Unintended Consequences

"The recall started out as a popular anti-tax movement and was captured by Issa, who wanted to run for governor, and then by Schwarzenegger and also Pete Wilson's people, who are using it as a kind of rehabilitation tour, and ultimately by Cruz Bustamante, who would have had a hard time becoming governor," says Cain. "It's like the little fish getting swallowed by the bigger fish. The irony is that [Ted] Costa started the recall as a no-new-taxes movement and then Schwarzenegger says that he'll think about raising taxes. Costa had hoped the recall would lead to a tax revolt ... which just goes to show you can't always control what you start."

"Arnold Schwarzenegger just pissed off every homeowner in California, through his financial adviser Warren Buffett," he says. "He wants to raise property taxes. Schwarzenegger will not be a leader for a long time. I hope that Simon and McClintock make a deal so that McClintock can [become the top GOP candidate] and people can tell Schwarzenegger to get out of the race."

Morgan, too, is furious at Schwarzenegger's ascension. She's a big McClintock fan. And she fully intends to use her celebrity power to promote his far-right candidacy. A sample soundbite: "He's smart, understands the budget, has good ideas. He's honest, he'll never lie, and he'll never back down."

Ever the purist, she dismisses Schwarzenegger as a faux Republican.

"If he won't say no to new taxes or doesn't want to cut spending, then he should run as a Democrat, not as a Republican," she says. "We have no idea what he really thinks or feels; he remains largely undefined. If he wants to raise taxes, [conservatives] will never utter his name again."

She smiles. Clearly, she is not above targeting the favorite son of the recall for his own recall, should he disappoint his mother.