[bonesmccoy]

NO!

You guys don't get it.

The Democrats are shoring up support in San Diego, San Bernardino, Ventura, and LA County by playing the sympathy.

The issue is that there are on the SCENE and IN PERSON.

The voters don't realize that the democrat politicians keep voting for higher taxes and screw up the manufacturing base.

They don't care that the politician is vetoeing funding for emergency services.

They only want to see the guy in person taking command.

Davis has done exactly that in the last 24 hours.

He may be on his way out... but where's Arnold and George been?

NO WHERE.

I'm saying that the GOP needs to get real and get in person in front of the voters and the cameras.

[GOPrincess]

Well, do you think it's that they're on the *scene* or that they're on TV? (Tangentially on the scene, i.e., the San Bernardino Airport.) To me it seems more about message than presence. I definitely agree the Dems are using this to grandstand, based on what I have heard here today. I know there is a sector of the public (those that tend to vote Dem) that will uncritically buy what the Dems are dishing out, but I hope there's a *leetle* more to it than that. What about Bush maybe getting on TV in person and not only outlining the help but explaining exactly *why* he's not coming out right now?

On the other hand, I agree with you, I think we definitely should be seeing/hearing from the man who will be governor in a few days/weeks. We need to know how he would lead during this contrasted with Davis. To me it seems like it's almost more an issue of Arnold v. Davis than Bush v. Davis...and if Arnold does well, that bodes well for Bush down the line...

[Trampled by Lambs]

"NO! You guys don't get it. The Democrats are shoring up support in San Diego, San Bernardino, Ventura, and LA County by playing the sympathy."

Excuse me but that is bull. I mean, that may be indeed what Grey & co. are doing but it has little effect on the people here. Listen, I've been in the middle of this thing for over 24 hours now. The last thing people here (San Diego) are worried about is politics. People here want two things - for the fire to be out and, if they've lost their homes, help.

Bush has no reason to come here. This is a disaster like we haven't seen in many years if ever, not a campaigning opportunity.

[Lady Heron]

NO! You guys don't get it. The Democrats are shoring up support in San Diego, San Bernardino, Ventura, and LA County by playing the sympathy.

I know that you are worried about what the dems are doing, but I think that the voters have wised up to them and are no where near as easily gulled. Look what we have been witnessing in the last several years. Most of what they have tried to pull has come back to bite them hard. If what they are saying is true about the military waiting for Davis to call them so that they can help out fighting the fire, it is the dems that are going once again to be seen as hurting people for political gain. In that case I would not I would not want to be a dem in California in the next several months.