| In the interest of speed and timeliness, this story is fed directly from the Associated Press newswire and may contain spelling or grammatical errors. |
Some voices of California voters on Tuesday and Wednesday:
``I think that the people of California decided to take charge and make changes instead of letting everything stay status quo. We all stood up and voiced our opinion. I'm proud of this state.'' Kevin Donaldson, 43, who voted for the recall and for Arnold Schwarzenegger.
``We needed a change. But I don't like Arnold. I had just seen him in the movies. I like him as an actor, but not as a governor. I'm scared. We don't know what's going to happen now. I wanted Bustamante.'' Jessica Miramontes, 21, at a Camarillo gas station Wednesday morning.
``This is like a joke to me. I'm so used to him just being an actor.'' Brenda Jones, 39, of Los Angeles on Schwarzenegger's election.
``We've got to have something new new innovations, that's what we need. ... Bring on Arnold. He'll fix it. Gray Davis is history. And it's just about time for Bustamante to get out, too.'' Jim Hall, working out at the 24 Hour Fitness Sport gym in Camarillo on Wednesday morning.
``People followed the bandwagon. People, they don't want to think for themselves.'' Yolanda Brown, 40, of Los Angeles, a Democrat who voted against the recall.
``It's time to mix things up.'' Mark Laurent, 33, of San Francisco, voting yes on recall and for Schwarzenegger.
``I'm horrified at the thought that Schwarzenegger can be our governor. I'm vociferously against Proposition 54. I'm sick of Republicans trying to take over the state.'' Gretchen Purser, 25, of Berkeley, voting no on recall and for Bustamante.
``I think emotionally he will restore confidence to the people of California. But secondly, because he has a mandate, I think the Legislature's going to work with him to make the kind of major cuts we need to make to get jobs back into California and to repeal all the stupid rules, laws and regulations that are antibusiness.'' Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan on Schwarzenegger's election.
``If I were 80 years old and couldn't see well I don't know how I would do this. It's a Neanderthal system.'' Daphne Calphon, of Hollywood, referring to the 135 names on her punch-card ballot.
``As far as I'm concerned, Gray Davis is one of the dirtiest politicians I've ever encountered.'' Ed Troupe, 69, of Thousand Oaks, voting yes for recall and for Schwarzenegger.
``Everybody knows that Gray Davis was a jerk, but I don't think that's cause to be recalled.'' Michael Mazzocone, 39, of San Francisco, voting no on recall.
``If he is elected, I would like him to talk about it and address it if not to me, then to his wife.'' Eda Zahl of Hollywood, voting yes on recall and for Schwarzenegger despite her concerns about allegations he groped more than a dozen women.
``I wish I could vote 16 times today. It's extremely scary what's happened to the state. To me he (Schwarzenegger) exemplifies a certain kind of violence and misogyny. There are so many reasons why he shouldn't be taken seriously as a candidate.'' Jesse Nissim, 27, of Oakland, voting against the recall and for Bustamante.
``There's no reason to recall a governor just because you don't like him. I don't like him myself, but he's no worse than Reagan, Deukmejian or other governors we've had.'' David Rosenberg, 50, of Oakland, voting no on the recall.
``I think we could be setting a dangerous precedent that other states might follow.'' Evelyn Collaco, 63, of San Ramon, who said she's no fan of Davis but was voting no on recall and for Bustamante.
``He is a politician and that's better than putting an actor in there.'' Tracey Hanson, 42, of San Ramon, voting for the recall and for Republican state Sen. Tom McClintock.
``We realized as time went on he didn't have the chance Schwarzenegger did.'' Mel Roop, 63, of McClintock's district in Thousand Oaks, voting for Schwarzenegger because he didn't want to split the GOP vote.
``Even though they are not legal, they should have the same rights because they are working here and building up this country. That's how we feel as Latinos. We should have more equality.'' Gregoria Guzman, 61, said in Spanish in San Diego, where she voted no on recall and for Bustamante.