State Democrats (CA) recall lessons of Florida

SF Chronicle ^ | 6/30/03 | Robert Salladay

[randita]

Sacramento -- When the 2000 presidential election melted down in Florida, Democrats were admittedly exhausted, caught off guard and outmaneuvered by Republicans. Now, Democrats are applying the lessons they learned 3,000 miles away to the potential recall of Gov. Gray Davis.

[randita]

Sheesh. They're still reliving Florida. No wonder they're destined for the ash heap.

[IGOTMINE]

Caught off guard my a**! They're the ones that had legions of lawyers in the air before the polls closed. They're the ones that had a telemarketing company fostering complaints from the geezers. (Hmmm. I wonder if that was the real impetus behind the "do not call" list?)

[goldstategop]

This the best news yet. I want them to go overboard and paint every Californian as a member of the VRWC and make sure no one mentions the white elephant in the room: California's being bankrupt. In truth, the Democrats are so frightened of a recall that five liberals published a missive in Sunday's Los Angeles Times Opinion section op-ed page literally begging President Bush to thwart the recall. Far from being confident, the Democrats are running scared and they're spooked by Florida Redux.

[MonroeDNA]

They also projected Gore for Florida, before the panhandle voting had closed. This drove away many republicans who hadn't voted yet.

What a crock of spin.

[goldstategop]

The shoe is on the other foot. The Democrats may paint themselves into a corner by blithely assuming that if they can scare Democrats into turning out to vote for Gray Davis, he can win. It just might backfire by making Republicans even more motivated than ever to get rid of him. I hope they keep it up.

[hellinahandcart]

Woof! Talk about your revisionist history...do they think no one remembers what happened in 2000?

Sheesh. They're still reliving Florida

No, they're trying to fine-tune the myth.

[goldstategop]

They've never forgotten and never forgiven after the thrashing they took last year. Its Floriduh 4eavah with the liberals.

[TontoKowalski]

When the 2000 presidential election melted down in Florida, Democrats were admittedly exhausted, caught off guard and outmaneuvered by Republicans.

Actually, they were just wrong, morally and within the framework of the law. Being halfwitted had nothing to do with why they lost.

Davis is being advised on the recall by two Democratic operatives, Chris Lehane and Peter Ragone

I did not know that. I'm more confident than ever that Davis will be booted.

[Miss Marple]

I wonder myself. Although political calls are exempt, I think a case could be made that after the polls close, one is no longer campaigning and calls would be telemarketing for trial attorneys.

[goldstategop]

One of the Masters Of Disaster: Chris Lehane. Off the top my head there was the other fellow but I can't place him at the moment.

[TontoKowalski]

Miss M, did you know that Chris Lehane was advising Davis on thwarting the recall? Isn't that a hoot.

Davis should start packing his bags.

[goldstategop]

Even Garry South doesn't want to get involved, which should tell you how he thinks this is going to turn out and he doesn't want his name associated with it. Its got L-O-S-E-R written all over.

[TontoKowalski]

You're more smarter than me. Who is Garry South?

[goldstategop]

One of Davis' political consultants. He's never lost an election for the Dems yet and he's sitting this one out.

[Rensselaer]

Exactly. Caught off guard! Talk about revisionist history. They were flying people down in planes on Wednesday after the elections. It was the Republicans who were caught off guard - they just assumed it would be a nice quiet recount, run the ballots through the machines again according to state law. Such recounts rarely change a thing, and the Republicans couldn't imagine that Gore was going to try to steal the election.

[goldstategop]

This on the other hand IS a recall election. Silly me. And here I was thinking the Democrats were one and all for democracy.

[Miss Marple]

Ah, the repellant Chris Lehane, one of the brilliant advisors of the Gore campaign and who is also, I believe, working for Kerry.

Why are we afflicted with these people? I seem to remember that Davis has had Lehane on his payroll for some time. Lehane probably crafted the brilliant energy strategy (the one where they ran up the bills and then asked Bush to bail them out). Lehane is a poisonous little creep, and I support the recall in California if for no other reason than that Lehane would have another major loss hung around his neck.

[Miss Marple]

I always find visuals helpful. For those who can't quite place Lehane, here is a mug shot:

Eddie Munster lives!

[JohnEBoy]

Maybe I'm not seeing the whole picture, but this seems like a pretty good situation for the Republican party. They are now acting like Republicans by refusing to authorize a budget that includes tax increases. And if the Democrats do thwart the recall effort, well great, then let good ole Gray-Out take care of the problem! It's the same as last Nov., Simon lost, so at least he can't be blamed for the current problems. Also, it seems that at some time, someone will be forced to have to deal with the illegal alien problem.

[TontoKowalski]

Aaaaack! The photo was below the belt! It's too early on Monday for that!

Agree in total with your description of Lehane as a "poisonous little creep."

California is turning into a three-ring circus (well, even more than it usually is). I confess that I don't know quite what to make of it, although I disagree with those who want to let Davis off the hook so he can further sink the state and discredit democrats.

Country (and in this case, State) comes before politics. While it may be politically smart to let Davis continue to mire the State, it's just not the right to do...

Now, if only Sidney Blumenthal would join the Davis team, you'd have a tough time finding words to describe the situation. "Poisonous little creep" wouldn't begin to do him justice.