The Message to Davis Is Buckle Down and Lead

Gov. Gray Davis should not consider his reelection results a mandate to turn further to the right but a warning shot fired from the left. If Davis wants to leave a legacy in the governor’s office, he will remember the number of voters who, like me, went Green for the first time ever this year.

Year 2006 need not be the “Year of Arnold’s Ascendancy” (if Arnold Schwarzenegger runs for governor). It should be the time for a governor who truly governs for the majority of Californians.

Kevin Martin

Silver Lake

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Re “The Victor’s Fiscal Hell,” editorial, Nov. 6: You hope Republicans put aside the campaign rhetoric of no tax increases to ease the upcoming troubled state budget.

The Democrats have bloated the budget with reckless spending the last few years -- for political expediency -- to get elected by telling the masses they’ll get something for nothing (more services, but you won’t have to pay for them). Now the problems are real, and you want the Republicans to enable the Democrats’ “spendaholism.”

Maybe the Republicans can make an exception and take your advice with a new $1 tax on each newspaper. That should be good for a billion a year, don’t you agree?

Don Kuchenski

Alhambra

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In his Nov. 7 column, “A Word of Advice for Davis About Running for President: Don’t,” George Skelton urges Davis not to “bolt for New Hampshire” to begin running for president immediately after his second gubernatorial inauguration. What does Davis respond? “I have one goal, which is to leave California a better place.” Hear that? “Leave California.” Any more questions?

Kathi Smith

Ojai