First things first: Yes, I’m personally disappointed that I wasn’t nominated lieutenant governor. The job is a joke, but my interest was serious. I wasn’t even vetted, at least as far as I know.
But Maldonado is the second best choice – a smart strategic move, for a few reasons.
– This nomination rewards loyalty.
Schwarzenegger has suffered from the perception (and sometimes the reality) that he twists with the political winds. By picking Maldonado, he rewards a like-minded Republican who has taken political risks for Schwarzenegger. And that will make it a little bit easier for the governor to convince other moderates to join him on tough votes during his last year in office.
– It likely produces one more Democrat in the state senate.
Maldonado represented a swing district, and there’s a good chance his successor will be a Democrat. That’s good for Schwarzenegger, who desperately wants to get things done and has found it difficult to win the GOP votes needed to reach two-thirds on spending and taxes. Another Democrat would put him one vote short of two thirds in the senate. (And yes, a GOP governor stands to benefit more Democrats in the legislature—welcome to the madness of super-majorities). Democrats don’t much like Maldonado, but if they know what’s good for them, they’ll vote to confirm.
– It helps the GOP brand, even if many Republicans don’t understand it.
The California Republican Party brand is poisonous among Latinos. One appointment doesn’t fix that—rebuilding the GOP brand is going to take decades. But every little bit helps.
– A confirmation fight over Maldonado would help Schwarzenegger.
A fight in which Schwarzenegger is defending a prominent moderate Latino is a good fight for the governor. And even if he loses the confirmation battle, he wins.
If Maldonado becomes a high-profile victim of partisanship in confirmation (a possibility, given John Burton’s thoughtless opening blast against a nomination that benefits his party), he becomes a higher-profile and more effective advocate for the “top two” primary, a top priority of the governor on the June 2010 ballot.
One other note: The constitution only requires the governor to nominate someone to the lieutenant governor post. If the assembly and senate don’t confirm, Schwarzenegger can keep the post empty, demonstrate that it’s a worthless job, and take credit when the lieutenant governorship is abolished (as it should be).