Crane's Corner: 9-15-21 A Big Win For Democracy

What was the big takeaway from Tuesday’s resounding defeat of the Recall Governor Newsom petition? That Gavin Newsom is a terrific Governor? That the recall never had a chance? Those visits from the President and Vice President made all the difference.

No. The big takeaway is that Democracy prevailed. Democrat voters outnumber republican voters by about 2-1 in California, the recall efforts were primarily but not exclusively republican, so the outcome, a landslide vote to keep Democrat Newsom in office was pretty much along registered voter lines, and by all accounts a very fair election.

That's good for all of us. But if Gavin Newsom takes this as a resounding referendum in support of the job he’s doing, Newsom is a fool. A lot of democrats have problems with Newsom. He’s arrogant, personifying the rules are for thee not for me to knock on many politicians. His administration has yet to seriously address the state's biggest problems, forestry and fires, homelessness and the brazen billion dollar robbery of the EDD by convicted state prisoners and their accomplices on the outside. Not to mention a moratorium on the death penalty and the early relese of hardened criminals, both of which defy the views of the people who either elected Newsom or didn’t but have to put up with him. The vote it seems was less about love of Gavin Newsom and more about the fear of Larry Elder, who stepped into the race a few weeks back and energized both sides, The conservative radio talk show host became an instant favorite of the recall Newsom contingent, but his hard right views on everything from race and abortion to covid vaccines and the minimum wage galvanized the state’s majority party.

Elder, who got 46 percent of Newsom’s would be challenger, now calls himself a former radio host and suggests he’ll seek a re-match against Newsom when he’s up for re-election next year, But if that scenario plays out, it almost guarantees 4 more years of Newsom. California’s way too blue for any of Elder’s positions, but state republicans don’t seem interested in backing any other republican now on the scene. Disgruntled state republicans seem to have two choices. Find a more moderate choice that most republicans and democrats fed up with Newsom can get behind..or as a growing number of Californians have already done...Move out of state.