The 2003 California Recall - PART II: Gray Davis’ Judgment Day and the Rolling Blackouts Year 2000 Fix

The plot thickens in the story of California’s 2003 Gubernatorial Recall and ENRON has plenty to contribute! For Part II, Jordan rewinds to 2000 – the year a series of blackouts hit California. Was it at all suspicious that these blackouts occurred at the same time ENRON (and several other energy companies) made obscene profits selling high-priced energy back to California? Governor Gray Davis struggled to prove this, so the energy-deprived public blamed him!

Explored in this episode: ENRON’s shameless energy trading schemes, the Bush Administration’s complicity, and the day Enron Chairman Ken Lay courted a certain action movie-star to take over the Golden State.

Stay tuned for Part III, where YEAR 2000 FIX will exclusively analyze the 2003 Recall and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s successful gubernatorial campaign.

Message YEAR 2000 FIX on Anchor here!

SELECTED WORKS CITED:

Part I on ENRON’s bankruptcy and ties to the Bush Administration

Info on the 2005 Documentary ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM. I’m sure you can find this on Netflix.

National Geographic Study on CA Blackouts

Timeline of Blackouts

Gray Davis’ advisor, David Freeman, testimony on the energy crisis

World Socialist Website on ENRON’s schemes. Also, see here.

CBS News Report on ENRON’s schemes

Selected audio of Enron’s traders. See here for “Grandma Millie” call.

PROJECT CENSORED on Arnold Schwarzenegger meeting Ken Lay. Also, see here. And here. And here.

Aftermath of “Honest” Tim Belden

Governor Gray Davis’ interview with FRONTLINE

Article on the current state of CA Energy Policy

Legacy of 2003 Recall