Does anybody else think this California governor recall thing is already getting out of hand?

Like many things in life, this counts as one of those which I find absolutely hilarious. But, as I think about it more, it just enrages me because it's so stupid. First off, the whole idea of a recall election seems like a mockery of the democratic process to me. You want to get rid of the governor? Sure, there's a recall election...at the end of the term. There's a reason why we hold elections every other year (I'd say 4, but I think it's different for senates and such). And wasn't Gov. Davis only re-elected last year? Gee, you'd think if he was doing such a lousy job, Bill Simon would be governor right now. So I'd say, you're stuck with your choice for 4 (or however many) years. I was thinking, well, could there be some way to get rid of someone in office? And I remembered, yes, it's called impeachment. But that seems more like a punishment for doing something really bad, as opposed to just general incompetence. Not that I'm saying Davis is incompetent, but then again, there's this $38 billion deficit and stuff to consider. Side note: "impeach" doesn't sound like the nasty kind of word it should be...it's got that "peach" in there.

Then we have the new gubernatorial candidates. And most of them really are goobers. (That's another dumb word: gubernatorial. Go ahead, say it. Don't you feel dumb?) We've got your "normal" guys, like Simon, Davis (I would laugh SO hard if he won again), and other political types. And then there's the freak show that the media is focusing its attention on. Sure, Arnold (I'm not going to repeat his last name, takes too long to spell right) seems like an odd choice, but I'm sure once he announces his platform, and considering he's married into a political family, he seems more and more like a sensible choice. And most definitely when compared to some of these others.

Like Gary Coleman. Here's a guy who's made a "career" of taking his 15 minutes (well, maybe 10) from 30 years ago and stretching it into this perpetual "I'm a loser!" schtick. Being short just lends it weight. Larry Flint, where the only thing I've read about his campaign is that he claims to be "a smut peddler who cares". Sorry, but I'd need more than just that for me to vote for you. Specifics on tackling issues, for starters. Or at least giving me free access to Pets or something. Besides, he's got that creepier, seedier, dirty-old-man-in-a-wheelchair vibe going for him. *Shudders* Now, Hugh Hefner is a guy I would vote for. He seems like the kind of guy who would know a thing of two about politics. But then, he's off living the ultimate male fantasy. That's a really hard gig to give up, I'm sure.

[Side Track]
And how about that gig, huh? Every day, the dude just hangs out at his huge mansion, in his pajamas, fucking beautiful women all day long. The guy has a hot blonde girlfriend for EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK. He must be the most revered and most reviled guy by every man in America. Hef, I both salute you, and wish you'd keel over from a heart attack after just signing me into your will. Seriously, what's gonna happen to the Mansion once ol' Hef expires during his daily menage a neuf (or whatever he does)? Just curious.

[ANYway...]
Also entering the fray is the comedian Gallagher. Now, I would possibly accept this, because his stand-up is usually funny, and, like most stand-up comedians, has a good perspective of the world and its operations. Unfortunately, I haven't heard a peep out of him for at least 10 years, and even more unfortunately, all he's really known for is smashing fruit with a giant hammer. So that puts him with the other nutjobs. Then we get your civilian weirdos, like Angelyne (or something like that, I wouldn't know how to pronounce it), who's basically this blonde bimbo, the girl who's financing her campaign by selling thongs, the sumo guy, etc. etc.

Now, I'm saying all of this like I'm from California and I'm going to vote in this election. Well, I'm not. I did live for a breif period in California, but not now. But I do get to hear about this, thank to today's media coverage. So I get to shake my head with the rest of the country, laughing at the Parade of Insanity that is this recall election. To paraphrase Lewis Black: "Jesse Ventura shows us what is great about our country: that anyone can be elected to any office. It also shows us what is wrong with our country, which is that anyone can be elected into any office." Also special thanks to O.J. Simpson, for creating the media circus, now affording us those of us outside the direct influence of events the opportunity to hear about these events that we really shouldn't be caring so much about.

Like Kobe Bryant. If it were any other regular shlub, this'd be a quick, quiet case, and we'd go on with our lives never hearing about it. But no, this man happens to play basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers, and now Eagle, Colorado (or is it Eagle County, CO? I'm sorry for not knowing off the top of my head) is bursting with reporters over something which should be a privately-handled personal issue.

Looking forward to the media's next flavor-of-the-month story... =P
posted by Tim at 12:47 AM