Campaign produced a lot of hot air, little substance for a state in crisis

Finally, it’s safe to turn on the television.

At least until the general election heats up and the political ads begin raining down again. As you know, campaign spending records were shattered in the primary season that mercilessly ends Tuesday, with Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner investing more than $100 million trying to convince us they’re really, really conservative.

Beginning Wednesday, of course, the winner will begin trying to convince us that was all a mistake, and that he or she is in fact really, really, moderate.

And so it goes, Democracy in action.

Because I’m in a good mood with the primary behind us, I’d like to offer the gubernatorial candidates a way to communicate a plan to voters without resorting to more TV ads.

If Meg Whitman,Steve Poizner or Jerry Brown can explain in some detail how they would close the $20-billion budget deficit or help put more than 2 million unemployed Californians back to work, this space is theirs.

If they’d like to weigh in on term limits, the creation of a steadier revenue stream or other reforms that might help set the state straight, this space is theirs.

Silly season is over. We can’t afford another one.

And if the politicians are too afraid to bare their souls, maybe readers would like to Talk Back and show the way.

-- Steve Lopez

Tell Steve what you think -- comment below.

Full Times election day coverage:

VOTER GUIDE: Breakdowns of the candidates, polling information, resources, links and biographies

ENDORSEMENTS: From The Times' editorial page.

BREAKING POLITICAL NEWS: From PolitiCal, The Times' state politics blog.

Comments

[RJ Middleton]

America, the best government money can buy!

[Danofive0]

It all crap and hot air.. And now you know why I do not vote!!!!! A;ll Crap!

[mikeopinion]

If we could vote every year on whether to keep an elected official in office or not by what they have accomplished i am sure we can solve a lot of the states problems.we need this kind of system to get rid of the bums that do get elected .

[R. Werling]

Maybe if you would not spend so much time on Tiger Woods personal life and Sandra Bullocks and printing anything politician say instead of giving readers true,reliable and useful information..........hot air would not exists.

What worthwhile information have you given readers the past 30-60 days?

[A J Padilla]

Well, if we held Democrats to the same standard as many contributors here would have Republicans held to, do you think we'd have the massive problems in this state? Of course, because too many left leaning citizens would continue to support the liberal ideology all the way to, well to where we find ourselves today. Political positioning is the same for all aspiring politicos; there is a strategy employed almost universally - tell 'em what they (think they) want to hear, then do what you want when you get in. Is anyone surprised by that? For all the attacks on Arnold, he at least attempted to follow-through on some of his promises early on, but was quickly overwhelmed by an unknowing public led like sheep by their elected leftist "leaders", who knew armageddon was on the way, but stubbornly refused to deal with it. Just be glad - as I am sure he is - that he is termed out and gone.

[MTS]

Prop 13 has been a catastrophe for the State. With one vote, the people of California removed $7 Billion from the State budget. The long term solutions to make up the deficit are the same one's suggested since 1978, for over 30 years.

1. Revise State Pensions.
2. Crack Down On Welfare.
3. Crack Down On Illegal Immigration.
4. Amend Prop 13 by taking away Tax Breaks for Commercial Property.
5. License and Tax Marijuana.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. It's still 1978.

[hector]

@ Sandi-- Brown is one of the main reasons for this mess. He (self admitted) laid into motion state workers to be unionized and the subsequent massive increase in pay, benefits and pensions that will/are drowning us.

@ Al- Arnold was hired to say NO, stop the spending and balance the budget. If he'd had done that, we'd be in pretty good shape. Instead, gov has grown by more than 50%, regulations continue to strangle our state's businesses and taxes continue to rise at record levels. You think a democrat governor will be better? How? Will a democrat governor be able to say NO to his/her own party? I doubt it.

California doesn't have a "revenue" problem, we have a spending problem.

[Libbs]

Steve Lopez for Governor!

[sympl1]

1 stop aiding illegal immigants > 20 plus billion $ a year saved 2 legalize and tax marijuana > close to a 100 million a year revenue plus a good 200 or more million savings on the drug wars that dont work 3 give taxpaying americans that the illegals held and who knows how much revenue will be produced on income tax and spending since most money made in the us will stay in the us its really not that difficult to understand

[Stang]

Left wing,or right wing, all we have in the government now are a bunch of liars and cheats who haved to go behind closed doors to pass their agendas off onto the masses.
I think the American people are finally coming to their senses and waking up as to the downfall of our nation.
No more free rides for the illegals, nothing!
Close our borders, bring our troops home to defend our country. Stop the out-sourcing of our American jobs and put our American born citizens back to work. Round up all the terrorists that have been allowed to infiltrate our nation and get rid of them. We as a nation of Americans have to take back our country and elect a president that loves this nation and does everything in his power to strengthen us, not belittle us before the world.

[Walter Moore]

We shouldn't complain about the commercials, because they have accounted for 38% of California's economy during the past 10 months.

Let's hope the commercials for the general election, unlike those for the primary, are actually produced by California companies.

[Yolanda]

Shameful, to spend so much money to get elected!
If only we could pass an initiative that would have them donate dollar for dollar to charity, what they spend on an election.

[Kalman Menyhart]

Meg Whitman or Steve Poizner , Democrats or Republicans , the reality is :
$ 20 billion budget deficit , more than 2 million unemployed Californians !...
The solution is : JOB CREATION !
The US Government spent more than $ 800 billion for nothing (...or almost for nothing .... ) !
I have a ready project , which can create about 9,5 million new jobs in the USA, (....673,658 new jobs in California !!.... ) within a very short amount of time !
Budget needed : $ 49,2 billion !
Is this too much to invest for 9,5 million new jobs ??!
Since March 25 , I tried my best to contact President Obama and his Administration , (.... and the Californian politicians ....) by sending e-mails , certified letters , and fax(s).
NOBODY pays attention !
Time is running out for 15 millions of unemployed American people ( 2 million unemployed Californians ) , .... but NOBODY pays attention !
My project is READY !
I need the US Government's cooperation to realize it !
Democrats or Republicans ??
I hope sombody will pay attention to this project , because JOB CREATION is vital for the US (...and California ) economy !
Kalman Menyhart, Sherman Oaks , CA

[Ann]

I don't think it matters who wins the primary race for governor; no candidate can fix this mess. It is going to be up to the legislature and each citizen of California to stop saying "what's in it for me?" We need to stop illegal immigration and giving benefits, i.e. education, jobs, and sanctuary to people who are here illegally. And although I am very grateful for the many teachers, firefighters, police men and women, their unions are corrupt and their union leaders take home huge salaries at the expense of "We The People". Unless we stop the mentality of "what's in it for me", California will be bankrupt soon.

[Hawk Eye]

1. Crack down on employers, big and small, who hire illegals. This would put more Americans to work, especially in the construction industry.

2. Legalize marijuana and tax and sell it in a controlled manner. It's use would reduce alcohol consumption and raise revenue.

[Craig Fleishman]

If I'm Jerry Brown, or any Democrat that faces the victor of today's gubinatorial election I don't create a TV ad. That is correct, I do NOT create a TV ad. I simply play Meg Whitman or Steve Poizner's ads.

Many Republicans, most Democrats and most independents will not want to vote for someone who says they are as conservative as Whitman and Poizner have been saying. Of course they will change course...but it's all on tape and should be used.

[Fred Wright]

The problem with California politics are twofold: We need to repeal Prop 13 as sacrosanct as that may appear, and create a majority rule in Sacramento. As long as we have the exclusion of Prop 13 from our revenue streams we will never have sufficient funds to balance our budget [and] to render Californians the goods and services it need. Likewise if we continue to allow Republicans in smaller and conservative numbers to Lord over the will of the majority, nothing will ever get done. Republicans, on the national stage, have shown just how little they care for the populace as a whole. Given their preference they will hold up the banner of (power for the few) any day over inclusion and what is best for the American people. They'd rather see the Dems fail than to see their state or country prosper.

[michelle]

Hey Jahara, you seem to be forgetting who our governor has been and still is for the last 10 years. Last time I checked he was a REPUBLICAN, who decided to come in on a campaign of cutting taxes. According to my home accounting, you don't cut income while your expenses are going up. That just doens't work too well (at least never worked for me). So how about trying to raise taxes to the rich. Anyone with income about $200,000/year,amend prop 13 (I know, you don't want that! - let someone else pay - not out of your pocket)and legalize marijuana and tax it at 20%. Deficit over and Republicans OUT!!!

[Keith]

A few points:
1. Politicians can only create gov't jobs
2. The LA Times could really do a lot to force Sacramento to deal with problems by concentrating more on facts and less on drama, but they don't
3. Arnie was a liberal governor, not a conservative
4. Ultra liberal, anti-business, enviro-freak policies have brought California to where it's at now, Gov Moonbeam will make it worse
5. California's open borders stance is a mistake
6. There aren't enough pot smokers to close the budget loophole. By legalizing it, most people will be confident to grow and smoke their own kush with cheaply attainable growing systems, avoiding paying any taxes. Invest in Rockw00l.

[Jim Baron]

Steve, you make an excellent point. But the reality is the biggest problem we have had is us. We have taken to these initiatives and bought into the TV ads like blithering idiots. Yes you are correct that in a state as great as California, we have these egos blathering and about to switch as you so correctly call it. But we are our own worse enemy and we need to stand up and make ourselves accountable as well as the politicians.

[Craig Owen]

Unfortunately, it doesn't matter what the candidates say, Mr. Lopez, because the legislature will not get on board with anything threatening the unions or their fat pensions. Furthermore, if the next governor tries to circumvent the legislature and use the initiative process to go to the people, as the Governator did, the unions will frame the initiatives as "corporate tricks" so that the liberal populace will vote against all of them. We'll just have to see how long it takes before the lib's who run this state wake up to the widespread bankruptcy their policies have wreaked on this once-prosperous state.

[Faye]

You obviously did not read Meg Whitman's 48 page plan for California. She is the only candidate that put her plan in writing.

Steve Poizner does not have a plan. His positions change. Jerry Brown did nothing for California, except let the unions overtake the state. AND THE UNIONS WILL BANKRUPT THIS STATE.

Let's start anew. We need a business person, who really had a job to run this state. If she has money and spends it, so what. She's is spending her money, and doing something good for the economy. LET'S GET CAREER POLITICIANS OUT OF OFFICE.

[Mary]

I am a longtime homeowner in Los Angeles county. I personally benefit very much from Prop 13 financially. I also clearly see that Prop 13 needs to be repealed ASAP in order for California to have a chance at fiscal survival. As a homeowner, I would vote for the immediate repeal of Prop 13 tomorrow.

[brian]

It's very simple, just think of all the promises and solutions that Obama gave during the election campaign. Many people believed it!

[Mike Chaney]

I was born in this state. I have never seen it in this much trouble. I do not plan to vote for any of the three candidates running under the party system. I have had enough of partisan politics and people who appear not to have a good enough education to run this state. I think it is time for an across the board oust of the status quo. And I mean across the board. Our state and our country is in a big mess. Enough of the status quo. I think alot of us feel the same.