Free Republic

by Michael Barone Governor Arnold 10/16/03 The recall Of California Gov. Gray Davis and the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger to succeed him is, first of all, a repudiation of left-wing Democratic governance. A state that Al Gore carried 53 percent to 42 percent voted 55 percent to 45 percent to recall Davis. Schwarzenegger got more votes than "no" on recall and more votes than Davis did in 2002. Davis was first elected in 1998 on competence and as a centrist. But his mishandling of the electricity crisis called into question his competence, and his big budget deficits — caused by...