About California -

[brokensymmetry]

Right now the race seems to be heading toward...well...bedlam at least. But I wonder if it wouldn't be a good idea to find a truly liberal/progressive candidate and get her/him on the ballot? And then we could at least have a platform to present some ideas. We could also see - and, more importantly, other candidates could see - just how powerful those ideas are.

We talk about health care, living wage legislation, education, and other social services; but until we get them into the marketplace of ideas (and votes) I fear they will continue to be ignored. We might be able to turn this ill conceived idea of a recall election into something productive.

What do you think?

[Blue_State_Elitist]

1. hmmm

Have Davis resign 2 days before the recall election. I'd like to see O'reilly spin that shit. HAHAHA

[redeye]

2. 'Twon't work

There will still be a replacement election. Even if Davis resigns now he won't be able to prevent the recall.

[devarsi]

4. Are You Sure?

I've read two versions of the process. One states that the recall vote is set once the petition has been submitted, and the other says that the recall vote is set only after the petrition is certified.

Eiher way, I agree that Devis should walk away now, regardless of the vote, for a number of reasons.

• It will take the steam out of the vote, make the whole vote moot.
  
• Davis can then ask the petitioners to withdraw the petition, to save the state the money. The Repukes can't or won't, but most people won't see that.
  
• It makes Bustamante the acting Governor. Any Repuke will then be running against Bustamante, not Davis. Eliminates the "Anyone but Davis" vote.
  
• I believe it would create a GOTV movement among Latinos, in favor of Bustamante.
  
• It would be easier for the Dems to close ranks around Bustamante than around Davis.
  

[dfong63]

6. yes. gray davis should resign

... for all the reasons you mentioned.

[Dagaz]

3. Arianna is running

Is that progressive enough or do you want left of Green?

[Snow]

5. Proven, competent administrator would be nice,

and Bustamante fits that a lot better than Arianna

[redeye]

8. She's liberal enough...

...although I prefer Camejo for partisan reasons of launching the Green party in California and nationwide.

[brokensymmetry]

10. She would probably be ideal.

Left of Green wouldn't be helpful, in my opinion. We need to test whether a true liberal/progressive agenda can get the votes needed. If it can, then we'll have a better idea how to craft the national message.

And if a liberal/progressive candidate is repudiated strongly in California, then we may have some bitter medicine to take.

[Yentatelaventa]

7. marketplace of ideas (and votes)

Considering how beyond broke CA is right now...how would you propose to pay for any such social services? More taxes? Re-triple the car tax?

[brokensymmetry]

9. I truly don't know.

To give a cogent answer to your question would require real study of both spending and revenue sources - and since I'm not going to file for election to the Governorship I doubt that I'll go that far. :-)

One thing that I've noticed about budgets, though - rarely are they truly analyzed from a zero base level. In our own personal budgets we can see the pattern; one little increment is OK because we enjoy it, another little increment is OK for some other reason, and so forth. Ultimately, we find that we have a high fixed expense. This becomes magnified as we delve into organizations.

I do think that California would need to be a little cautious about raising taxes too much, though - the economy is already suffering, and it might not be able to endure much more pressure.