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Hi Karen,
I cannot help but speculate that the increased
level of participation of young people, in California's recall, isn't more about
celebrity and fandom, and less about politics.
Flocking to an election involving a celebrity, for
young voters, cannot be too different from flocking to the latest mind-numbing
and ear-bursting blockbuster [Arnie has made his share of those.] to fill
the void of alienated lives and uncertain futures. It will be
ephemeral.
When was the last photo-op in which we saw a
56 year old politician being given a surf board - and it even made the Canadian
newpapers? This is not a sign of deep policy to follow, or perhaps I
just don't understand politics in La La Land.
I would be happy, of course, if I am wrong, and
this is truly about the reinvigoration of democracy and
citizenship.
AS, at one point, was tagged, even within
Republican circles, as an 'iffy' Republican. What will interest me is the
kind of Republicans (Neoconservative) he recruits to his inner circle, as policy
wonks, and their relationship to the American federal scene.
Bob
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2003 9:42
AM
Subject: RE: [Futurework]
Schwarzenegger's first mistake
Keith,
a comment on the NYT article’s 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 Republican’s “held their nose” and voted for the big guy, who isn’t
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 “buddied” with
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
don’t really like to demean enthusiasm that comes genuinely from people,
because most of my adult life I’ve encouraged people to become involved; but
as a longtime political junkie, I can’t 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.
>>>>
Keith
Hudson, Bath, England, <www.evolutionary-economics.org>, <www.handlo.com>, <www.property-portraits.co.uk>
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