former governor Pete Wilson, who is chairman of the Schwarzenegger campaign, shares Arnold's centrist brand of Republican politics, which is the only kind of Republican politics that can win at the state level. Even Ronald Reagan left issues like abortion on the back burner when he led California Republicans to victory. This is a state, it should never be forgotten, that has a million more registered Democrats than it does Republicans.

To find the rest of the post, go to:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/963532/posts

"If you want on or off this RECALL ping list, Freepmail me”

[EternalVigilance]

Former governor Pete Wilson, who is chairman of the Schwarzenegger campaign, shares Arnold's centrist brand of Republican politics

Ah, Pete Wilson, the 'centrist'.

Horowitz is losing it. He sounds just like the leftist media.

[My2Cents]

I heard John Fund of the Wall Street Journal say today, "Take a walk in the intellectual depth of Cruz Bustamante, and you'll not get your ankles wet."

[My2Cents]

Doc, you're providing a great service with the Daily Recall links. Thanks!

[My2Cents]

Horowitz is losing it. He sounds just like the leftist media.

No, he USED to be in the leftist media. Now he's engaged in trench warfare against them. (You can't sit in an ivory tower and engage in trench warfare.)

[EternalVigilance]

The media has for years labeled conservatives as 'right-wingers', while calling liberals moderates, if they bother to label them at all.

Horowitz in this case is practicing the same disingenuous methods.

Pete Wilson is a liberal.

[DoctorZIn]

Ahnold Recruits Warren Buffet As Economic Advisor

AP Wire | 8/13/03
Posted on 08/13/2003 11:56 AM PDT by presidio9

Developing...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/963483/posts

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[lainde]

bttt

[DoctorZIn]

Bush Says Schwarzenegger Not Only Good Candidate

Washington Post ^ | Wednesday, August 13, 2003 | Adam Entous
Posted on 08/13/2003 2:46 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Edited on 08/13/2003 2:55 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President Bush said on Wednesday that Arnold Schwarzenegger was not the only good candidate running in the California recall election and that he would use his visit to the state to "campaign for George W." and not the movie actor and former Mr. Universe.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/963567/posts

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[DoctorZIn]

Four legal challenges to California recall remain alive

Associated Press ^ | 08-13-03
Posted on 08/13/2003 5:31 PM PDT by Brian S
DAVID KRAVETS, AP Legal AffaiRS Writer Wednesday, August 13, 2003

To find the rest of the post. go to:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/963653/posts

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[DoctorZIn]

Gray Davis Official Ballot Statement (Barf Alert)

Gray Davis front group: Californians Against the Costly Recall ^
Posted on 08/13/2003 8:16 PM PDT by superfluousdude

To find the rest of this post, go to:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/963728/posts

[onyx]

Pete Wilson is a WINNER! NEVER lost an election. Not one.