Tues | Jan 8 Oh, what a simpler pursuit politics must have seemed for Arnold Schwarzenegger when all it required was gathering together a few star-struck rubes and intimating your opponents were either homosexual, transgendered or didn’t smoke cigars. Back then, 2003, the thing he told us he could do best was handle money. The volatile California budget? Piece of cake. He explained Gray Davis was not man enough to take it on. And, sure enough, nearly five years after he took over we find out the budget is in even worse shape than the darkest days of Gray. Schwarzenegger’s solution? A heady mix of releasing 20,000 prisoners, shutting down a bunch of state parks and drastic cuts in education. But that’s not all. Nooooo. Mr. Action, the guy who accused Gray Davis of being irresponsible with our money, tells us the real key to our economic survival is dependence on slot machines on Indian reservations—you know, just like the Founding Fathers intended. Look, this has all been very fun, and offered a bit of a diversion from our coming annexation by China, but if we let Gray Davis go for less, then it’s time to recall Arnold Schwarzenegger. And don’t even think of offering the excuse that Schwarzenegger could not have foreseen the collapse of the real estate market, because no one saw the Dot-com crash that killed Davis. The point is dude said HE COULD FIX THIS. Nearly five years later, it’s clear he hasn’t and he won’t. Okay, so we’re agreed, it’s time to go back to our got-to-go guy, San Diego Congressman Darrell Issa, who organized and financed the last recall. Feel free to drop him an e-mail at his website—Issa.house.gov—or give him a call at one of his offices: (760) 599-5000 (San Diego) or (202) 225-3906 (Washington) and tell him you want to see this happen. Again.

Wed | Jan 9 Heheheh . . . heady.

Thurs | Jan 10 Got a lesson in what is really important in American democracy. A sincere love of freedom and belief in the sanctity of the human spirit? Please. Intimating that your opponent is homosexual? Mmmmm close. No, what is really important in American democracy is showing up. Presidential candidates know it—that’s why the thing they depend on campaign workers to do the most is get people to the polls. Well, tonight I went to a meeting in Belmont Shore at the Bayshore Library where somewhere between 70 and 100 people jammed into a little community room to talk about the city’s plans to move the basketball and handball courts and roller hockey rink from their present location at Ocean and 54th Place to a location a few blocks away. Most of the residents attending were surprised to find out there was even such a plan and shocked to discover that the plan had already been discussed and artistically rendered. But a couple of neighborhood activists took it upon themselves to let everyone know about the plan and the meeting, where a couple guys from the city were slated to show up and explain the project and gauge community support. It quickly became apparent there was no support. After being peppered by questions and comments that made this abundantly clear, Marine Bureau Manager Mark Sandoval asked, “Is anyone here for this?” and got an immediate “No!” thundered back at him. “I think we’re done,” he said, and the room broke into the kind of spontaneous cheer normally reserved for youth soccer games and midget tossing. When I talked to Sandoval afterward to make sure I’d actually witnessed the Capra-esque moment I thought I had, he said he would recommend not going forward with the plan to his bosses, because “We didn’t want to do anything for the neighborhood that the neighborhood didn’t want.” And that’s how it works. Well, that, and Indian slot machines.

Fri | Jan 11 Carl Karcher dies. Apparently Mr. Karcher led a long—he died at 90—and as happy a life as this worrisome coil will allow. From one hot dog cart, he created a fast food empire. But, like so many businesses, Carl’s Jr. eventually went public and Karcher was kicked upstairs where he was stripped of most of his power. The devout Catholic watched his company devolve from a kinda hokey family operation to producing the skankiest food porn on TV, complete with the enhanced sounds of masticated food and the sight of Paris Hilton suds-humping a car; the grossest thing on TV this side of Tyra Banks’ desperate need to be Tyra Banks.

Sat | Jan 12 About 200 community members march in Central Long Beach to kick off its first “Peace Week.” The march was also designed to bring attention to a recent spate of violence in the area—there had been shootings on Thursday and Friday. Community members and leaders spoke hopefully about one day breaking the cycle of violence that has plagued the area. Then, a few hours after the march, a man was shot about a block from the park. He was taken to the hospital with a bullet wound to the leg but is expected to survive. The neighborhood’s prognosis is not so clear.

Sun | Jan 13 The Golden Globe Awards are given out, but because of the writers’ strike there is no ceremony, which means no red carpet preshows, no fashion dishing and no preening speeches. No, just a few announcements and a smattering of some sickly applause. Best awards show ever.

Mon | Jan 14 I’ve thought about it. I now support the writers’ strike going on forever.

Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, belmont shore, Carl Karcher, golden globes, Gray Davis, recall, writer's strike