Schwarzenegger Faces a Cash-Short Future

Isn’t it ironic? Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger states that he will stick to his no-tax plan and will ask President Bush for help (Oct. 9). Bush has responded that he will do everything he can to help California. When Gov. Gray Davis asked Bush for help during the energy crisis, the president refused his request. Proves again that the White House cares about helping only those who will help advance the Bush agenda.

Ronny K. Marshall

West Hollywood

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Is this the same Bush who did not carry California in 2000, knows he doesn’t have a chance to carry it in 2004 and let us spin in the wind while his energy cronies were trying to milk the state dry? Don’t hold your breath.

Mark Temple

Huntington Beach

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There is no magic to getting out of debt. There never has been. And the rules are no different for a state or a business than for an individual. Any competent credit counselor will tell you that you have to accelerate income (read: taxes), cut spending as much as possible, live beneath your means and use the excess savings to pay back what you owe. This recall election hasn’t changed the financial disaster of California by one thin dime. All we have accomplished is spending millions of dollars to shoot the messenger. A dozen recalls and an army of Schwarzeneggers won’t change that.

Gary Garshfield

Irvine

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Arnold, when do I get my car tax refund?

Mark Lehman

Highland, Calif.

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In his post-recall-election speech, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante’s sarcastic remarks regarding the film career of the governor-elect and his recommendation that Schwarzenegger feel free to go and make movies during his term were tasteless and unbecoming a public servant. This recall went so well, how about one for the lieutenant governor?

Sunny Kreis

Santa Monica

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You cannot imagine my shock at Michael Ramirez’s editorial cartoon, “OK, Arnold, she’s all yours ... “ (Commentary, Oct. 9). The brazen dishonesty of it was without match. For this man to depict Gov. Gray Davis as “bailing out” on California indicates that Ramirez is either intellectually dishonest, ignorant or has been in a coma for the last two months, waking only on Wednesday.

Mr. Ramirez: Davis is not “bailing”; he has been forcefully thrown by people like you from the “plane” he was piloting. You thought Arnold was a better pilot, but now you seem to be trying to excuse what you obviously think will be a failed administration. Your gall is simply breathtaking.

Mary Brubaker

Los Angeles

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Steve Lopez’s whining taunt “Der Gropenfuhrer Muscles His Way Into Office -- So What Now?” (Oct. 8) breaks new ground. Humorous? Hardly. Would an article about a Mexican American elected governor be acceptable if titled “Wetback Wins”? Using racially charged, derogatory terms for any person is profoundly offensive to the great majority of Americans -- at least those of us who actually believe in equality and the democratic process. Perhaps sarcastic elitists like Lopez would do better where “stupid little people” like the majority of California’s citizens don’t get to express themselves through the ballot box and instead are told by the party paper how to think and act. North Korea comes to mind.

Daniel Levy

Santa Barbara

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I always check The Times for news that might interest my American history students. Aha! Here’s an item. Build up your muscles, make very violent movies, grope lots of women, throw millions of dollars around and make references to Hitler that contain some praise of his “skills.” Do these things and you too can be governor. Political experience, knowledge of state government and serious demeanor not required. Great times ahead!

Ann Bourman

Los Angeles

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The subheadline of Mark Z. Barabak’s Oct. 8 news analysis states, “Schwarzenegger drew strength from voters’ unshakable desire to strike a blow against the status quo.” You call this analysis?

How about analyzing why, if so many voters have such an “unshakable desire,” so few of them actually voted when Davis ran for reelection less than one year ago? We are hearing a great deal about how energized the voters are. Well, I say it is phony, manufactured nonsense. If those in the electorate were truly energized, they would have bothered getting involved in the process before it became an embarrassing spectacle.

Andee Steinman

Palm Desert

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After all the blather about how “undemocratic” the recall supposedly was, and how it was going to disenfranchise thousands of voters, the facts are these: Approximately half a million more people voted to recall Davis than voted to elect him in November 2002. Approximately a million more people voted for either Schwarzenegger or state Sen. Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) than voted to elect Davis in November 2002.

Robert A. Philipson

Santa Monica

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Contrary to what some people are saying, the fact is that the recall option is in the state Constitution. Nobody forced people to sign the petition to get the recall on the ballot and nobody forced millions to vote. Bottom line: People want change, and this governor-elect has a mandate to do it. It wasn’t all Davis’ fault, and those boneheaded legislators in Sacramento had better get their act together or it will be their turn!

Craig Camarra

Westminster

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The subscription cancellation I was seriously considering is on hold thanks to your Oct. 8 editorial, “Reinventing California.” I agree wholeheartedly with most of what you point out as the problems with governing California. I can even go along with tampering with the two-thirds majority vote and Proposition 13 if the redistricting problem is dealt with first.

Steve Gamble

Alhambra

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No matter what one thinks of the politician, Davis’ concession speech was magnificent. In the face of overwhelming defeat, he displayed dignity, grace and a positive message. Let’s hope that tone continues through to the new administration. What happens next is up to Schwarzenegger and his new team: success or failure. They won’t have Davis to kick around anymore.

Nella Gina Kovarich

Pasadena

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Well, at least now Davis knows what it means to be downsized.

Barbara Kaye

Los Angeles

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Now that the recall election is over, to which address would Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) like the bill sent?

Norm Schneider

Los Angeles

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I’d long since grown accustomed to thinking that I was the last moderate Republican voter left in California. Thank you, Gov.-elect Schwarzenegger, for proving that I’m no longer alone.

James Sperber

San Juan Capistrano

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Can you imagine the passengers on an airliner running out of fuel electing one of their own to replace the pilot? There is no need to imagine it. It just happened.

Angus Andrews

Westlake Village