An Open Letter To the Fiscal Conservatives
Running in the California Recall Election

Sept 15, 2003, Sacramento, California

There is an opportunity to take control of the leadership of the State of California and bring about real fiscal change. Yet the fiscal conservatives, running as Republicans, are playing piranha politics. Each is fighting with the other to feed off the body politic hoping to win the election. If this continues, the only outcome will be business as usual. The tax and spend fiscal liberals will continue to destroy the State's business environment. The State of California could be the leading economic power in the world with the remaining forty-nine states a strong second and all the other countries following. But, it will take a new creative approach to this election.

This election has the look and feel of Italian elections I've read about years ago, complete with the nearly naked woman who, in Italy, did finally win an election. This election has a dynamic different than a normal election. It can not be dealt with as if it was a normal election. People that have never voted are registering. The time line is short. There is a large undecided and there is volatility in the electorate. There are a very large number of candidates on the ballet. To win this election, a coherent, unified stance is needed from the fiscal conservatives. A lesson from the Italian elections is in order.

The primary issue here is the fiscal health of the State. All other issues must be subordinate to this. The fiscal conservatives need to pool their resources. What is called for here is a coalition.

Let Arnold Schwarzenegger take the point. Let him sit in the big chair. He has the voice to talk to the people. If the legislature drags their collective feet in making the changes needed, Arnold can go to the people to put pressure on the legislators, as did Ronald Reagan. A voice that the people will look to is a valuable asset for a political coalition. This is done most effectively from the governor's office.

Tom McClintock knows the legislature. He can carry the coalition's program to the legislators, shepherd it through in a way no governor can. A question for Tom; what is more important, solving the fiscal challenges of the State or "you" being governor? If the answer is the latter, you will be leaving the State in the hands of the fiscal liberals. For the fiscal liberals it is not a matter of splitting the vote. Everyone can vote for both of them. For the fiscal conservatives, two strong candidates will split the vote and the recall will be a very expensive wasted effort.

Peter Ueberroth has left the race and is offering his services to others still running. Now that I've heard him resign, I wish he was still an active candidate. Peter has a proven track record. He is successful at running large complex organizations. His troubleshooting skills would be a valuable asset in rebuilding the State into a strong business friendly place.

The presence of Arnold is bringing a larger number of young voters to this election. He can speak to them but he can not speak for them. For this coalition consider Brooke Adams as a member. She is twenty-five years old and is running for governor in this recall as an independent. She is part of the generation now coming of age. She can speak for them. She is a strong advocate of personal responsibility and individual freedom. You can not have the latter without the former. I particularly like Brooke's no nonsense campaign slogan, "Lead, follow or get out of the way."

If this coalition is to be formed it has to be soon. All coalition members must stand on the same stage and voice their commitment to placing the resolution of the fiscal challenges of the State ahead of there own political ambitions. And, in the long term, this coalition can help these ambitions. With Arnold serving the remainder of the current term, Tom can carry the banner of success into the 2006 elections. It will take at least two terms after this one to revolver the issues at hand. Arnold can return to playing an honorable, self-sacrificing robot taking responsibility for actions of his generation. If Peter is aimed at untangling the State bureaucracy, this will take the rest of his carrier. Brooke will have invaluable experience for her future political carrier as a leader of her generation.

Are the fiscal conservatives going to come together and prevail in this recall election? Or, are they going to continue playing piranha politics and let the fiscal liberals continue to degrade the economic environment of the Late, Great State of California?