Jack Pitney Quotations

After governor, most people are pretty hazy about what these offices do. I'd be surprised if one Californian out of 100 can tell you the difference between the controller and treasurer.

Core supporters will take this a cue, particularly Republicans who have not been paying close attention. And a lot will depend on whether Republicans can follow through in the ground game.

It matters a lot for the party activists. It matters some for primary voters. And it matters a little for undecided general election voters. Even if it matters for 5 percent of the electorate ? no candidate can ignore that.

At the depths of the '82 recession, Reagan looked like a goner, but the economy came back and so did Reagan's fortunes? He stayed the course. Had he faltered in his policies in '82, we might not have seen as much progress in '83 and '84.

It is 2006, and time is running out. There are only so many more setbacks he can absorb.

I think you'll see a more subdued governor. He'll be someone who chooses his words more carefully and who sweats the details with more rigor.

The advantage of a wholesale change is the chance to put a fresh face on the party. The downside is that the political community might read it as a sign of worry.

If they take a drubbing in 2006 look for major changes as they organize for the next Congress.

No matter what he decides, a large number of people are going to be angry at him.

It's a missed opportunity. Had it gone through, he could begin to rebuild his image as a bipartisan problem-solver. He can still do that, but as the year wears on, partisan conflict will make that harder.