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Surrogates Just Won't Do; In Budget Crisis, the State Needs Davis to Lead Republicans seem to have the upper hand. They're fixed on a goal: no taxes. Democrats are leaderless, confused and adrift. There are even Democratic murmurs about maybe giving in to Republicans and passing another gimmicky, sleight-of-hand budget that gets the state through one more year without a tax increase. Afterward, it'd be in the same irresponsible pickle. Procrastinate and punt — Sacramento's favorite playbook. But the game then could be delayed until after the March 2004 primary, when GOP lawmakers might be less fearful of an intraparty attack from their right. Because of redistricting, Republicans dread each other more than Democrats. What Democrats need for this fight is a governor who's feisty and fearless. Like Davis' Republican predecessor. Pete Wilson was a stand-alone guy who relished a good fight — sold a tax hike, became unpopular, but never came close to a recall.
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