http://www.RecallGrayDavis.com
They are comparing the number of times that recall efforts were LAUNCHED to the number of times the official was voted out of office. The critical question is, how many times has a petition effort SUCCEEDED in placing the question on the ballot, to the number of times that the voters chose to remove the official from office.
The history of citizen action in California shows that most such efforts (usually on issues, not recalls) fail in the signature-gathering process. They don't get enough valid signatures to earn the right to be voted on. Four successes out of 118 tries looks like impossible odds. But if that is 4 successes in, say, eight recall elections, it looks quite different.
Recall is a two-stage process. If Davis is as generally disliked in California, as Perot was (initially) liked in the nation in 1992, the result of the first stage can be predicted. People turned out in droves to work for Perot and sign his petitions. All his petition drives succeeded overwhelmingly, filing more than twice the needed signatures in less than the required time.
If Davis has a corresponding level of unpopularity, the petition drive will succeed quickly and the only issue will be the likelihood of the voters deciding to dump Davis.
Congressman Billybob
Click for latest column, "Those in Peril on the Sea," also up on FR and UPI.
At the very best Davis' recall will result in a executive branch that obstructs the intentions of the legislature, further deepening California's economic woes and at worst his recall could result in a cooperative executive that capitulates to the legislature driving California's vision further to the left.
Although a bitter pill to swallow, conservatives need to stop dwelling on past outrages and recognize that the enemy presently at the gate is the Democratic legislature.
Leave Davis in office. Let Davis lead the charge to highlight the problems with the Wesson/Burton leadership. Step out of the way while the Democratics destroy their image over the next 8 months.
Logically, can a recall be beneficial to conservatives if it is supported by liberals. Think about it.