Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger gestures as he discusses his revised state budget proposal for the coming fiscal year during a Capitol news conference in Sacramento, Calif. .(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
For the growing number of Arnold-haters across the state, perhaps the fifth time is the charm.
Secretary of State Debbie Bowen confirmed on Friday she certified a fifth attempt to recall Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The four early attempts all failed to gather enough signatures to initiate a recall election, according to the Capitol Alert Web site.
The latest effort, launched by a group called Taxpayers United to Recall Governor Schwarzenegger, must obtain signatures from 12 percent of the electorate by Oct. 22. That means 1,041,530 people, i.e., valid voter signatures, are needed.
Schwarzenegger, of course, became governor following the historic successful recall of Democratic Gov. Gray Davis in 2003. Since that time, California has gone a bit recall crazy, launching bids against politicians with a reckless urgency. But to say turnabout is fair play -- or some other appropriate cliche' like what's good for the goose is good for the gander (just what the hell that means, I suspect only a farmer could tell us) -- would be somewhat inaccurate in Schwarzenegger's case as it is most members of his own party that launch the recall campaigns.
Conservative anti-tax Republicans have also launched two recall elections against members of their own party that worked with Schwarzenegger to provide a needed two-thirds vote during the last budget impasse. For Republicans, any vote to affect a compromise with the Democratic majority that includes any tax increase is akin to Scarlet A. It's political suicide. Just ask Republican Assemblymember Anthony Adams one of the targets of a Republican-led recall.
A spokesman for the governor, Aaron McLear disputed the facts of the recall election, though of course reasoned-debate and facts are of little interest to those pushing for a recall each month. McLear said "the governor's revised budget plan increases state spending by 1.3 percent - 'slower growth than under every California governor in recent history,'" Capitol Alert reported.
Lost in all the recall hubbub is a basic civics question that few seem interested in asking. In a Democratic Republic like ours, where we elect representatives to cast votes of conscience on our behalf for a specific period of time, what does it do the election process when those terms cast aside, not for a serious criminal activity or high character failing, but for a vote? What is the point of a term in office when recalls can be launched by special-interest groups seeking to run rough-shod over the process through recall campaigns?
Democrats have a majority in the legislature simply because voters elect them. Frustrated Republicans can only wield power, by threatening -- and even devouring-- their own.
No wonder California's Legislature inspires confidence in fewer than 20 percent of all California voters according to the latest polls.
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Comments
The invasion of illegal immigrants into the state of California, has much to do with the monolithic budget meltdown. Learn the truth from City councilor Andronovich stated that $ 11. billion can be attributed to every illegal alien, who breaks into America, get a free lunch on the taxpayers in Los Angeles county. My concern and thousands of other citizens and legal residents is how many---ILLEGAL ALIENS---are voting in elections, when no governmental ID is needed to prove immigration status. Simply recognize that California is a---SANCTUARY STATE---and by removing millions of illegal immigrants and their families will assist on balancing the budget. So vote---NO--on all propositions as you are supporting parasite businesses that hire illegal cheap labor. The Liberal Assembly in Sacramento has allowed foreign labor to settle here and now the Piper must be paid. Taxpayers are unknowingly paying billions of dollars in State benefits to underwrite education, health care, housing and other benefits and now has the highest taxes in the nation? Demand a permanent E-Verify workplace extraction tool now. Learn more at NUMBERSUSA, JUDICIALWATCH.
You can download a copy of the petition to sign at totalrecall2009.
Should California consider a fee on corn fuel ethanol use?
* * Lower price for food, gas, water, beer, cleaner air and funds for the budget from oil profit
"the governor's revised budget plan increases state spending by 1.3 percent - 'slower growth than under every California governor in recent history,'" PLAN. The plan was not passed. How about the COMPLETE truth, the number of state employees has DOUBLED over the time Ah-nold has been in office, and the state budget has increased over 34%... THAT is what Californians are recalling him about - not a plan that was not passed. Word-smithing and cherry picking facts just will not due...
"What is the point of a term in office when recalls can be launched by special-interest groups seeking to run rough-shod over the process through recall campaigns?" Well, since it is citizen groups and organizations with like goals/agendas/ideals/priciples that got you INTO office based on your stated commitment to them, recalls prevent the disingenuous from abusing the public trust and going "their own way" after telling the people what they want to hear just to get elected. It's INSURANCE, dummy.
It really does not take much to look behind the curtain -- Get off the kool aid and wake up; Californians have HAD IT.
Arnold is incompetent and he needs to resign. That cartoon character should never have become governor.
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