Recall Governor Schwarzenegger!

[UPDATE: Post-election, I've determined that a Recall Arnold movement would not be a good idea. I explain why here.]

Dear Schwarzenegger supporter,

Here's a snapshot from California's future. Next year's March 2 ballot. Page 2:

"Shall ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER be recalled (removed) from the office of Governor? Yes/No."

What makes you think it won't happen? I mean, have you thought about it? Of course that's exactly what will happen. There's nothing to stop it. If the Davis recall succeeds, and especially if Schwarzenegger is the replacement, a new recall drive is more than just likely, it's almost guaranteed--and it's already in the works.

I did what I could to plant this idea way back when I had a bit of media attention during my run for governor. I quickly adapted that website template to show what might happen if, say, Brian Flemming had $1.7M, as wannabe-governor Darrell Issa did.

I don't have $1.7M. But some other nutball in this state surely does. (Actually, it wouldn't even take that much--Issa's $1.7M garnered well beyond the necessary number of valid sigs.) The requirements to force a recall election are ridiculously low. General ignorance of this fact, and a lack of passionate widespread opposition to the governor, kept recalls from becoming habit here in California.

But those two factors no longer exist. Now everyone in the state knows how easy it is to force a recall. And now there is passionate opposition--not just to Davis, but surely to a Governor Schwarzenegger. Do you really think that CodePink wouldn't be able to get 900,000 California women to sign a petition to recall Schwarzenegger? And that's just one group of many who may support such an effort.

If you don't think that at least one more recall is where we're headed should Arnold win, your imagination fails you. And it is vital for you to use your imagination.

On the morning of 9-11, the passengers in the first three hijacked planes did not apparently rise up against the hijackers to foil their plans. Why? They couldn't imagine that the plan was to kamikazee the planes into buildings. No terrorist had yet done that, so there wasn't any reason for it to pop into the average person's mind. What was different about Flight 93? Those passengers knew what had just happened with the other planes. Now it was imaginable. And because it was imaginable, they could try to stop it.

If you are a Californian, don't let your imagination fail you as our state hurls toward its own disaster. If the recall passes, and especially if Schwarzenegger wins, the unimaginable will become imaginable. Everyone in the state will be sent this message: If you don't like the governor, just force a recall election and try to replace him. It's relatively easy, and it's likely to work.

On the other hand, if the recall fails, a much better message will be sent: The people of California do not use the recall option frivolously.

And that will make a recall trend much less likely.

If you elect a Governor Schwarzenegger, he will most likely be up for recall on the March 2 ballot. He'll have to get 50%-plus-one support to win--in a primary election that is likely to draw a disproportionate number of Democrats to the polls. Which means Schwarzenegger will have to campaign again almost from the moment this inexperienced man takes office. Which means the state won't really have much of a governor.

Just think about it. Try to come up with a reason that a new governor wouldn't be forced into an attempted recall by the angry people who voted against him. Try to convince yourself that it just isn't possible.

We're headed for permanent recall. Don't do this to California.

[UPDATE: Daily Kos has registered RecallArnoldNow.com.]

[Cross-posted to Blogcritics, where you can see and contribute comments.]

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