The delirium that now marks the California recall election will turn to sobering reality for the eventual winner. While it's easy to put your name on the ballot, it's much tougher to find the answers to the Golden State's many difficult problems.

Of those running on Oct. 7, only Gov. Gray Davis understands the job's immense challenges, and he's facing a recall election because most Californians think he's ducked those challenges. Davis couldn't perform in large part because he sold his autonomy to special interests whose money he thought he needed to get elected.

But there's more at work in California than a failed politician and frustrated voters in search of someone to lead them. Government in this state has careened out of control, and may be too big for any politician to tame. That has led to gridlock in Sacramento, and politicians walking on wobbly feet.

Part of the reason is the public is as cynical as it has been in a generation, leading to a politics-of-the-moment leadership. Citizens are told they can have all their programs, and tax cuts, too.

That kind of budgeting came crumbling down in California this year, with a $38 billion deficit and a governor and Legislature paralyzed to do anything about it until recently. But California's politicians aren't totally to blame for the mess we're in. Voters seldom reward elected officials for making unpopular decisions that may be good for the state, but entail sacrifices by the public.

Something for nothing

We want to go to Disneyland, but don't want to pay for the trip. And the politicians don't have the guts to tell us that wouldn't work. Even today, the budget deficit "solution" is based on rolling over a debt that's supposed to be paid for later.

Now we have a recall election that reinforces California's reputation as a haven for nut cases. We're a bunch of wack jobs out here on the Left Coast, and we don't care who knows it.

No wonder actor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy on Jay Leno's "Tonight Show" last week. Government in California has taken on a carnival atmosphere and what better place to announce the latest act but a TV talk show hosted by a comedian?

Schwarzenegger probably made points with voters by saying he would go to Sacramento and clean house, but he still must show he understands the depth of California's problems and will offer solutions. As Sen. Dianne Feinstein said last week on CNN, "government today isn't about platitudes."

Unfortunately for Democrats, Feinstein, the party's most qualified candidate for governor, has chosen to remain on the sidelines and analyze the election instead of getting into it.

Californians, with their political sophistication, laughed at Minnesota voters for electing wrestler Jesse Ventura as their governor in 1998. But we've trumped the state with 10,000 lakes with what seems like 10,000 oddballs running for governor.

Larry Flynt, whose slogan is a "smut-peddler with a heart," has joined such notables as one-time TV actor Gary Coleman, a woman who sells thong underwear on her Web site and a man who wants to legalize ferrets as pets.

Fortunately, the Republicans took the recall seriously enough to offer mainstream candidates in the recall election, and that finally forced the Democrats to put up candidates who have political resources to be competitive if Davis is recalled.

'Second option'

Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante led the Democratic charge to the recall ballot, although he is running on the odd platform of being the "second option" for recall voters. Vote against the recall, he said, but also vote for him in case the recall is successful. Feinstein, who opposes the recall, told CNN viewers Thursday that she considers that strategy hypocritical.

But in this crowded field, that tactic just might work for Bustamante. In addition, Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, another Democrat, said he also would get into the race, further shattering Davis' hopes of not offering voters substantive Democratic alternatives to him.

At least the latest candidates have some knowledge of the issues facing California. While some may think the recall election is entertaining, its impact will have real consequences. This election must be about more than Schwarzenegger's celebrity or Davis' problems.

Do all the candidates running know that the Golden State is actually made up of many Californias, from an impoverished inland Valley to the affluent coastal communities to some of the world's most cosmopolitan big cities with problems of their own? How will the candidates deal with the lack of health care in most parts of the state and do they have an answer for the lack of water to meet the competing needs of urban users, farmers and environmentalists? Have they thought about solving the workers' compensation insurance crisis that's threatening business stability in the state?

At a time when our leaders should be talking about the future of California, we are bogged down in a recall election that has invited every publicity seeker in the state to jump in.

Do they realize that if they actually win on Oct. 7, they will have to govern? They will find that it's much easier demonizing government than taming it.