A recall even a kid can understand

When we’re kids, we’re taught that in America, anyone can grow up to

be president. As we get older, though, we realize that although

anyone can be president, these days, it takes someone very special.

These days, it takes someone who is willing to accept money for

favors, someone who can stretch the truth -- even lie -- and still

sleep at night, someone who can’t think past the next poll results

and someone who will compromise their core beliefs in the pursuit of

power.

Arnold or Tom or Bill or Cruz or Mary may not make a good

governor. But there are three things I know for certain:

1) It is nearly impossible to do any worse a job than Gov. Gray

Davis has;

2) If the new governor fails, we’ll decide together not to reelect

him or her; and

3) Kids in this state have to understand that public servants are

accountable to the people who elect them. This is a lesson that a

generation of children has failed to learn.

That lesson may be the most important part of the recall process.

School is back in session in about two weeks, and I’m hoping that in

all of the appropriate classrooms in Newport-Mesa, teachers will take

a little time to discuss the recall with their students.

Kids need to know before they grow old and cynical like me that

the right to govern may be revoked at any time. We’ve got that in

writing.

But if it’s true that anyone can still become president, what is

so wrong with 135 “anyones” trying to become California’s governor?

Apparently, most of the rest of the country and most of the media has

a huge problem with the concept.

Read the papers or listen to the radio and what you’ll gather is

that our recall process is a circus. Read and listen and you’re

likely to get the impression that no one should really be surprised

at all of this recall frenzy because it is typical of us wacky

Californians. (I’ll assume, since I don’t watch television, that the

tube’s coverage is at least as bad, if not worse.)

So if it’s no surprise, why is everyone so surprised?

The Californians who support the recall are fed up with political

bungling, economic miscalculation, general stupidity, lack of common

sense and disdain for the wishes of the people. Most of all, we’re

fed up with having our intelligence insulted by a group of

politicians who wouldn’t survive a week in a real job. So 135

citizens, all of them certified by the state controller to run for

governor, have decided to take matters into their own hands in the

bloodless exchange of power known as an election.

Regardless of how one feels about the candidates, you have to

embrace the power of the people to exercise their right to recall.

But instead of focusing on the glory of this process, on the

reaffirmation of a basic principle upon which this country was

founded, the media has created a cartoon.

Instead of the mess that Davis and the rest of the lazy

legislators in Sacramento have made of our budget, you’re going to

hear about how Cruz Bustamante wants to return California to Mexico

(not true), you’re going to hear about Arnold Schwarzenegger’s drug

use (he’s clean and has been for many years), and you’re going to

hear about the porn actress who wants to be the state’s chief

executive (her name’s Mary Carey, and it’s hard to believe she’d do a

worse job than Davis).

That’s what you’re going to get because that is what the media

thinks you want to read, see and hear. And maybe they’re right, but

I’m not buying it.

I don’t think that’s what people in this state want to read and

hear.

Californians are recalling Davis because they want to be reassured

that ours is truly a government of the people, by the people and for

the people, just as we learned it was when we were kids.

I am thrilled that 135 John and Jane Does have decided to run, and

I’m telling my kids and anyone else who will listen that this is one

of the great moments in California’s history.

The recall is invigorating. It has given me hope that we are not

the channel-surfing drones that many in power believe we are, and

even if Davis remains in office, you can be sure that the message

will have been received: Get to work doing the people’s business and

take responsibility for the messes you make or get out of Sacramento.

This is not a recall paid for by Darrell Issa or anyone else.

That’s a convenient excuse to divert attention from the rage of the

average Californian.

Californians are not voting just to get rid of Davis, they’re

letting everyone in Sacramento know that they’re mad as hell and

they’re not going to take it any more.

Even a kid knows that.

* STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and freelance writer.

Readers may leave a message for him on the Daily Pilot hotline at

(949) 642-6086.