Is it fair to say that a good leader has an easy job when things are good and needs to get to work when things are tough?
If that is true, can we say that Davis is not agood leader? If he isn't a good leader shouldn't he be removed?
By the way, I thought there was a major cry that public education in CA and especially in Southern CA was not good. If that is the general consinsus then how proper is it to applaude Davis's record involving education?

Let's not get into Dems vs. Repubs debate here ... BTW, it appears that you have issues with our past and present Presidents ... Start a thread on this subject! Have courage.

Davis is being recalled. The voting citizens of California will either say yes or no. And if yes (to the recall), the citizens of this great State will decide who will lead them out of this mess.

California currently has a $38B deficit ... we must tighten the belt of our spending; not raise taxes. Just like at home, if one owes $$$ in credit cards etc., either you stop spending, give up some 'wants' and focus on the 'needs'. We MUST have fiscal responsibility.

Today, Standard and Poor’s just downgraded California's Bond Rating to just above Junk status. What does this mean? Well, California provides approximately 11% of this COUNTRY's economy. The impact will be felt by all; not just in California.

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1992 500E (Daily Driver)
2004 Porsche RUF 955 Dakara 550

Please accept my appologies ...

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1992 500E (Daily Driver)
2004 Porsche RUF 955 Dakara 550

Is it October 7th yet?

Oh, BTW, how about Mayor Moon Beam (Oaktown Mayor - Jerry Brown) on the list of canidates!!!!

I just heard that Riordon will not run if Arnold runs.

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1992 500E (Daily Driver)
2004 Porsche RUF 955 Dakara 550

If you all would like to hear something really crazy about our awful budget situation here in California, listen to this:

I work for the University of California (proud graduate, also) and
if the state doesn't produce a budget this month, as of September 1st my paycheck will begin to reflect my new salary: minimum wage. State law mandates that all state employees temporarily earn minimum wage while there is no budget, until such time as the budget impasse is relieved and a new, balanced budget is produced. At first, none of us thought this would actually happen, but now the university is starting to warn us that it is most likely unavoidable at this point, and that we will probably have to earn minimum wage for at least a month or two. That's going to be really hard for people with families, mortgages, etc....but I guess that goes without saying. Our paychecks for the month will all be about $1000!!!

Of course, the good thing is that when the new budget finally comes through, you get retroactively paid for the salary you didn't earn while you got minimum wage. But I'm not going to enjoy living off 6 bucks an hour for any period of time.

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Zach
1992 300CE

Normans quoteGood point ,"just like at home."
If we required our government to behave as if it were their home or neighborhood, things would be differant.
If we had to each take a check over to the unemployed neighbor who won't retrain to a marketable trade.
If we had to take a check over to the local school that only graduated 70% of their students and some of them can't read.
Any others?

I'm going to College of Marin in the fall, i don't what will happen in the next year, but if Davis screws me of a chance to transfer to UC Berkeley or UC San Diego, i'll be GENUINELY pi$$ed off.

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1984 380SL-driving and service privileges.

Absolutely. Perhaps we should also apply some of this wisdom to our federal budget as well? Someone should tell this to Bush. I think the situation in California would be bad without Davis, it's just being compounded and worsened because he is a bad governor. I don't know about the details, but if all it takes to win the governorship is to have the most amount of votes without limits on the number of candidates that can run, this is a bad idea. And Mike, yes I do think this is a bad idea that threatens the integrity of our system. People should not be allowed to vote elected officials out of office whenever they please. The recall in California is being used now because of their "emergency," but what if the recall begins to be adopted in more places and becomes a political mechanism to oust officials that really shouldn't be removed? What if its use becomes more cavalier and its use escalates?

If people can boot out elected officials whenever they please, won't this undermine the electoral process?

That really doesn't add anything to your quip; it's only real purpose is to be inflamatory. And it's "awful" (since you asked).

Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

Zach ... I understand your concern. I have a friend that he and his wife both work at University of California - San Diego. This could really have an effect on them.

BTW, you stated you work at University of California ... which campus - San Francisco or Berkeley?

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1992 500E (Daily Driver)
2004 Porsche RUF 955 Dakara 550

I am not from yur area so I dont much care.

Norman,

I work on the Berkeley campus. It's also my alma mater - I graduated in 2001 - and I hope to not stick around for too much longer!

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Zach
1992 300CE

You really should ... California's economy, like Texas' will sway the Nation's ecomony.

But if you don't, well, you just don't.

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1992 500E (Daily Driver)
2004 Porsche RUF 955 Dakara 550

I'd like to know if the $3500 and 76 signatures has been indexed for inflation and population, or has that been in effect since 1911?



Can you guess the first law that's going to be changed in California after the election? That's right, the recall law. I think it will still exist, but I bet the requirements to establish a recall and then get on the ballot get much tougher.

There are a lot of people in California for whom $3500 is a joke and 76 signatures are no problem. I'll bet a significant number of them get on the ballot just for fun and to make a place for themselves in history. I'll just guess and say the ballot will have 200 candidates.

Can you imagine? "Hi, I'm Ken300D and I'm running for governor. If I get elected, I'll repeal the tax on diesel fuel in California and eliminate all pollution standards on diesel automobiles. I support the lower greenhouse gas emissions that diesels contribute to our environment."

Somebody please vote for me.



Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

Just wondering, where did you hear this from? Also, how likely is it that Arnold will run?

According to a news article I read (of course, I can't find it now ), a poll showed that if the election were held right now, Riordan would get the most votes, followed closely by Arnold...

After his record in L.A. I would love to see Riordan in office...

Even though the California constitution essentially allows a recall for just about any reason, to use it for a purpose other than blatant malfeasance or corruption is a terribly dangerous thing.

Why? Because elections and campaigns are all-consuming endeavors. They take up a TREMENDOUS amount of time, energy, and attention. That is time, energy, and attention that is no longer being devoted to public policy and the business of running the state.

Case in point: Look at the California budget. The governor, for all of his faults, proposed an arguably responsible budget in January. It balanced this year (no long-term deficit), made significant cuts to nearly all state programs, and yes, increased taxes. Maybe not the best proposal, but given the choices it made, it actually demonstrated some leadership on his part.

Then the recall became a serious possibility. What happened with the May budget revision? The governor protected education, corrections, and public safety (police, fire) programs, because those were the consituencies he wanted standing next to him if the recall became serious. What was the cost?

To offset that increased spending, the May revise (and the budget proposed to be adopted Sunday) includes billions of dollars in borrowing, and 100% guarantees a $7-10 billion deficit again next year.

This is why recalls can be dangerous. Politicians who are constantly in campaign mode make decisions based on votes, not on the long-term interests of the state.