You asked "whatever happened to Bill Jones?"
If he's disappeared off the radar enough for you to have to ask, then why do you expect me to know who he is?
Because up at #556 (as well as throughout this thread), you posted pretensions of knowing what you're talking about in regard to California politics, and the GOP's gubernatorial nomination of 2002...
Simon came up on Riordan because Gray Davis spent millions in advertising to influence conservatives in the Republican primary. The recall election is not a Republican primary.
Moderates cannot survive the primary and conservatives cannot survive the general election.
GOP moderates haven't survived at the top of the state ticket in the last four election cycles, either. I'm talking about Senatorial, Gubernatorial, and Presidential candidates. Why do you suppose that is? How does that impact your analysis? Can you name them?
Which faction within the GOP got this recall on the ballot, and which faction misjudged the public mood, and opposed this effort?
Which faction within the GOP got this recall on the ballot, and which faction misjudged the public mood, and opposed this effort? This is far from done playing out.
We won't know for sure the impact of the recall until the 2004 election.
If Swarzenegger wins, it will work out well for the Republicans' 2004 chances. If not causing a surge in Republican registrations, it will at the very least mute recall resentment among the general population.
If McClintock wins, it is hard to say what the effect on the general public will be. I know it will energize the liberal base to come out and vote against Republicans in 2004, though I think the general non-partisan voting public will take a "wait and see" attitude giving McClintock a chance to prove himself. This possibility is the hardest to gauge, as it will be a mixed bag.
If Simon wins, the total destruction of the Republican party within California will be completed.
Now obviously enough, only one of these possibilities can ultimately be proven, and there is still the chance that none of them get tested.