Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger flexed political muscle in getting California voters to approve Propositions 57 and 58.

* Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger flexed political muscle in getting California voters to approve Propositions 57 and 58. These paired initiatives allow the state to borrow $15 billion to help close its budget shortfall, and impose new spending limits so that California will never--one hopes--fall into such a fiscal abyss again. Both trailed in the polls before Arnold barnstormed the state. But massive borrowing against a promise to behave better in the future is like going on a last bender the day before entering rehab. The spending limit is weak, and the pressure is off the legislature to face up to serious spending cuts now. Democrats hope Schwarzenegger's popularity will begin to wane and make it necessary for him to agree to a tax increase. In backing the bond initiative, Arnold chose the path of least resistance. If he really wanted to bring pressure on Democrats, instead of emphasizing "bipartisan cooperation" he would begin collecting signatures for an initiative to overturn the partisan gerrymander that assures Democrats of an unassailable majority in the legislature. That would be a real muscle-builder for California conservatives.