re: #71 Political Atheist

Well if we try to apply the “brilliant governor’ filter back over time we might find stranger (American born) people have won out. Gov Brown put forth many of the very same fiscal changes Arnold wanted and held a special election for. Thing is the legislature went along with a fellow Dem., was never going to happen for a Republican like Arnold. Arnie never had a chance. His election was his only win.

The main reason Arnold won in the first place was the Gray Davis recall circus + CA self-inflicted energy crisis circus. IIRC, the only reason the energy crisis ended was that the Feds finally stepped in, after a sufficiently long delay to destroy Davis politically.

I wasn’t very fond of Davis, but the abuse that he and the state took at the hands of the Bushies and the energy companies was unconscionable.