California's new LIEUTENANT Governor 2B? Who & How?

[Xthe17th]

Assuming Grayout IS recalled, and all indications look like he will be, how will the new Lieutenant Governor of California be determined?

If the newly elected governor gets to pick, here's a win-win situation in the making:

• Arnold knows he needs the conservative base to defeat Boostyertaxes. I.e, he knows he needs some of McClintock's voters.
• Also, Terminator knows he doesn't have any idea how to accompish his big talking feel-good agenda. Senator McClintock has the plan and the relationships in the legislature to make it happen.
• McClintock knows that if he doesn't win, he'll be the pariah of his party as a spoiler. So, rather than being a 3-time loser, if he works a deal with Rnuld to put him in, his political future is still potent.
• Result: Arnuld agrees to pick McClintock as his Lt. Governor in exchange for Tom withdrawing late this month and throwing his support behind the Governator. Schwartzenegger also agrees to implement at least most of McClintocks reforms.

[Xthe17th]

I'm guessing this has been discussed elsewhere on this forum but my searches came up empty. Feel fee to post the earlier URLs. I haven't read the CA constitution (West Virginiain here - we don't even have a "Light Gov.") but am guessing that it encourages cooperation/same party leaders. LMK. Thanks.

[goldstategop]

I recommend Arnold pick Tom McClintock as his Lieutenant Governor.

[RobFromGa]

I think Bustamante is Lt. Gov and the recall election won't change that.

[RobFromGa]

unless Bustamante wins and then I guess he gets to appoint his successor.

[LisaAnne]

The Lieutenant governor in CA is an elected office, just like the Governor. Bustamante was elected, so if either Tom or Arnold are elected, Bustamante stays. If Busatmante is elected governor,*shiver*, I don't know who will fill the Lieutenant slot.

[goldstategop]

No if Bustamante is defeated he vacates his office. I suspect he would voluntarily offer to resign so Arnold can work with a second in command he's comfortable with. After all, losing the recall election would amount to a vote of *no confidence* and would making staying in his old job untenable, even if he were legally entitled to stay on as Lt. Governor.

[Xthe17th]

So Rnuld would have Bustamante as his Lt.? Hmmmmm, I can just see it now - Rnuld will have the fat pud doing 500 sit-ups and spending ALL of his time in the gym just so as to stay out of his way. Hee hee heee!

[RobFromGa]

I suspect he would voluntarily offer to resign so Arnold can work with a second in command he's comfortable with.

Yeah, right, Leftist-Socialists are so concerned about the GOP's feelings. I don't think Bustemante will vacate unless the law makes him vacate. Why should he?

[WillowyDame]

no no no!! it should be the other way round!

and that is if Tom feels lik bing generous.

arnold will never win! he is nothing but an opportunist!
and people will see what he really is in DUE TIM!

TOM IS THE MAN!!

[Xthe17th]

You are a flabby little girly man Bustamante (which, according to Rush means "large breasts"). Now give me a thousand push-ups and then sit in the corner!

[goldstategop]

He lost his bid to be Governor. Its like a vote of no confidence under a parliamentary system. Those in power must go and be replaced by fresh leadership.

[RobFromGa]

Since their is no Governor/Lt. Governor "ticket" in play in this recall election, this work together approach won't work.

As I've been saying for some time, McClintock could be asked to join Arnold's executive level Fiscal Crisis Managament Team after the election and this could provide McClintock with a state-wide platform to launch a 2004 Senate race against Boxer. I would love to see this happen.

Arnold would throw his support behind McClintock next year in this scenario.

[RobFromGa]

Its like a vote of no confidence under a parliamentary system.

We don't have this system, and Democrats are slimebags, so don't count on them to do anything that isn't forced.

Especially you cannot count on any form of personal character to influence one of their decisions. They just think they are martyrs when they act out.

[LisaAnne]

arnold will never win! he is nothing but an opportunist!

You comments do nothing but split the party. If you have nothing constructive to say about our state politics, please don't say anything. Thanks.

[ridesthemiles]

If Cruz doesn't win the new post of Gov, he reverts back to his Lt Gov post. He DID NOT resign to run for Gov. He was elected (sigh) Lt Gov. Only if he resigns or is incapcitated does he have to leave that post if he loses the election.
Arnold as GOv and McClintock as Finance Officer-appointed position- would be the best of everything for getting Calif out of this mess.
If Curz wins Gov position, I think he gets to appoint the Lt Gov until the next general election, 2004. In theory, he could appoint DAVIS!!!

[goldstategop]

What is recall election BUT a vote of no confidence? We give Doofus the boot and give a thumbs down to Large Breasts, the two of them can draw their own conclusions...

[Aunt Polgara]

Unless Bustamante wins the governorship, he stays as the second in command. I doubt he would resign. We have had that scenario before here in CA, where the lieutenant governor was a different party than the governor. I don't remember the details, but I do remember that it meant that the governor can't leave the state.

If I recall correctly, when the governor leaves the state, the lieutenant governor gets to "play" governor, setting up all kinds of mischief possibilities.

[goldstategop]

In theory but unlikely. The two men can barely stand each other and have no great love for each other. Besides I hardly think Large Breasts would want to start off his own administration by appointing someone as Lt. Governor who was ousted from his job by the voters.

[goldstategop]

Yes he could stay on but if Davis was rejected by a large majority of the electorate, I don't think he would find his own position tenable. I think its perfectly reasonable for an incoming GOP Governor to be able to name someone as his second in command he feels comfortable and can work together with.

[Xthe17th]

I'm being realistic. Sure- would live to see Tom win, but it ain't gonna happen as long as Rnuld is stealing the spotlight (unless Green Camajo all of a sudden comes on strong and pulls a Nader on Cruz).

Let's be honest, government executives, by design, don't have much real power. Their BIG STICK, so to speak, is the bully pulpit - the power of persuasion (and media attention to boot). Leaders like Bush lay out the overall plan and convince others to develop the specific details, get them implemented and follow along.

I see Arnold doing the same. He doesn't have the details (hence his absence at the debate), but is akin to the Pied Piper and would make an excellent persuader/teambuilder for the Golden State. If he had someone like McClintock by his side (shades of puppeteer if you will), the person with the detailed plans and political connections, that would make an effective team, IMHO. Arnold in the spotlight as promoter, Tom behind the scenes as implementer. "Good cop, bad cop." BOTTOM LINE = WOULD GET RESULTS!!