FOR GRAY DAVIS, old habits die hard. A day after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals postponed the October 7 recall, the California Association of Highway Patrolmen donated an estimated $50,000 to the governor. That was four days after the legislature approved a new contract–negotiated by the Davis administration–giving CHP officers one extra day per month of vacation or personal leave instead of a 5 percent raise. Recall or not, it’s business as usual for California’s pay-for-play governor.

Life isn’t as predictable for liberal special interests looking to profit from Davis’s weakened political standing. Before the 9th Circuit intervened, the left had Davis over a barrel. Facing recall in a special election, the Democratic governor needed every left-leaning vote he could find to help offset a strong turnout by angry conservatives. That explains Davis’s willingness to sign a bill granting drivers’ licenses to illegal immigrants after twice vetoing the measure.