(Updated)

Well, it's all over except for the gnashing of teeth. With over 90% of the polls accounted for, the recall is passing 54.2% to 45.8%. Schwarzenegger is the clear winner over Bustamante, with 47.8% of the vote to his 32.6%. Soon, the state will be in the hands of Governor Pete Wilson Arnold Schwarzenegger. On the plus side, both propositions (53 and 54) were defeated. So, the state hasn't taken full leave of its collective senses.

Let's be clear: I am willing to admit when I'm wrong. So if, a year or so from now, we are truly in better shape under this new administration then I will admit it. In fact, if we are in truly better shape when re-election rolls around, I may vote for his re-election. Assuming he hasn't been recalled or otherwise brought down by the abuse and harassment charges. Don't think for a minute those are going to go away, just because the election is over.

Already, people I know who are conservative are crowing about it. Pointing out that this election can't be referred to as theft, like the presidential one was in 2000 (unless, of course, you count the fact that Davis was duly and fairly elected, and that an order of magnitude fewer voters were needed to start the recall process than were needed for him to be elected). Bill Maher pointed out that Republicans "seem willing to do whatever it takes to win an election, except get the most votes." Well, they got the votes this time. It took two tries, mind you. And they had to rely on an action-star turned GOP-puppet, but they did. And we'll pay for it over the next few years. Or not. Like I said, I'll admit it if I'm wrong.

But speaking of the last time around, remember Bill Simon? Well, he was also trying again. Maybe he dropped out, I don't know. But he did get votes. Just not very many. In fact, as of this 90%+ mark, he wasn't in the top 10. Recognizable names who got more votes than Simon: Ariana Huffingtion got 0.6% despite having dropped out, about 39,000 votes at this point. Larry Flynt, Gary Coleman and Mary Cook (a.k.a. Mary Carey, the porn actress) were all in the top 10 (albeit none of them broke the 0.5% mark). So, Simon, I think it is safe to say that you have little future in politics, if you can be beaten by any of those three, let alone all of them.

Update: I found out from Andrew Solovay that Simon did in fact step down, and also endorsed Arnold directly. So, interestingly-enough, this paints Simon's supporters as more willing to follow his lead than Huffington's supporters were. Of course, even if all of her votes had gone to Cruz, he still wouldn't have won. This win was clear and clean.