The Governor may be doing the right thing (public policy-wise) by talking about and making moves to be ‘tough on crime’ but it won’t be the reason any measured group of voters choose him in November.
Let’s travel back in time to 1998 when crime was an issue. Attorney General Dan Lungren waged a miserable excuse for a campaign. But he did have the edge on being the ‘tough on crime’ candidate and the voters didn’t care.
Today crime is even less of an issue. For all the posturing and outrage over the whatever lawbreaking activity or crime against children or seniors or investors or whomever, its not an election issue. Think illegal immigration, traffic, education.
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June 30th, 2006 at 12:00 am
The thing I like about your work is that while you are one of the true movement conservatives in the state, you don’t just think with your heart…you’ve read Sun Tzu and it’s clear that you understand exactly what the Governor is doing. I could not agree more that crime is not a “closer” issue…and I bet the Govs folks know it…(they are from out of town you know..) it’s July…and he’s using one of the best parts of the budget to shore up a necessary piece of his coalition…nice post Adam
July 1st, 2006 at 12:00 am
Uh, you forget one very important thing in your likening of this year to 1998.
Gray Davis, very much unlike Phil Angelides, had fashioned a tough-on-crime persona and record. To Lungren’s great chagrin.
It is not a poll that creates political opportunity, it is the opponent’s grave vulnerability.
July 1st, 2006 at 12:00 am
Did you know, for example, that Phil Angelides supported a ban on handguns?
Oops, I haven’t reported that yet.
Mustn’t get ahead of myself … :)