Dear C.s,
This is the 32nd recall attempt since 1936 and it produced this result:
On Question 1 (choice, # votes, percentage):
Yes 4,358,033 55.2
No 3,540,573 44.8
On Question 2:
Arnold Schwarzenegger Rep 3,694,436 48.5
Cruz M. Bustamante Dem 2,421,319 31.8
Tom McClintock Rep 1,014,895 13.4
Peter Miguel Camejo Grn 211,595 2.8
Arianna Huffington Ind 42,442 0.6
Peter V. Ueberroth Rep 21,999 0.3
Compare this to the 2002 results for governor:
* Gray Davis Dem 3,469,025 47.4
Bill Simon Rep 3,105,477 42.4
Reinhold S. Gulke AmI 125,338 1.7
Peter Miguel Camejo Grn 381,700 5.3
Gary David Copeland Lib 158,161 2.1
Iris Adam Nat 86,432 1.1
So the truth is that, far from being a "right-wing coup", the recall was simply a stunning victory for Republicans, who split over 4.7 million votes to Davis' 3.5 million in the last election. It is also, I think, a total repudiation of DLC Democrat politics.
Look, I don't like it any more than you do, but in words of the WTO protester: "This is what democracy looks like." The recall process is not "idiocy". It's a rational, legal process and a living civics lesson. Either elections generates decent voter turnout or recalls will. The Democrats have NOBODY to blame but themselves (and Pete Wilson and the energy companies, but predominantly themselves.)
When the energy prices spiked and the blackouts came, Davis could have declared a state of emergency and even claimed eminent domain over the power company assets, but he's not that kind of Democrat. So, he wrote them a big, fat check. When the recall initiative passed, Terry McAuliffe and Clinton could have thrown their weight behind Bustamante, but they didn't and he had to go begging to the native casino operators. Again I ask how anybody can bear the shame of being a registered Democrat these days.
peace,
boddi
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