CalPolitics
There's a voice in my head that's suggesting that a different result on the recall - one that ended up keeping Gray Davis in office - would have been a mandate to continue the corrupt business-as-usual nature of California state politics, at least until things got so bad that they couldn't be ignored. While I still think that the recall mechanism is a dangerous tool that has no legitimate place in representative democracy (certainly the Founders didn't think it desirable or necessary), I find it impossible to dismiss this line of thought.

And that thought process further suggests that one of two things could happen. One, Schwarzenegger's administration succeeds in bringing about real reform and turns around California governance; or, two, Schwarzenegger's adminstration fails miserably and triggers an even more impassioned revolt by the electorate - eventually leading to real reform and a turnaround in the quality of governance. I'd prefer the former to the latter, of course. A failing administration probably means lots of Californians suffer, economically and otherwise. So here's hoping for the best.

I was glad to see that Arnold got a significant percentage of the votes, in effect getting more than Davis did. This at least legitimizes the election; if he'd gotten more votes than anyone else, but fewer votes than voted No on the recall it would have something less than a mandate. But it is a real mandate, and it will be interesting to see what he does with it.

The local papers are full of news about the transition team. Much is being made of the bi-partisan composition of the team, which is supposed to find the "best and brightest" for the new administration. Best quote from the link above: "It's part symbolic, and it's part genuine outreach,'' said Jack Pitney, a government professor at Claremont McKenna College. But Pitney, paraphrasing James Madison, said, ``the larger the group, the smaller the number that will decide the proceedings.''

The most interesting bit to me is the decision to bring in an auditor to assess the real state of the deficit. I've written before about how Ann Richards saved the Texas state government $6 billion by instituting a vigorous auditing program. Is it possible that significant savings can be achieved here as well?

Unfortunately another, more cynical, voice in my head suggests that the Schwarzenegger administration will neither scale the heights nor fall into the abyss. Instead, they'll muddle through, enacting some reforms, doling out political favors to their most important constituents, and putting significant time and energy towards helping GWB's reelection campaign in 2004. Here's one quote supporting this thesis: “...his (Arnold's) vast personal wealth did not stop him from accepting roughly $9.2 million in contributions from some of state government's most well-established insiders despite a pledge not to take contributions from "special interests." The largest portion...came from businesses, executives and their families in the real estate, financial services and transportation industries. ”