Gubernatorial Recall is a Sham [10.01.03]

I know it's been said over and over, but I just have to say it again. This recall election is a sham and a joke.

Two things that happened last week provided further evidence of this. One, of course, was that lovely, chaotic "debate" between the top five candidates last Wednesday.

My biggest problem with the debate was the format. Unlike with most debates, the candidates were all given a list of the questions that would be asked. This was done because Arnold Schwarzenegger has refused to participate in any debate without knowing the questions first.

It seems ludicrous to me that they would alter the debate format just because one candidate is unable to come up with an answer without help from his brain trust.

If Schwarzenegger is afraid of some spontaneous questions, then he shouldn't be allowed to participate in the debate, period. Why give him any help to get on the same playing field as the other candidates? In the real world of the Governor's office, the script is not given to you beforehand.

The other, even more interesting but less publicized piece of news last week was something Darrell Issa said. Issa is the man who sparked the recall, putting up over $1.6 million of his own money to organize the petition drive. His specific reasons for recalling Gov. Gray Davis included "gross mismanagement" and "failing in general to deal with the state's major problems until they get to the crisis stage."

But last week, speaking at a luncheon in San Francisco, he told his audience that they should vote 'no' on the recall if there were going to be two candidates splitting the Republican vote. Apparently, he'd rather have Gray "Gross Mismanagement" Davis remain in office than have Cruz Bustamante win the recall. This is because Bustamante has promised to consider raising taxes as part of his efforts to fix California's economy.

I'm sorry, but when did this recall become about who's going to raise taxes?

This really shows how much the leaders of the Republican Party actually care about the people of California. This recall is not about saving California from Gray Davis. It's strictly a GOP power grab maneuver.

(In case you were wondering, this particular power grab is going to cost us, the taxpayers, an estimated $53 million to $66 million, according to the website of Secretary of State Kevin Shelley.)

California's recall mechanism was put in place to give the people an option when the governor proves to be incompetent. And although Issa tries to make this claim of Davis, it seems clear from his recent remarks that he does not really believe this. Otherwise, he would not tell Republicans not to risk putting Bustamante in office because OMIGOD HE WOULD RAISE TAXES!!

The use of the recall to gain power is an abuse of the system, and also may set a dangerous precedent. Recalls will begin to happen any time someone thinks they can whip up enough public support. As Bustamante pointed out during the debate, there are already people organizing to recall Schwarzenegger if he wins. Boy, I can't wait for that one...