Experts Expound

“The governor intends to veto the state budget, and the Legislature intends to override–if the Republicans hang tight. Is the governor showing real strength and defiance, or is this a stunt? Does this play into a recall drive?”

 All of a sudden the Governor gets a conscience? It’s a budget without new taxes. Sign it!

The recall goes nowhere.

It’s all a matter of whose shoulders its on. Either he signs and it becomes the budget, or he vetoes and they override and it becomes the budget. By vetoing, this crappy budget we’ll have to live with is their doing, not his. Savvy move.

The governor should’ve demonstrated this kind of resolve years ago….

The guv is showing some cojones, and his vow to veto bills if he’s overridden is sure to get him attention, if not jail, for his blatant quid pro quo.

To the extent that the recall is any threat in the first place, the Governor’s veto can only help him. His approval ratings are down, but the public’s disgust with the Legislature is palpable.

The Governor should have been engaging in the budget battle for the last several years. Rather, all California gets is another one of his last-minute, theatrical tough-guy routines. Why did we recall Gray Davis?

The three most horrifying words in the English language: “If the Republicans…”

The Legislature sending this piece of crap down with an admission that this is the best they could do? It is a gift to the Governor. Joke of a budget and a recall campaign branded as gov standing up to a greedy union? Governor is in the driver’s seat

There is no question that this budget will leave the state in worse financial condition than it is now. I think the Governor is smart to veto it as it helps to make clear to voters that the Dems are out-of-control spenders. That the GOP was able to keep new taxes out of this budget will save jobs. A recall drive is still so much blather by those with hairy fingernails whose arms drag behind them: the something for nothing bunch. In the unlikely event, however, of a recall the veto and refutation of the Legislature will help the Governor and the future GOP candidates when this financial mess surfaces again.

A short-term win for him with the people, yet another defeat when it comes to the legislature that will determine his legacy and effectiveness.

An override doesn’t do anything for the recall, but it would help pass Prop 11. If this budget does become law over his veto, Arnold will have the ammo he needs to pass redistricting.

I think it is a bad situation all around. It is a house of cards and the cards will start to cascade soon. The governor is saying the emperor has no clothes. I don’t think it will impact the recall drive. As he vetoes bills after the over ride he will have lots of opportunity to join the ed. Coalition and others in lobbying for govt. reform and budget reform initiatives on the ballot. The lottery issues alone will cause them to go nuts.

The people from whom we sought opinions: Andrew Acosta, Elizabeth Ashford, A.G. Block, Mark Bogetich, Barry Brokaw, Morgan Crinklaw, J. Dale Debber, Peter DeMarco, Jim Evans, Kathy Fairbanks, Jeff Fuller, Rex Frazier, Ken Gibson, Evan Goldberg, Deborah Gonzalez, Sandy Harrison, Bob Hertzberg, Jason Kinney, Mike Madrid, Nicole Mahrt, Steve Maviglio, Adam Mendelsohn, Barbara O’Connor, Bill Packer, Kassy Perry, Jack Pitney, Adam Probolsky, Tony Quinn, Matt Rexroad, Matt Ross, Roger Salazar, Dan Schnur, Will Shuck, Ralph Simoni, Sam Sorich, Ray Sotero, Gary South, Kevin Spillane, Rich Zeiger.