On a lighter note, my suggestion of the week is this: don't bother seeing "The Blair Witch Project," the suddenly much-hyped low-budget flick about three kids who go looking for a witch in the Maryland woods and end up getting lost. The entire film is shot with 8mm and 16mm camcorders, so sitting through the movie is more like going on a bad virtual reality trip than experiencing the fear of the kids right along with them -- as the film's proponents suggest. As for the movie's scariness factor, let's just say that I've seen road kill that's struck more fear in my heart. I'm no movie critic, but this so-called original production is nothing more than annoying in my mind. The acting is overdone and the characters lack variety in emotion. They do, however, get the "we're lost and hungry and scared and need more cigarettes" down pretty well. But that's all.

Have a great week, and drop me a line, if only to say hi.

-Gabe

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Perhaps it was when word of his incessant fund-raising -- even though he has more than three years to re-election -- reached the public. Or perhaps it was when he complained profanely at a newspaper editorial board meeting that his signing of an assault-weapon bill was worthy of front page display. Or maybe it was when, at the same meeting, he said the Legislature existed solely to put into effect his vision as governor.

Maybe it ended when it became clear that at least some of his political donors enjoy unusual access to his administration. Perhaps it was when he angered a core constituency, the Latinos, by vetoing legislation that would have allowed state agencies to engage in outreach programs to encourage minority participation. Or perhaps it was when, on the same day, he agreed with civil rights groups to end the court fights surrounding Proposition 187, the anti-illegal immigration initiative that six out of 10 California voters supported.

Maybe it was when he reversed course, reneged on a campaign commitment and said he would veto the trial lawyers' most prized legislation, a bill that would restore accident victims' rights to file bad-faith lawsuits against rival insurers.

Perhaps it was the realization that his passion for the middle of the road cloaked an innate timidity and an apparent inability to lead decisively.

Whatever the reason, the honeymoon is indeed over. And it is going to be extremely difficult for California's first Democratic governor in 16 years to recoup the political capital he has squandered so quickly and with such abandon.

Davis' central theme, in effect, is that his 20-point triumph last November over Republican challenger Dan Lungren entitles him to do what he wants. But that contention, based on the whims of California's notoriously fickle electorate, is a dangerous one. What voters give they can take away, and any student of California politics over the past two decades and beyond can find numerous examples of elected officials paying a heavy price for trying to be all things to all people.

Before he was elected governor, Davis had the reputation as a cautious, canny politician who carefully nurtured his core constituents. But that reputation, which took 25 years to develop, is evaporating rapidly.

In its place is the appearance of a politician who appears to be concerned overwhelmingly with pleasing as many people as possible at the expense of his own convictions, whatever they may be.

There are even some parallels between Davis and his former boss Jerry Brown, who also sought middle ground. But Brown was an unabashed pragmatist -- he still is -- and there was an intellectual drive in many of his positions. But Davis hasn't the intellectual heft of Brown. Davis, the consummate manager, seems to have mastered the technique of governing, but has has no philosophical or ideological compass to guide his decision-making.

Thus far, Davis has earned the contempt of at least some of the press in Sacramento, but whether that will damage him politically across the state in the long run remains to be seen.

The general public dislikes reporters as much as they do politicians. But over time, the perception of the press will resonate among the public. And when that happens, Davis will be in trouble.

It was with great sadness that I read the letter from Mark Ferreira on a rationale to deny health care coverage for mental illness. [http://www.capenq.com/newsletter/archives/1999/july99/0303.html] Just walk any major cities' downtown streets and you will find the victims.

To allege that the mentally ill are somehow being treated by cheats and charlatans and thus should not be given health care coverage is saying that the very HMOs who are being asked to provide coverage are unable to detect fraud, and thus should not be asked to be involved.

Pushed to extreme, this argument would have the FBI refusing to help banks because banks get robbed. That a person is suffering, and is further injured by a therapist is no reason to walk away from the policy debate.

Dan Mitchel

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