Governor Schwarzenegger may have sided with the Democrats against Republicans on the matter of deficit spending, but he now has an opportunity to redeem himself and be a team player. If he means what he says on cutting spending next time, he ought to defend Republican State Sen. Denham against a recall effort launched as political payback by Senate Democratic leader Don Perata for Denham’s fiscal discipline.
This would be the ideal way for Schwarzenegger to show he means what he says on the budget, and begin rebuilding bridges with Republicans to boot. To me, this is the test that proves whether it’s all talk or not.