Experts Expound

“What do you expect in the six weeks remaining in Gov. Schwarzenegger’s term of office? New policy initiatives? Midnight appointments? Does he go out with a bang or with tranquility?

The appearance of “bang” with the substance of “whimper.”

As the Mrs. says: Finish well. There’ll be some copious legacy burnishing. Announcement of some kinda green institute, maybe at UC Davis since sustainability is their middle name.

The Schwarzenegger administration has never been about “tranquility.” Of course, there’s not much left in the tool kit to create much of a bang. My guess is he’ll spend the remaining weeks trying to claim credit for things he did not do – such as redistricting reform and the re-jiggered primary.

Midnight appointments. Many, many, midnight appointments. It’s a grand tradition in Sacramento.

It’s only about 10:30 p.m., but the appointments are starting to roll out. It’s “End of an Administration Business as Usual”—take care of the loyalists. The Gov will go out with great budget bluster and bravado, but the Legislature will only work the budget with Jerry Brown. It’s more movies and his Green Energy Institute in the future.

Bullshit gamesmanship, coupled with relentless spinning of an idiot’s record. In other words, more of the same.

He’ll try to make us think he went out with a bang, but in the dark, cold, rainy days of November and December, there’s usually little bang to be found around here. The good news is his mutual affection with Jerry Brown will keep the surprise appointments and other shenanigans to a minimum. I doubt they’ll be stealing office furniture or single keys off of keyboards.

He came in like a lion and is going out like a slaughtered lamb. He’s irrelevant from this point forward. What a squandered opportunity he represented.

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