The Lighting of the Christmas Tree is tomorrow night (December 2nd) at 4:30PM at the State Capitol. That's the Christmas Tree, not the Holiday Tree.

This brings back such good memories for all of us at 1380 KTKZ.

Last year at this time, we were coming down off of the recall high. It was hard to believe we actually had a new Governor in the corner office.

Around 1380 KTKZ we were just exhausted; we were all over the map following the recall. And while the recall started on KTKZ, (February 4, 2003 at 6:06AM, when Ted Costa appeared on my morning show first, asking for signatures on the petition to recall and had all the signatures to begin the needed preparations before the show was over), it was never about Me or the station - this was the People's Recall of Gray Davis.

We did our yeoman's duty and provided a conduit of information that hundreds of media outlets like MSNBC, Fox News, NY Times, LA Times and the National Review all recognized during the campaign. We gave the early platform for the recall; while everyone else - even the California GOP - was calling it a crackpot scheme.

But that was our job as an activist morning radio show in the "Belly of the Beast" of Sacramento. We watched the trends, we read the tea leaves, and we knew (supported) the recall as the real deal. We were the conduit for the informed minds...but we take no credit. It was, and always will be, your recall, the people of California.

After it was all over, and Governor Schwarzenegger was in office, numerous folks called us with congratulations and thanks...and gave us way too much credit.

Yet in the end, for the small role that 1380 KTKZ played, we did ask for one thing.

After five years of Governor Gray Davis actively working to politically-correct the state's recognition of Christmas we thought it was time to correct the politically (intolerant) correct agenda!

Gray Davis named the annual Christmas Tree - "The Holiday Tree", and we were tired of the slap. Sharon Davis, at the tree-lighting ceremony in 2002 asked children the question; "Who's the most important person when it comes to Christmas", and the answer was Santa Claus. What an embarrassment for the Golden State that has its roots in the Catholic Missions up and down the coast.

All I wanted - all the 1380 KTKZ listeners wanted and asked for from our new Governor - was to return the state to recognition of Christmas. To call the Christmas Tree a Christmas Tree, not a ridiculous Holiday Tree. And Arnold came through for all of us.

Today he is still coming through, releasing the schedule for the lighting of the 2004 Christmas Tree tomorrow night at the Capitol and calling it nothing but the Christmas Tree in the official governor's press released this morning (December 1, 2004).

I know we all have issues with Arnold. He's more of a fiscal conservative and social moderate than some would like. He's pushing the edges of the Republican Party big tent out to the left and it bothers the conservatives of the party.

But say what you will about this governor, Arnold cares enough to call the Christmas Tree a Christmas Tree and in this state where the Declaration of Independence is banned (because of the mention of a Creator) from a public classroom - that means something.

Can there be a more powerful 'symbol' of just what dire fate we escaped as a state? The fate of being subject to a weak-willed, morally bankrupt, win-at-all-cost, cow-tow to the progressive-left Gray Davis?

The California state Christmas Tree is back and instead of some dour, low-key ceremony intended to please the unionized state workers; it's a big deal celebration for all of us.

Thank you Governor Schwarzenegger for NOT being afraid to recognize the Christ in Christmas.

Just for fun...pack some hot chocolate and take a family trip to the Capitol Mall tonight, for a beautiful sight. Take part in the lighting of California's Christmas Tree.

Merry Christmas from the Hogue Show on 1380 KTKZ