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So, is the Schwarzenegger victory the start of something big or just a fluke? Does it tell us something about all of us or merely about the mismatch between a popular movie star and a despised Governor? The answer is yes to all of the above. California's recall was laughed at by the rest of the country as being self-indulgent and not serious, a freak show with porn stars, washed-up celebrities and anyone else who could scrape together a $3,500 filing fee and 65 signatures on a petition. It started as a partisan diversion, fueled by conservative radio hosts and a rich Republican Congressman, Darrell Issa, who was willing to spend his millions to put the question of throwing out the Governor to a vote. By Election Day, it had turned into something much bigger.
There are not many other $30 million-per-movie action stars lining up to campaign in '04, but California's recall suggests that with a limping economy and continued problems overseas, voters across the nation are feeling skittish and might turn to a candidate just because he promises change. There may be no single lesson from the defeat of Gray Davis last week, but it does convey a general sense of menace to the status quo. Incumbents, beware. --With reporting by Terry McCarthy, Jeffrey Ressner, Sean Scully and Sonja Steptoe/Los Angeles, Laura A. Locke/San Francisco, Betsy Rubiner/Des Moines and Matthew Cooper and Douglas Waller/Washington