QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Nov 8, 2009 -> 11:01 AM)
Arnold had no chance. There needs to be an entire fresh start in California.
Arnold had a chance to be that fresh start. After the recall stomping, he could have legitimately pushed for institutional reforms and probably won. He even had advisors (Buffet) saying that prop 13 needed fixed. Instead, he cut the vehicle tax with no way to replace the revenue, launched pointless fights with the teachers unions (demanding concessions but offering nothing in return), borrowed his way through budget deficits in good times, and did nothing to plan for the future.
The way he was elected, he had a genuine madate to reform the state if he wanted to use it. He didn't.