Tuesday's Defeat - The Senator's thoughts on the special election..Tom McClintock

CaliforniaRepublic.org ^ | 11/14/05 | Tom McClintock

[NormsRevenge]

In 1945, Winston Churchill was swept from office in a devastating election defeat just days after leading England safely through World War II. As he watched in morose silence as the results rolled in, Clementine sat beside him, patted his knee and said, “If you ask me, Winston, it’s a blessing in disguise.” Churchill growled, “At the moment, madam, it is very well disguised, indeed.”

I’m not going to pretend that Tuesday’s election was anything other than what it was: an unmitigated and stunning defeat of some of the most basic principles of good government ever put to a vote: that government should live within its means; that politicians shouldn’t chose who gets to vote for them; that teachers should demonstrate sustained competence before they’re granted lifetime tenure; that public employees have a right to decide for themselves what candidates they’ll support with their own money; and that parents have a right to know if their teenaged daughter is undergoing an abortion.

Nor am I going to pretend that the election can be easily dismissed as a fluke. It was a major setback in the cause of reform and a major victory for the government unions that are now ascendant, emboldened and unchallenged in their domination of our political and legislative process.

There are many lessons to be learned and to be learned well. But as Mark Twain warned, “We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it and stop there; lest we be like the cat that sits on a hot stove-lid; she will never sit on a hot stove-lid again--and that is well; but also she will never sit on a cold one anymore."

I have always said that it is naïve to believe that the same legislature that got California into its mess is going to get it back out. The Governor learned this during the first year of his administration, when, despite a few cosmetic and incremental successes, no serious reforms survived the legislature and the state’s finances continued to deteriorate (masked by a $15 billion infusion of borrowed money).

The governor ultimately had no alternative than to bring this impasse to a head and appeal directly to the people. He could have maintained a façade of bipartisanship, contented himself to tinker at the margins, put forth pleasing half-measures while the state’s deficit continued to mount – but he chose finally to confront the state’s condition boldly and forthrightly. And he knew that to do so, he had to confront the government unions responsible for that condition.

Should the election have been called sooner, when civic attention and the Governor’s popularity were at an all-time high? Could the reforms have been better selected, framed and crafted? Would a clearer presentation of these issues have prevailed?

Those shoulda-coulda-woulda questions are important ones and I don’t begrudge the pundits who are now raising and answering them. But they should be tempered by Teddy Roosevelt’s observation that, "It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again (because there is no effort without error or shortcoming), but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause…”

Now the watchword is “compromise,” but through all this soothing rhetoric there is a hardened reality: the government unions are now in a stronger political position than ever and no “compromise” will escape the Capitol without their seal of approval. And that means the state will continue to drift upon the course that has already brought it to the brink of insolvency, until the next crisis awakens voters.

Elections are decisive moments in time that record a snapshot of public judgment, but they are conducted in a dynamic world where events can quickly reshape the political landscape. If the fundamental course of the government is not changed – and the government unions have an intense self-interest and demonstrated ability NOT to change – crises will visit California with increasing frequency and intensity. In such an environment, the politics of the state could shift very rapidly.

Whatever the Governor does in response to the election, it is imperative that he levels with the people on the actual fiscal condition of the state and that he is very clear and uncompromising in presenting the solutions that must ultimately resolve it. And when watered-down and meaningless changes are all that emerge from the legislature, he must resist the temptation to proclaim them as anything more.

We humans are creatures of habit. We instinctively resist change and engineer our institutions of government to resist it as well. Change occurs in a society only after the necessity for it finally overcomes our own resistance. That is why serious reforms only come in a state of agitation – and why the recall succeeded in 2003, while the reforms to consummate that recall failed two years later. The recall proceeded while the public perceived a crisis and the reforms were attempted when they did not.

When the next crisis comes, the Governor will find a new appreciation among Californians for what he was trying to do in this election, and a more receptive electorate to do so in the next.

[SweetCaroline]

When my husband and I went to vote there was a line out the door for the Dems side, we walked right up to the Reps side to sign in.

While there I asked a friend working the Reps side how busy they were so far his answer "About forty people all morning!" At that point I knew the propositions wouldn't pass.

[Pragmatic_View]

CA is the world's 5th largest economy. The US CANNOT afford to just write it off, unless you want to send the entire country into a major recession.

[Grampa Dave]

"When my husband and I went to vote there was a line out the door for the Dems side, we walked right up to the Reps side to sign in."

"While there I asked a friend working the Reps side how busy they were so far his answer "About forty people all morning!" At that point I knew the propositions wouldn't pass."

What is sad, these holdouts are so proud of themselves.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks. I'm sure that what we are posting as our voting observations and contacts afterwards with the non voters could be replicated all over the state.

[Jibaholic]

CA is the world's 5th largest economy. The US CANNOT afford to just write it off, unless you want to send the entire country into a major recession.

With the exception of guns, the most effective contraint on government power is the fact that jobs and capital can cross state or national borders. California is already losing both. Eventually it will lose enough to make liberal voters repudiate liberal politics.

[SweetCaroline]

I live in a senior community and most friends are grandparents. No one even talked about the coming election or the pro/cons of the propositions.

It's hard to believe the people I sit across from for dinners at the club house wouldn't be running to the polling booths to protect there grandchildren from hiding abortions

[tophat9000]

Most of those so called California conservative critics, who didn't vote and stayed home in a temper tantrum are those who perceive themselves as the Pure Walk on Water Conservatives. They had rather bitch about something in their lunacy than do something about the problem. They spend more time stabbing Arnold and GW in the back than eliminating liberals.

I've seen this spin for a while now from the Arnold hard core to blame the loss on conservative ..that's pure speculative crap based on a logical fallacy based on lower turnout in conservative area ... just because an area is more conservative done not mean it only conservative ...

In low votes it the wings that show up...

Arnold supposed strength is to bring out the normally indifferent moderate middle to his side to add there extra 20% turnout and tip it to his side....Save bet if you did a voter break down you would fined it was Arnold moderate middle that stayed home in droves and/or turned on Arnold

Arnold's "hard core" are quick to scape goat the conservatives

...why don't we get a voter break down before we decide who didn't turn out, conservative voter or "Arnold's" moderate middle voters

Bottom line here in Orange county from my own observation of people I know the, conservative and libs/union types turned out... Arnold's" mushy middle types that talked Arnold up big in 2002 didn't even seem to know there WAS and election last Tuesday

[little jeremiah]

ROTFLOL!

Great graphic!!!!

Freepmail coming your way.

[elbucko]

It is "conservatives" like this who support the status quo in this state.

Excellent observation. It is "conservatives" like that, or CINO's, who have turned CA into a blue state.

[kellynla]

"Can you say the same?"

wellllll noooooo....you're just a weeeee bit older than me. LOL

But I find it curious that you complain about "California conservative critics, who didn't vote and stayed home in a temper tantrum are those who perceive themselves as the Pure Walk on Water Conservatives. They had rather bitch about something in their lunacy than do something about the problem." I don't know who exactly you are talking about?
Tom McClintock who has been the only person in Sacramento who had the spine to fight the Dimwit Davis and liberals in Sacramento on spending, illegals and driver's licenses for illegals long before the recall election of 2003. Or are you talking about the conservatives who got the signatures for the recall election?
Or maybe you're talking about the Gelding Old Party who failed to support the recall election in the first place or since you mentioned GWB who has for FIVE FRIGGIN' YEARS refused to secure the ports and borders and deport the millions of criminals who are roaming about the state unabated. Or the "johnny-come-lately" Schwarzenegger who jumped in the race only after the recall election was well on its way to fruition; to only knock out the only true blue conservative in the race. Now just which so called "California conservatives" are you referring to?
For if not for the true blue conservatives, the Dimwit Davis would still be in office today!
And finally, you post some lame graphic that depicts all of California as "Idiots"...now I don't know how you feel about yourself but I know I am no "idiot." And my COUNTY, Orange, voted "FOR" all the propostions. Can your county say the same? LOL

Yes sir, those of us who have supported candidates and recalls have a lot to complain about and until this governor pulls his head out of his arse and starts "governing" we will continue to complain.

[PRND21]

Most of those so called California conservative critics, who didn't vote and stayed home in a temper tantrum are those who perceive themselves as the Pure Walk on Water Conservatives. They had rather bitch about something in their lunacy than do something about the problem. They spend more time stabbing Arnold and GW in the back than eliminating liberals.

Perfectly put.

[tophat9000]

make 2002...2003

[little jeremiah]

What is wrong with Republicans in CA? I just can't imagine why they stayed home en masse.

Are they French?

[Wolfstar]

When the next crisis comes, the Governor will find a new appreciation among Californians for what he was trying to do in this election, and a more receptive electorate to do so in the next.

I don't believe this for one minute. Business is leaving this state at an accelerated pace. After nearly 40 years here in Southern California, Nissan North America announced last week that it is moving its national HQ to Tennessee before next September. Toyota is exploring the feasibility of moving its national HQ out of California also. There is now a lot of empty office and commercial space in this locality.

For the first time in at least three years, I saw a for-sale sign in front of a single-family home in a nice area with REDUCED on it.

Hollywood, that basition of limo-Leftists, has been shipping production and jobs to Canada and other states.

Despite these ominous signs, Californians keep sailing along electing Marxists to the legislature in good times and bad.

The recall election did nothing for us except shift the blame from Gray Davis and the Dems.

[Wolfstar]

Most of those so called California conservative critics, who didn't vote and stayed home in a temper tantrum are those who perceive themselves as the Pure Walk on Water Conservatives.

That's a huge problem in this state. Time and time and time and time again, I have seen such so-called real conservatives find something to get their knickers in a twist just in time to either not vote or vote for some fringe candidate or third party to "send a message."

[Guyin4Os]

No, I won't be running away. "Voting with your feet" is too French. They run away from battles. I was born in Calif and I'm not leaving.

[Wolfstar]

Eventually it will lose enough to make liberal voters repudiate liberal politics.

I disagree. If anything, it will drive more people to the Dems, the "Party of the little guy," dontcha know.

[lawnguy]

Does the Cal. Governor have the line item veto? If not, maybe the best bet would be to just get angry, and go down fighting.

I guess that one could make the argument that Californians have made their decision, and they will reap what they sow. In the mean time, any state out there with a good business climate is looking more and more attractive to industry and the industrious.

[Jibaholic]

At first it will. That's been the story of America since the New Deal - the worse things get (because of government interference in the economy) the more intervention we "need"

In order to break the cycle we need to properly dilineate the difference between conservative and liberal economics. A nation of states that are 55% Republican versus those that are 55% Democratic do not do that.

As California's economy declines more and more liberals will cling more and more strongly to Big Government policies - and take down the economy more and more. Eventually it will crack.

And that will be the end of the progressive movement.

[Grampa Dave]

"No, I won't be running away. "Voting with your feet" is too French. They run away from battles. I was born in Calif and I'm not leaving."

Amen. The same reality applies to the Episcopal church where the gays have tried to take it over. Too many are too willing to run away and leave their churches, endowment funds to enrich the gay hordes. Staying and fighting are tough choices, but many of us will do it.