Thanks for your comment on the Schwarzenegger matter. Most interesting. It sounds a very complicated situation and it confirms my feeling that he's going to be a great disappointment. Also, Californians seems to have a penchant for referenda on almost anything. I'm not suggesting they shouldn't do this, but the overlaps between this and the political/governance structure does seem to make for increasing problems in the future. My feeling is that California has had its days of glory.
However, let me change the subject. I'd be most interested in your comments on the William Kristol quote in my other (post-dogwalk) posting. I find this quite amazing. Is it as serious as it seems to be? Such devastating criticism of his ideological confreres would never happen in England. We have a comparable situation here with an intellectually brilliant editor of the weekly magazine, The Spectator. He is Boris Johnson, also a Conservative MP, and he quite often writes the most glorious stuff (as literature) but he wouldn't dream of writing a word of criticsm of his party leader, Ian Duncan-Smith -- who is quite as dim* and useless as Bush is. The Conservative Party (that is, many of its senior, heavyweight MPs and ex-ministers) are desperate to get rid of IDS because there is little doubt that he won't win the next General Election -- which otherwise the Conservatives ought to be able to do with ease, such is the unpopularity of Blair. (I think it is probable that he will be got rid of fairly soon but, if so, it will be done in a secretive way.)
*He was a Captain in the Regular Army and was early-retired -- as they do with obvious incompetents.
Anyway, back to the Bush affair. I find this quite fascinating -- even more interesting than the Blair situation over here -- and I'd be most interested in your take on the latest developments. (Among other things, I'd like your opinion on Condi. Is she as brilliant as they make out? Why did she not stick her oar in at a much earlier stage in this tragic farce? This is what I don't understand. Or is she just a token -- like Powell? Also, I'd have thought, this is also going to give a lot more freedom of action to Sharon.)
I have a feeling that you might already be writing on this anyway -- so this might cross with yours.
Keith
At 06:42 09/10/03 -0700, you wrote:
Keith, a comment on the NYT articles lead paragraph.
While it is true that the new Governor, once certified and in office, will bring in a stable of eager GOP party people, he still has a Democrat Lt. Governor, and a deeply divided state legislature.
Oregon and Washington states have had DEM governors for years now with evenly split state legislatures, or GOP-controlled ones, and this has caused much of the deadlock and inability of state government to function when things changed quickly and they did not respond well or in time.
It is encouraging that the recall campaign generated a renewed interest in state politics. Young people getting involved is a good sign for tomorrow. However, for the chance at winning the governorship, many diehard California Republicans held their noseand voted for the big guy, who isnt that conservative. He is more photogenic in a suit than he was as a young man and has demonstrated great discipline and enthusiasm working towards his own personal goals. These attributes he will need to compensate for his lack of experience, regardless of whom he buddiedwith previously asking about politics. Even with experienced party regulars staffing and lining up behind him, it is unlikely that as he stumbles along the way, they will be willing to take the blame with him. Once inside, the party regulars may be eager to replace him. Is Pete Wilson really in charge?
Because of the brevity of this political campaign, it became a quick microstudy, a Cliff Notes study guide, in what is wrong about American-style political campaigning. It was very interesting to watch the concentrated effect that campaign slogans and speeches made, and the effect this had on the public (as viewed through media reports since I was not there). I dont really like to demean enthusiasm that comes genuinely from people, because most of my adult life Ive encouraged people to become involved; but as a longtime political junkie, I cant help but worry about all those who are going to wake up and wonder what in the heck they were thinking.
Personally, the challenge for me now is to learn to type Schwarzenegger. Today, maybe the only people willing to admit they miss Gov Davis are the copy and layout editors. Gov. Schwarzenegger is 18 letters. Gov. Davis days is six letters. No wonder Maria kept her last name. - KWC
According to the NYT this morning:
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 8 -- Arnold Schwarzenegger moved quickly Wednesday to prepare for governing, naming a prominent Republican congressman to run his transition and strongly suggesting that he would call on President Bush to provide federal aid to California, now in Republican hands.
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Keith Hudson, Bath, England, <www.evolutionary-economics.org>, <www.handlo.com>, <www.property-portraits.co.uk>
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