Arnold Is Inevitable
August 12, 2003
The current maelstrom that is the California recall elections look like a certain sign of chaos,
however in this depressed period I prefer to see them as entertainment. Arnold Schwartznegger has been the
consumate, lowest common denominator, circus act of the past twenty years and this is by far his broadest stage.
Nothing that he can do can mess up this state anymore than it already is so why not let the show go on?
Let's make one thing clear: The recall will not be overturned. For all
the protestations about how this recall is a farce most Californians will go to the polls and decide they would
prefer someone else to the aptly named Gray. Then they will come out of the voting booth and tell a CNN reporter
that this whole thing is ridiculous and the law should be repealed...through a proposition no doubt. If they really
want to cut something from the Cali budget they should disband the executive and legistlative branchs because out there they have a
general election on everything anyway.
With the recall issue out of doubt the assention of "the Arnold" becomes a fait a compli. There
are over 200 names on the ballot and the only one that people will be looking for is Schwartznegger. Buscomente
isn't an alternative, he is part of the old regime (even if he is taking the Brutus route to the top job).
Huffington is a true outsider, only slightly to the left of her Austrian adversary, but he has firmly claimed that
niche. When Darryl Issa wimpered off into the sunset the chance for a true right wing republican getting
into the spotlight vanished.
No, Arnold will win, maybe even get a majority. And he will go up to Sacramento and clean
house...and Pete Wilsons old staff will run things for the next three years.
Life will go on. This election will surely give the republicans another governorship but
for the party it may just mean hardship. The focus of this election will be on deficits and fiscal irresponsiblity,
subjects the Bush White House doesn't want brought up as the primary seasons gets going. Ironically
Darryl Issa's attempt at a conservative coup may end up
with a Clintonian Republican in Sacramento and a battle tested war plan for defeating President
Bush in 2004.
