The Democrats are in exactly the same position as the Sunnis in Iraq. From the very beginning, they have done everything they can to disparage the process. Now they have to turn around and convince their supporters to participate. That is a pretty quick pivot.
Political freaks like me have heard every one of the lines before, from both sides. Normal people haven't. The best thing that could have come from a forum like this is simply having a larger audience for his message.
Arnold is not moving substantively very far at all, but he is dramatically changing his emphasis. Almost every policy proposal that's come out of the Governor's Office over the last week or two is not significantly different from things he's talked about in the past. But he's making a much greater effort to emphasize a more moderate and conciliatory approach.
That would be just what Davis needs. There is nothing Gray Davis would like more than to be able to talk about the recall as a nefarious plot by out-of-state Republicans.
Even if you assume he made the decision without political motivations, the political impact or ramifications certainly worked in his favor. All those swing voters who supported him during the recall election support the death penalty.
Fundraising can make normally sane people pretty crazy. They both have political goals for which they are raising money, and they are drawing from the same base.
It's very hard to see why he'd want to spend another four years working under the same set of restrictions. Legislators in safe districts and a budget process that doesn't work -- that doesn't seem like a fun way to spend four more years of his life.
Both sides believe that their supporters are more motivated. It's impossible to guess who is right, but we'll know on election day.
If the situation in Iraq has not improved, and if the hurricane causes an economic downturn, then Republican candidates have something to worry about.
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