Handicapping Arnold

I haven't written much about the recall effort; I don't live in California, and while I have a broad understanding of the issues, there are many better local bloggers, to say nothing of Hugh Hewitt, who are experts on this situation.

Still, Schwartzenegger's editorial in the WSJ bodes well (as King Banaian from the Scholars notes this morning) for those who worry about his goals:

So how can I be optimistic about California given all of these bleak developments in our state? Because our economic problems are not a failure of our people--they result from a resounding breakdown of our political leadership in Sacramento...

...My plan to rescue the economy in California is based on the opposite set of values: I want to slash the cost of doing business in California; I want to unburden businesses from regulations that strangle economic growth; I want to bring taxes down to levels competitive with our neighboring states. Within three years, I want business groups to trumpet the fact that California is once again one of the best places in the country to do business.

Sure, talk is cheap. Much cheaper than Bustamante's talk, so far...

Pundits like Medved are urging Tom McClintock to get out of the race. Here's my hunch; McClintock puts up a good battle, gets through the debates, and then - knowing he's holding the voters Arnold needs - negotiates himself a place at the table in exchange for endorsing Schwartzenegger. Election over.

Just a hunch, of course.

Posted by Mitch at September 24, 2003 02:00 PM