In other news, sales of ‘I’m with Stupid’ t-shirts that point straight up at the wearer enjoy a massive upswing on the west coast.

Well, hell, hard to see how they could increase, since they've always been a sales leader out there ...

It was the Terminator against the Mumbler against recalling the Living Dead Technocrat.

And Gary Coleman.

So when ever someone calls for freer, more open "let any one run" Presidental Elections or for more Democracy in the elections...they can point to California '03.

California is notoriously democratic (small "d," at least). It's ballot initiative system lets some of the goofiest, most ill-written (if not ill-conceived) propositions onto the ballot. It's not at all surprising that the recall law would perform similarly.

On the other hand, I've heard it argued that Ahnold is far more centrist than anyone else the California GOP would have gotten through the primaries (skullduggery by the Dems in the last gubernatorial election notwithstanding), so there might be something to it.

I'm all for the centrist.

And I'm all for non-technocrats being elected.

When I'm God-King for Life, I'll outlaw people running for office who have been in office before.

California is a perfect example of de-federalization and increasing a state's ability to do things.

If Oregon and Alaska and California want to let people with physical problems smoke weed, hit the reefer that's up to the voters in that state. The Feds should not get involved because it doesn't effect things on a national scale, with the exception of stoners getting a case of the migraines so they can hit the bong.

However, California is an example of Elections Gone Wild '03.

"ELECTIONS ... GONE ... WILD!!!!"

I love it.