The American Spectator

The Contra Costa Times’ editorial page went from praising the reforms in January to calling them divisive in April and lamenting the $70 million cost if a special election were held on the initiatives this fall. So much for the fact that two of the governor’s proposals would each prevent spending many billions of dollars the state doesn’t have, dwarfing the $70 million the paper is so worried about.

The San Jose Mercury News’ editorial page even parachuted in from some alternate reality to say the assertion that the Legislature would never consider reform on its own was “mostly a bum rap.” So much for the assumption that all editorial writers are sentient.

However oblivious it may be, the carping has taken a toll. Between the pundits’ potshots, the unions’ vicious attacks, and some sloppy staff work that left flaws in his initiative petitions, Schwarzenegger’s reform push has been staggered. He’s given up on pension changes and merit pay for now, and while he says he’s pushing ahead with his spending cap and redistricting proposals, no one would be all that surprised if none of his initiatives qualify this summer and force a fall election. The hope that was so common in January and February — that 2005 would be the year California stepped back from the brink — is fading, and fast.