The Democratic victory dance is now entering its sixth day, and like the riots sweeping France’s cities and suburbs, this anger masked as celebration shows no sign of ebbing. The question that 
preoccupies Sacramento at the moment, now that Schwarzenegger has adopted a conciliatory approach in the aftermath of last week’s election results, is whether the Democratic legislative leadership will accept the governor’s olive branch, or wrap it around his neck.
The original Democratic response, coming from Democrats and all, seemed to contradict itself. Senator Perata, who shows an occasional and fleeting willingness to separate himself from the public employee unions, talked of peace. Assembly Speaker Nunez, better attuned to their wishes, hinted of continued war. A smart bettor would take war and give the points.
In this arena, warfare usually means passing bills designed to embarrass the governor. So rather than cooperation and compromise, the instinct of many of Schwarzenegger’s foes will be to move legislation to his desk that they know he will veto. The test for Perata and Nunez will be to balance the thirst for revenge on the part of their supporters with the opportunities for progress that the governor makes available to them.
In a perfectly calibrated revenge scenario, the Democrats would pass a series of
reasonable-sounding measures for which they could then either leverage or attack the governor, depending on his response. Minimum wage increases, children’s health programs and infrastructure programs that prohibit non-union workers all serve this goal well.
But that would presume a level of discipline that Democrats have not displayed since….ever. In addition to the difficulties they cause Schwarzenegger, the Dems will almost certainly throw him a few life preservers as well. The nurses union is already talking about pushing for a state-run universal health care program. The chairman of the Assembly Public Safety Committee is talking about a moratorium on the death penalty. Legislation providing for drivers’ licenses for illegal immigrants, for same sex marriage, and for all sorts of tax increases will all take another turn in the spotlight as well. And Schwarzenegger will be well-positioned to reclaim the political center from which he had been shoved, just in time for the last weeks of his re-election campaign.
Can Nunez and Perata rein in their party’s most strident voices? If so, they’ll provide an opportunity for a Democratic candidate to give Schwarzenegger a real contest. If not, this year’s special election will end up as a speed bump on the path to his second term as governor.