Recently, I wrote an article stating that our national political discussion has moved beyond philosophy.  Many voters think that government has lost any semblance of common sense when it comes to spending.  Economically, the discussion lacks common sense as well and there is no place where that is more evident than California.  So much so that, in my view, the election of Jerry Brown and Barbara Boxer – along with Barack Obama – will lead to unemployment north of 16%.

Now, the prediction business is, of course, fraught with danger – but not looking ahead is a worse crime in my view.  Two years ago, I said that the economy would be bad for 6 years if Obama was elected.  I said that because the markets understood then and know now that a big government agenda was not the cure that was needed.  They intimately understood what Ayn Rand said years ago that “the cure that is always offered . . . is more of the same poisons that caused the disasters.”  Sure enough, the same poisons have been tried for the last two years and the consensus among the fair minded is that the US economy will be bad for years to come.

The focus of American politics is often on the East Coast.  The interplay between Washington DC and the major media outlets on the East Coast often results in West Coast politics being as much as an afterthought as  college sports are to eastern writers.  This year, however, is different because the West features some of the highest profile races in the Country – races that can be won by Republicans.

The races that are grabbing that attention – which attention is likely to grow – are: (1) the Nevada race for Senate pitting the Democrat Leader Harry Reid against newcomer and the Tea Party candidate Sharon Angle, (2) the Washington State Senate Race between the Democrat incumbent Patty Murray and a yet to be determined Republican , and in California (3) newcomer Republican Meg Whitman v. Jerry Brown for Governor, and (4) newcomer Republican Carly Fiorina v.  Democrat incumbent Barbara Boxer for US Senate.

Recent polling has made it clear that the top concerns of the voters are the two sides of the same coin: out of control government spending and deficits.  For decades on end, the wise have warned that a reckoning day would have to come to deal with decades of fiscal mismanagement.  In California, that day is here.  We need a leader strong enough to tackle the problem head on – Jerry Brown has made it very clear, he is not that person.

Keep in mind that leadership is not a function of getting elected.  Indeed, the vast majority of those elected are not real leaders – even among Presidents.  Think about it.  How many great Presidents have we had over the last 100 years?  You should be counting four or less – and if you do, you realize that real leadership is rare.

The days of pausing between primary and general elections are over.  The stakes for election these days are simply too high.  Our problems are great and we need leaders up to the task.  Jerry Brown, in but two days, proved to everyone that he is not up to the task.

Going Negative Because Brown Has No Plan.