OC blogger extraordinaire, Hugh Hewitt, is on fire in this recent post.  It is not just a review of the latest (collapsing) poll numbers for the Special Election (all losing except the virtually meaningless, "feel good", Prop 1F).  It is also a statement about the state of affairs in California, and the impact the May 19th election could have on the entire nation.  This is a stinging indictment from one of the most listened to and read commentators in America.  It particularly caught my eye given Hugh's typically balanced, well reasoned demeanor.  It is a well-reasoned piece for sure, but it is anything but pro-status quo for the tax and spenders.

Check out some of his poll analysis and closing shots:

Because the state leadership decided to deceptively label and describe every initiative, let me translate all the gibberish:  Sacramento refused to do any serious cutting but instead jammed through huge hikes in income and sales taxes while attempting to rip off every other special fund in the state.

Voters watched it closely and were disgusted by the "solution."  They are going to overwhelmingly reject those parts of it which had to be put to the voters.

No doubt the Sacramento crowd will come up with more tax hikes, but the tax revolt that is brewing will continue to build and voters will not forgive or forget this extraordinary failure of government when the pols come around next November.  The state is badly broken and run by a coalition of incompetents and a bored and directionless governor whose best days were his first few months in office when he moved aggressively to cut the taxes he is now trying to raise...

Forget Arlen Specter.  The most important political message of this season is going to come out of California in three weeks.

Republican politicians like Maldonado who want political futures in the GOP will have to find a way to repent of their almost criminally stupid support for tax hikes to cover massive spending, or they will have to bolt the party like Senator Specter did.  This isn't about "big tent/little tent" but about a core principle that rejects the level of taxation and spending being pushed by Democrats, a level embodied in the non-stimulus package that ruined Senator Specter's standing in the party (and with many independents).  Democrats dismissed the tea parties as marginal outbursts by marginal people.  The very blue state of California is about to send a message that will most likely be ignored or misunderstood by MSM, but the GOP at every level should focus on the vote and the voter anger behind it.

And while these poll numbers are encouraging, I'm hearing there remains A LOT of money ready to come to the defense of Prop 1A.  It is not a done deal yet.

Hopefully we're just three weeks away from saying "enough is enough", no more politician bailouts.  No new taxes.  Start cutting.