In my new City Journal article, I argue that California Gov. Jerry Brown, despite his odd persona and interesting pronouncements, has been governing in a manner not very different than any number of previous California governors. He is a conventional politician despite the reputation and despite the vast support he receives from public sector unions:
"He's not much different than Schwarzenegger, who repeatedly caved to public-employee unions and signed aggressive environmental legislation but mostly rejected "job-killer" bills too ridiculous even for California. Conservatives' enduring tolerance for Brown stems largely from the hope that he could still do the unexpected. Brown might yet take on the public-employee unions, even though they spent $30 million on his behalf to help win back the governorship. Brown might close the gaping budget deficit. Brown might actually be, as many reporters described him last year, the "Nixon goes to China" governor who reforms public-employee pensions."
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