Given your pix its hard to believe that they didn't see this coming. However, never underestimate the ability of the boss not to see what they don't want to see.
I know a couple of people who have gone through the same process in the past year and it went fine for them. There are some - not enough, but some - protections in place in Cali, still, given the economy its hard to argue with a company's claim that the firing was for 'financial reasons.' Still, its a weird economy, while I know a lot of people who have no job, and can't find one at all, the people I know who have jobs are working more and making more then they ever did before - which is weird.
But you seem clear headed, educated, and aware, most companies are looking for that.