Arnold
If Governor Gray Davis is recalled, Arnold Swartzenegger, pronounced Swartze"nigger" by those delighting at the prospect of publicly saying nigger without consequence, Arnold is probably the one unique individual running for governor capable of wrestling with the $38 billion budget mess. If he is willing to sacrifice the goodwill he obviously has to become a real 'terminator' in making brutal budget cuts, we wish him well.
Although AAEA does not hold Gray Davis responsible for the California energy crisis (see article below), we do understand Californians' anger at him for hiding the real budget deficit numbers during the campaign. It tilted the scales and made it possible for the recall.
In addition to the budget crisis, Arnold Swartzenegger must now address serious environmental, energy and water issues facing the fifth largest economy in the world. He should develop these policies as soon as possible. And AAEA is prepared to assist him with formulating these policies. We believe that we have the most rational and balanced view on these issues compared to any environmental group in the U.S.
GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS
Governor Gray Davis is being set up as the scapegoat to take the fall for the energy and budget crises in California. He is not responsible for the energy crisis, but is responsible for hiding the seriousness of the budget deficit during the campaign. There are plenty of responsible parties other than Gray Davis to blame for the seriously flawed utility deregulation plan that California implemented. We should also hold those responsible who kept California from building sufficient electricity generating capacity to prevent California from being gamed by unscrupulous out of state utilities.
If Davis is recalled, we should examine the feasibility of recalling all of the other participants in the botched dereg decision-making. Both political parties crafted California's flawed deregulation structure. The problems began soon after the California Assembly passed and then-Governor Pete Wilson, a Republican, signed AB 1890. At the signing ceremony, Wilson called the initiative “landmark legislation” that would “guarantee” lower rates. Davis, a Democrat, was the lieutenant governor at the time. AB 1890 sailed through the state legislature in 1996 without a single "no" vote after weeks of lengthy committee hearings chaired by former state Sen. Steve Peace, who is generally considered the law's primary author.
California should settle down and live up to its once visionary image of being 'ahead' of the rest of the country. Lately, the state has fallen far behind. Build more power plants and implement a real deregulation plan. He did not create this mess alone.
