Californians May Vote On War This Feb.

California Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata appears to be leaning left in the accompanying photo for good reason: He's leading the anti-war, anti-Bush White Flag Brigade in the Golden State.

Perata introduced a bill today that's sure to breeze through the far-left Cal legislature that would place a referendum on the Feb. 5 primary ballot calling for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. The referendum says:

The people of California, in support of the men and women serving in the Armed Forces of the United States, urge President Bush to end the U.S. occupation of Iraq and immediately begin the safe and orderly withdrawal of all United States forces; and further urge President Bush and the United States Congress to provide the necessary diplomatic and non-military assistance to promote peace and stability in Iraq and the Middle East.

Let me see if I get this right.

1. We're actually supporting the men and women in the military when we cue up the next bigger, bloodier war by refusing to let them finish this war.
2. We are occupying Iraq. There's that word again. As I said this morning, the Germans occupied Poland and Germany, the Russians occupied Eastern Europe. We liberated them as we are liberating Iraq.
3. Diplomacy and "non-military assistance" will do what troops were unable to do. Dips, God love 'em, will get al Qaeda in Iraq to lay down their arms and non-military assistance will lead Sunnis and Shi'a to go all kissy-face on each other in the street.
   

Might I suggest that Perata has alterior motives, that this might not be about the well-being of our troops? Sure, it's all about Bush-bashing, but in this case, it's probably really s all about the well-being of Perata.

The Berkeley (natch!) Dem may be using the anti-war referendum to increase Lib turnout and help another possible measure on the ballot, one that would modify California's term limits, allowing a certain termed-out Senator named Don Perata to keep his seat. With an anti-war initiative that's sure to endear him to Berkeley's whacked voters, passage of the term limit initiative virtually guarantees him a life-long suckle on the public teat.

Will Arnold terminate this silliness? The bill is sure to end up on his desk. He can be a girly-man and say "Let the people decide," or he can be a man and veto the bill.

As of this afternoon, the Gov has no comment.