Partisan Recall Jeopardizes Stability, Values

By Dennis Zane

I see no legitimate basis for a recall of Governor Davis. The recall provisions of the California State Constitution should be reserved for cases of criminality or other kinds of malfeasance in office, not as a tool to pursue partisan political differences. That is the purpose of scheduled elections.

This principled view of the recall would have been almost universally accepted in the State of California prior to this election. Interestingly, nobody has even attempted to make a case for recall based on the standard. It is only the smell of partisan opportunity which has confounded this standard and allowed this recall to proceed.

Permitting recalls to become mere instruments of partisan objectives is to make the stability of our democracy vulnerable to the whim of any wealthy individual or interest group who perceives a sitting governor as politically vulnerable. Placing the pursuit of partisan advantage over all other values, including the health and stability of the State of California, is irresponsible. It is wrong for the State of California and unfair to public office holders.

While angered, I am not, however, shocked by the decision of the Republican right to pursue this course -- not after the bogus impeachment of President Clinton or the manhandling of the electorate in Florida. Such a "take no prisoners" attitude makes partisan advantage the highest of all values, no matter the damage done to public confidence in or the health of our democracy.

In this context, I do not find it necessary to defend Gray Davis' performance as governor in order to reject this recall.

He shares responsibility for some good things -- such as the signing of the extraordinary Greenhouse Gas Reduction program and the Family Leave Act -- and he shares responsibility for some bad things -- such as his poor handling of the early days of the gamed and manipulated California energy crisis created by legislation advocated and signed into law by his predecessor.

He shares a small part of the responsibility for the failure of the California State Legislature to solve the state's budget crisis -- but only a small part. California's antediluvian system requiring 2/3 approval of the members of both the State Assembly and the State Senate to pass the state budget bears the responsibility for that. This provision has created a system where a small but disciplined minority in either house of the State Legislature can hold hostage the entire state -- and the governor is largely powerless to combat it.

Whatever the Governor's failings, none rise to the level of recall. Just as oral sex with an intern -- or even lying about oral sex with an intern -- does not rise to the level of impeachment.

Intentionally misleading the nation about the reasons for going to war? Now that probably does.