DATE=08/11/03
TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP
NAME=CQ CALIFORNIA RECALL
NUMBER=6-13040
BYLINE=ANDREW GUTHRIE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
TELEPHONE=6193335
///REISSUED: CHANGES "FORMER" TO "THE LATE" IN 5TH GRAF.///
INTRO: August is traditionally a slow month for national news in the United States. The president, Congress and thousands of other Americans are on holiday. But this August, California's recall vote is providing plenty of front-page stories. We get a sampling of editorials now from V-O-A's _____________ in today's U-S Opinion Roundup.
TEXT: Gray Davis was re-elected to a second, four-year term as California governor little more than a year ago, but his popularity has slipped to an all-time low in the wake of unpopular economic policies. A recall effort to remove him now goes to the ballot in October. He will be removed from power if he fails to win 50 percent of the vote. Nearly 200 candidates are vying to replace him if he is recalled.
His most famous challenger is Austrian-born movie star and former body-builder Arnold Schwarzenegger, who starred in movies such as The Terminator. Other contenders are the lieutenant governor, a porn actress, former child actor Gary Coleman, and Larry Flint, the publisher of a men's magazine. Many observers, and not a few newspapers, like the Cincinnati [Ohio] Post, complain this is "politics-as-show-business."
VOICE: Those who saw [Mr. Schwarzenegger's latest motion picture] "Terminator Three" were perhaps less surprised than most when Arnold Schwarzenegger announced he would seek a new career as governor of California. The actor chose to disclose his candidacy in an unusual venue, Jay Leno's late night [nationwide network television] talk show, and to do his immediate post-game interviews on "Access Hollywood," tinsel town's [Editors: slang for Hollywood] equivalent of [the television news interview program] Meet the Press. It all made sense in a weird show business sort of way.
TEXT: Rhode Island's Providence Journal is less critical, suggesting this cast of characters is not that unusual for the cinema capital.
VOICE: It is altogether too easy to laugh at California, and rub our eyes at Governor Terminator. But come October, we'll see who's laughing. The Austrian-born Schwarzenegger has never held public office, but he is popular, a natural campaigner, a successful entrepreneur, a longtime commentator on political issues, steward of a successful education-reform initiative, and married to a [member of the family of the late President John F.] Kennedy (Maria Shriver).
California voters have sent one actor to the White House (Ronald Reagan) and have proven that there might be worse apprenticeships for successful public service than the stage.
TEXT: Views of the Providence Journal. Taking a much more serious view is one of California's largest dailies, The San Francisco Chronicle.
VOICE: California voters have a serious decision to make on October 7[th]. The recall process has been laying dormant, like a giant earthquake fault waiting to inflict disaster, for more than a century. In the coming weeks, Californians will see a barrage of media coverage about the personalities of the candidates, with [Mr.] Schwarzenegger as leading man, naturally. The potential replacement candidates will be questioned about their credentials and the issues as if this were a normal election. Just remember, it is not a normal election. The burden should be on the replacement candidates to show why Californians should abruptly withdraw the four-year commitment they made to Governor Davis last year. The argument should be unassailable.
TEXT: In the Middle West, The Chicago Sun Times takes a rather critical view of the process, as opposed to the carnival atmosphere.
VOICE: as enjoyable as the circus that has developed might be to watch, from a safe distance, it carries some dire warnings for the country. In Illinois, we are fortunate not to have a gubernatorial recall law. This is as it should be. Keeping the back door of recall open, so that unpopular leaders can be shoved out diminishes both the electoral process and the office of governor, while failing to ensure that unacceptable governors will be replaced by anyone better.
TEXT: Lastly, The New York Times worries that voters simply do not have enough time to discover who the best candidate really is.
VOICE: Given his enormous celebrity, Mr. Schwarzenegger immediately becomes a favorite in the struggle A candidate like this offers a particular challenge for the voters, who have to get past the screen persona and decide how much substance there is to the candidate himself. Unfortunately, this particular election seems custom-built to make that as difficult as possible. It frequently takes several months for a colorful newcomer to wilt under public scrutiny But the California recall is scheduled to take place in [just] two months.
TEXT: Those comments from The New York Times conclude this editorial sampling of thoughts on California's gubernatorial recall vote.
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