California In The News

Arnold Schwarzenegger is bigger than life. Both his supporters and his enemies have to deal with that reality. Arnold tried diligently to correct some of the evils of big government when he became Governor of California. His enemies, socialists and labor unions, successfully portrayed his attempt as overreach and threatening to some powers of government that were popular. The 4 initiatives he advocated went down to defeat in the face of huge advertising budgets from unions and socialists. The defeats were based on lies and exaggerations. However the people had a vote, and Arnold lost. Arnold took the lesson and learned from it.

Democrats and socialists immediately bragged, "He is done. We have won. " However it did not work out that way. Though the people did not support Arnold's initiatives, they still, by huge majorities, trust Arnold. He won re-election with ease.

The consequences of these two actions, defeat of the attempt to reduce the power of government, and re-election of Arnold, are going to play out over the next few years. The consequences are serious.

First and foremost it is because Arnold is both a great leader and a man with a huge desire to accomplish great things. Right after being elected Governor, Arnold floated a trial balloon of changing the American Constitution so he could be eligible to run for President. The effort went nowhere. Therefore Arnold is in the most powerful position he is likely to ever hold. I would be surprised if Arnold would ever consider being simply one of two senators from California and a hundred in the nation.

So what does a man in this position do?

A second reason is due to the reality that government in America is at a crisis. Because of the war in Iraq, the proper role of the federal government is being challenged by anti-war activists who both want government made larger (they are after all socialists) and yet also want government made smaller so they can intimidate elected officials by their rallies.

What do socialists do in this environment of conflicting goals?

The New York Times thinks they have the answer. They have published an article that promotes the idea of regions of America taking independent action to limit federal powers and become semi autonomous. The implication of the article is that Arnold is backing this move. I can see how the extremely smart and equally ambitious Arnold might well do this. You can read more about this premise in the article California Split. [Just remember that it is an article from a paper with a socialist agenda.] California is our most populous state and has the power to lead our nation in this direction if the right circumstances play out.

That is one issue in the news about California.

Another article that talks about California and its power is also about the Republican Party and the direction it might take in the future. California is moving its Republican primary up to be one of the first in the nation. That will make this state, which is fiscally conservative (proved by election of Ronald Reagan, Pete Wilson and Arnold Schwarzenegger) but socially liberal (proved by the election of the same three men) a powerful voice in the selection of the next Republican candidate for President.

The article California key to Giuliani presidential bid argues that the main beneficiary of this will be the former Mayor of New York. An interesting hypothesis that also creates an interesting dilemma for the Republican Party. They have in recent years attracted a large number of libertarians and neo-conservatives into their ranks. One of two things will play out. The party will split and once again become a permanent minority party. Or conversely a new coalition will work itself out that resolves the issues that are so controversial within the party.

California may hold the key to working out these issues, especially if it becomes the process by which Giuliani wins the nomination.

California has long been a state that people watch, some with fascination, some with revulsion. It looks like this trend will continue. Both of these issues, federal versus state power and the future of the Republican Party, will affect everyone in America. California is in the middle of both.