For politicos who are also classic movie buffs, was a great year.  In the political arena, Barry Goldwater ran a principled campaign for President that while unsuccessful that year, paved the way for a future, successful run by Ronald Reagan.  That same year, on the silver screen, premiered one of my favorite films – Zulu.  While it did not claim an Oscar Award, and it didn’t have any top-notch stars, Zulu was a great historical drama of a 1864 incident in Nepal, Africa, where a 140 man contingent of British Army regulars make a heroic stand at Rorke’s Drift, where they are attacked by 4,000 Zulu warriors.

I recall one scene in particular where the British Soldiers have steeled themselves for the attack, and the silent anticipation of the first Zulu attack is palpable.  The Zulu, understanding the importance of “getting inside the heads” of their opponent, are masters of psychological warfare.  So before you ever see the first Zulu, you hear the loud banging of their spears on their shields, and the effect on their opponents is to bring along the dread of the impending battle.

For some reason, I thought about this moment from the film Zulu when I read on the Capitol Morning Report this morning that an official campaign committee formed for the purpose of recalling Republican Assemblyman Anthony Adams.  Adams, of course, rather infamously a few weeks ago was one of six legislative Republicans who voted with all of the Democrats in the Capitol to pass the largest tax increase in California history (which was signed by a Governor who was elected and re-elected after campaigning against tax increases).  For a number of reasons, Adams has become a focal point statewide for those who are frustrated, disappointed or angry over the collective violation of a pledge to oppose tax increases.

While I have read accounts of other potential recall efforts of some politicians surrounding this tragic tax increase vote, this particular committee raises eyebrows because one of its officers is Lee Lowrey, whom I know well.  Lee is the head of the Orange County-based Atlas PAC, which is a group of up and coming business leaders in the county who have the capacity to raise some decent campaign funds.  Lowrey has recently been on the radio program of KFI radio’s John & Ken, who have been leading a groundswell among their large number of listeners to grassroots activity in response to Republicans breaking their pledge.  Their Tax Revolt Rally last Saturday in Fullerton drew a staggering 15,000 fired-up taxpayers.

Lee is not a reactionary, and he is not impulsive (so he isn’t like me?).  A successful businessman, Lee’s reputation is one of being thoughtful, but deliberate.  I have no doubt that his associating his name with the public filing of a campaign committee of this nature is part of a larger plan, and it undoubtedly proceeds some significant motion on a recall campaign.  The treasurer of the committee is the venerable Dave Bauer, who has a lot of experience with very large, active campaign committees. 

It’s not clear how this will all move forward – I suppose we should be looking for a recall petition to be filed on Adams by this committee soon enough, and then it rolls forward from there.
At this stage though, if you are Adams, and you pause, you will hear the increasing pitch of the modern version of those Zulu warriors banging their spears on their shields…  Our prediction here is that this battle is coming…  And soon… 

Perhaps Adams can take some consolation in the fact that it was the film Zulu that came to my mind.  Not to intentionally kill the plot for those who have not seen it, but while the battle is bloody, and exhausting — however, ultimately, some of the British do survive a very difficult battle…

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 12th, 2009 at 12:00 am and is filed under Blog Posts.