A BETTER DEBATE
Fooled by a return to Central Time, I missed the first half of the California gubernatorial debate, so I can't comment on the whole. But I'm sure of one thing: The debate would have been far more substantive without Arianna Huffington constantly changing the subject--and even better if they'd had a competent moderator. In either of those parallel universes, Bustamante would have looked much worse.
Arnold didn't offer much substance, and I certainly came away from what I saw with no confidence that he could clean up the state's fiscal mess. But the contrast between his generalities and the wonky unelectability of McClintock and Comejo suggests that perhaps substance is too scary for California voters. A smooth operator like Arnold may be just what the electorate ordered.