I am against the recall of Gray Davis in California- I think there should be criminal behavior before an elected official should be kicked out of office. Please spare me the will of the people crap- sometimes those governing have to make tough decisions, and I want them relatively free to do so without feeling the immediate emotions of the population. Regardless of my opinions, it is clear the NY Times is against the recall. Otherwise, why else would they be doing Gray Davis’s hatchet work:
Backer of California Recall Feels Heat Directed at Him By CHARLIE LeDUFF
Darrell Issa, the millionaire congressman who is bankrolling the effort to recall Gov. Gray Davis, is facing nagging questions about two arrests for car theft in his youth.
This is front page news from the paper of record? A smear campaign launched by Davis and his lawyers? C’mon.
cs
From the article:
…”He might as well have tattoos on his arms,” said Bob Mulholland, a campaign adviser to the California Democratic Party. “Arson, car thefts, gun charges…
So he’s implying that tatoo-wearers are criminals? It almost seems like the Democratic party in California is alienating people on purpose these days.
(And I’m not one of those Republicans who likes to gloat about what idots the Democrats are, I’m a Democrat formerly from CA)
Andrew Lazarus
Actually, the NYT piece was much more balanced than the SF Chronicle (which is not all that liberal a paper). The Chronicle acted as a mere conduit for the anti-recall forces’ oppo team.
I think Issa inspires a strong negative reaction, not just because we resent the Republicans’ planning a mulligan after their November defeat, which applies to the party *as a whole*, but even more that under the clumsy recall rules, *Issa* could ride it to the governor’s office. In a normal election (following a primary), Issa’s support would top out at 40%. He would be an exceptionally WEAK Republican candidate.
And I don’t think Gray Davis is a very good governor, although I voted for him every time (and, sigh, will again).
Mason
I don’t have any issue with the recall election (and wouldn’t if it was a GOP incumbent). It IS the will of the voters, and it is also the law. Considering how long this has been in motion, I don’t see much in the way of immediacy either. If recall elections get out of hand, you can bet the laws will be changed and the bar raised so it isn’t as “easy” to have one.
David Perron
I’m a little unclear about how a recall of a Democratic governor in a predominantly Democratic state can be termed a “mulligan”. My own private theory is Democrats like Andrew voted for a sure loser so they could claim Republicans took a “mulligan” on recall.
I’d prefer for CA to have to keep Davis for the remainder of the term, but that’s their business and not mine.
Andrew Lazarus
What to you mean, it’s not a mulligan? Davis defeated the GOP candidate in 2002 (by less than he should have), so now the GOP files recall papers. The Republicans are using the recall statute (which was intended for corruption or criminality) as a REVERSE Parliamentary system, where the OPPOSITION party picks the time of the next election for maximum benefit.
Perhaps your timeline is off: the recall drive (obviously) POST-DATES the 11/02 election, and like millions of others, I voted for Davis not as a “sure loser”, but because we preferred him to Simon. The truth is, I’m not sure Davis is a sure loser even now, especially if he can run another scare campaign against right-wingers Issa and Simon. If anyone more mainstream is on the ballot, his chances are much worse.
David Perron
Work on reading comprehension, Andrew. Try and absorb what I actually said, rather than what you’re sure I must have said.
Daniel Machado
actually 1.8 million registered voters in CA want to recall Davis. Not the republicans (athough they funded it and support it).
David Perron
And I’m sure the recall has absolutely nothing to do with that Davis is a colossal fuckup, as governor. Else there’d be recalls of Democratic governors all around the country. Because, you know, us Republicans is all evilly rich.
womanllee
I personally gathered over 50 signatures on the recall petition and Issa hasn’t given me a cent. I did this on my own. I would guess that a good amount of signatures collected were from regular people like me, fed up with the mismanagement of our tax dollars. Gray Davis has tripled our car tax..California went from a surplus to a record $34.8 billion deficit during his watch. When companies go bankrupt, the CEO takes the blame. In covering up deficits and cooking the books just like Enron-type accounting, Gray Davis has brought this state to bankruptcy. This is not a Republican / Democrat issue. Californians are fed up with his out of control spending. He is a sleazey, lying, power-hungry polititian. He needs to go. 1.6 Million Petitions Collected, now awaiting certification. The people have spoken.
bear, the (one each)
Womanllee: it would be interesting to know the percentage of folks like yourself who circulated the petition and the paid canvassers who stood outside Walmart and Vons.
I despise Davis, and did not vote for him in the last election or the one before that. He’s a viscious man and an incompetent.
That being said, I also see this as being a play by Issa to get into office by a back-door means. He’s been running Issa-for-Guv ads on the talk radio stations for quite a while, and that stinks. He presumes that he can just sail into Sacramento at will.
Issa also makes me uncomfortable in that he looks like another Kennedy or a Mike Bloomberg: some rich guy wants a public office to play with, something to do as a hobby. I’ve nothing against wealth in the slightest, but DO take issue with people who see public service as a plaything.
I will vote FOR the recall based on the sheer numbers of petitions that got signed and verified: even Issa can’t buy that many signatures. But I will NOT vote for Issa.
Sweet Lou
The Economist had a piece some months ago about how California, once the vnaguard of new ideas, had fallen out of its place of leadership.
Good or bad, this recall seems like a refutation of that piece, and evidence that California is still a cutting-edge testbed for political philosophy Certainly other states will view the proceedings with interest.
womanllee
We have a few choices besides Issa in this..It looks like Arnold is going to throw his hat in the ring..California..get ready for a wild ride! Davis is already cooking up a slimy scheme to get a judge to appoint his successor, once again disregarding the voice of the people.
Andrew Lazarus
David, how many states have recall and Democratic governors? My guess is less than five.
I have read your comment many times. The Republicans ran Simon; they lost. Issa didn’t even enter a primary. Now Davis looks weaker (mind you, I’m not enamored of his performance myself), so they decide to re-run the election. And that’s a mulligan: we’ll just throw out the 11/02 election and try again.
I wonder, if Issa (or Simon) wins, how long before the Democrats launch a recall campaign against HIM. The the NEXT recall election, they will run a candidate, what a mess?!
Kirkeby
It’s the legislature’s fault. Poor Davis tried, but the legislature really deserves the blame.
Baloney!!!!
Legislatures are dominated by special interest and local issues. It is the executive that makes our system works and Davis is a weak, incompetent, possibly corrupt leader that can’t or won’t protect CA from the excesses of the legislature. Recall the SOB.
PartyPooped
The recall is a fiasco–primarily motivated by Rep and Dem interests. It would be a wonderful day if the voters of CA stepped out in force as the
trendsetters they are reputed to be. What a coup to have the recall race concluded with the election of an Independent candidate. I’m considering voting for Arianna Huffington for just this reason. She’ll be bogged down by training for the first 6 months, but imagine if she had the opportunity to change one significant injustice during her abbreviated term!
Victor
Can somebody expose private detailed information about that homosexual mobster spokesperson of california democrats Bob Mulholland?