CALIFORNIA CHURNING
The present oleo of potential candidates for the Governor's hot seat is a situation we seldom see.
` I have not been able to keep up with the official tally of who or how many people have declared themselves to be in line to share in any spoils from the unusual “Recall Election” to be held next month. It seems to have started off suddenly with around one hundred and thirty-eight candidates entered the race at once. I heard one such tally this afternoon which sets the number as “approaching three hundred” today. Certainly, there can't be that many crazies loose out there! The more reasonable count seems to have steadied at about 135 which is far to many. Is such an accumulation of that many “parties” indicative of the nature of fragmented political views in the state? Over fifty of them are said to be Democrats, which does not bode well for the present Governor.
I wonder what leads a person to seek such an office. Some must see it as a civic duty in a sense. By this time, aspirants have certainly had an opportunity to find out what some of the major problems might. In addition to have a state debt which is in excess of the billions owed by entire nations!
The state has been losing around 700,000 residents per month , too - even while total population rises at a much higher rate from legal, illegal and other types of immigration – each with built-in problems.
I doubt if many potential leaders is entered because of story book ideas about the honor of holding the office. What about a desire for power?
Few would be able to detail how it seems to be that so many politicians can acquire impressive wealth in office; they do understand, however, lesser elements of power in regard to paybacks and obligations.
This melee in California has overshadowed some of the news concerning that contests for presidential nominations. Maybe this is a welcomed respite for the Oval Office seekers and for all us ...a short vacation from the ongoing recriminations, which started so early.
One name seems to be leading all others. Polls today set Arnold Schwartzenegger's rating at 76 per-per cent. That leaves precious little for several hundred others.
A.L.M. August 13, 2003 [c395wds]
