The Scotsman has an apt take on the California election.
One candidate is a 100 year old sponsored by a 99 cent store chain to gin up publicity. Another is a porn actress, and we know what she's after. And the presence of Gary Coleman speaks for itself (one wonders if he had to visit the pawn shop to obtain money for the qualifying fee.)
This is an election, not a radio station contest, but you wouldn't know if from the 100 nut jobs on the ballot. Who else is on there - A midget? A bearded lady? Elvira? I'm sure there's a cross dresser or two lurking around.
Some will say this is great and ridiculously hail it as democracy in action. Many people need reminding that America is a representive democracy, not a mob-ruled free for all. We do not and never have elected our President. These shenanigans can only serve to make Gray Davis look better, and that's a bad thing.
Worse: some stupid people will actually vote for these fringe candidates. I'm not saying that the republic is too important to be affected by the whims of the great unwashed - but I wish I had. Folks like David Duke on one hand and the congressional black caucus on the other can get elected to office with fervent support. Many shysters, like a certain defrocked preacher here in Baton Rouge, actually come within a hair of winning. Many voters are ill-informed to make a proper choice. Sometimes, I personally wish those who are ignorant of what they are voting for would stay home rather than cast their vote for someone an informed person would shun.
Regardless of what stupid people do, California must reform it's recall laws, not to make it tougher to recall a Governor but to make the whole process more respectable. The irony of all of this: in this case, respectability looks a whole lot like a regular election with party primaries.
