Reply #6: No, I don't think you're reading it right at all.

[RichM]

First, you're grossly overestimating the "people" as regards their powers of judgement. EVEN ON DU, here this morning, DUers are posting la-la comments about how they like Arnold, they think he will turn out to be a "liberal" or even switch parties. If some DUers are dumb enough to say things like that, what will average Californians think? They'll be just as dumb, or dumber.

IOW, Arnold will probably win. (How did Reagan get elected governor, then president, if the people weren't pretty stupid & easy to manipulate? How is Bushler president, & deemed "popular?")

Second: the dilution of votes from many candidates will have a negative effect. It makes Arnold's chances even better, due solely to celebrity power.

Third, the whole thing will set another destructive precedent, just like the Clinton Impeachment or the Stolen Election of 2000. These things destroy the traditions of serious democracy -- which of course is very much the plan.