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Villaraigosa faces steep climb to California's top job
LA Times ^ | 11/26/07 | Duke Helfand

Posted on 11/26/2007 9:12:12 AM PST by NormsRevenge

Last year at this time, Democratic Party loyalists saw Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as the early favorite to succeed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Not any more.

The collapse of Villaraigosa's effort to gain substantial control of Los Angeles public schools, followed by revelations of an extramarital affair, have opened the door to others -- most notably Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown.

Beyond those setbacks and self-inflicted wounds, Villaraigosa faces timing problems that could severely complicate any attempt to become California's first Latino governor in more than a century.

Because the 2010 governor's race follows closely behind the 2009 mayoral election, Villaraigosa would have to wage simultaneous campaigns, raising questions about whether his primary allegiance is to the city or the state.

That could alienate voters and scare away financial backers who would be courted by other potential Democratic gubernatorial candidates, including Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, state Treasurer Bill Lockyer, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, former Controller Steve Westly and Supt. of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell.

Villaraigosa's viability has been a topic of conversation for months among Democratic insiders and political scientists. Just last week, the California Majority Report, a Sacramento blog, dropped Villaraigosa in its rankings from first place to fourth behind Brown, Newsom and Garamendi.

--snip--

Villaraigosa said he is too busy running Los Angeles to think about the governor's race.

Although as mayor he has been criticized for casting broad visions more than producing concrete results, Villaraigosa points to what he considers important successes: cutting the city's budget deficit amid declining revenues, securing state bond money to synchronize street lights, taking steps to reduce pollution at the city's busy port and gaining a trash fee hike to hire 1,000 new officers for the Los Angeles Police Department.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Politics/Elections; US: California; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: california; immigration; la; losangeles; steepclimb; topjob; villaraigosa
He's busy cleaning the streets and filling potholes, yaknow..


1 posted on 11/26/2007 9:12:14 AM PST by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge
Ironic. In a one party Blue State where the Dems have a deep farm bench, it should be smooth roses to the Governorship for Villaraigosa. Instead, its a road filled with potholes and thorns - largely of his own making.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

2 posted on 11/26/2007 9:14:15 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: NormsRevenge

JMO, but I believe the first Latino governor of CA is more likely to be conservative (or, at least, positioned as such) than a standard-issue liberal like Villar.


3 posted on 11/26/2007 9:14:40 AM PST by pogo101
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His ride to the WH as a cabinet secretary..

what do ya think?

He'd make a great secretary dealing with foreign affairs and he sure knows how to handle the media. eh?

4 posted on 11/26/2007 9:15:11 AM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline —1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRGeT)
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To: NormsRevenge
California Majority Report, a Sacramento blog, dropped Villaraigosa in its rankings from first place to fourth behind Brown, Newsom and Garamendi.

THESE are the front-runners that will run Cali after Arnie leaves?

Looks like I left that cesspool just in time. I can't see how Brown can be gov again, and to have commie hacks like Newsom and Garamendi even mentioned seriously does not bode well for the DPRK (Demokratik People's Republik of Kalifornistan).
5 posted on 11/26/2007 9:17:11 AM PST by OCCASparky (Steely-Eyed Killer of the Deep)
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To: NormsRevenge; All

Walter Moore is a decent challenger to the Mayor’s office.

http://web.mac.com/waltermoore/WalterMooreForMayor/Home.html

Walter Moore For Mayor

Los Angeles - March 2009

Los Angeles can and should be the envy of the world. Instead, America’s second-biggest city is a Third World disaster, and gets worse each day.

We can’t afford four more years of a mayor who spends all his time running for the next office, staging photo-ops and going on out-of-town trips. We need a competent, full-time working mayor who takes the job seriously, not a career politician. We need a mayor to represent tax-paying American citizens, not illegal aliens. Villaraigosa must go.

That’s where I come in. My name is Walter Moore and I’m running for mayor of L.A. right now. I’m not a career politician. I work for a living. I’m a 48-year-old business trial lawyer and a licensed real estate broker.

I graduated with honors from Princeton University and Georgetown Law, and have a degree in Public and International Affairs. My platform sets forth specific policy proposals on illegal aliens, traffic, crime, excessive taxes, over-crowding, and a raft of other problems.

Meanwhile, Villaraigosa is campaigning, week after week, unopposed and unchallenged, by staging an endless series of photo-ops to create the illusion of progress. We need to raise the money now, so we can get the media coverage necessary to counter Villaraigosa’s continuous campaign.[snip]


6 posted on 11/26/2007 9:18:31 AM PST by AuntB (" It takes more than walking across the border to be an American." Duncan Hunter)
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To: OCCASparky
A Democrat will be California's next Governor. A conservative Republican has no chance for a statewide win given California's Dem-leaning demographics.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

7 posted on 11/26/2007 9:19:50 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: goldstategop
I don’t know ... pandering to illegals, extramarital affairs, driving LA budget to a $300 million deficit in 2-years ... sounds like he’s shown his qualifications quite nicely.

Just call him Arnoldo.

8 posted on 11/26/2007 9:21:15 AM PST by keat (You know who I feel bad for? Arab-Americans who truly want to get into crop-dusting.)
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To: OCCASparky

mindblowing huh?

Moonbeam, kid Mayor aka Gastric Nuisance and Garamendi the i word

Yeah, it really makes ya wonder about why so many folks here are screwed up and see them as good choices.. it pays to private school or home school your kid, you see what mush breeds.

as to the next Gub, anything less than a Tom Mc or a Ray Haynes won’t do ..


9 posted on 11/26/2007 9:22:17 AM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline —1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRGeT)
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To: goldstategop

The mayor could probably be elected to the U.S. Senate. Two of the last three U.S. senators, from Calif., were mayors. Diane Feinsten was a mayor of San Fransisco, and Pete Wilson was a mayor of San Diego. The exception is Barbara Boxer, who was a U.S. rep. If Boxer doesn’t run in 2010, the mayor could replace her.


10 posted on 11/26/2007 9:25:49 AM PST by PhilCollins
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To: NormsRevenge

The nimrod will declare Los Angeles County the new northern most territory of Mexico as The State of Stupido and be its mayor...Carry on Tony!


11 posted on 11/26/2007 9:36:07 AM PST by AngelesCrestHighway
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To: PhilCollins

Good point,, DiFi ‘shot’ her way to the top, Pete as well. I’m sure kid Mayor would enjoy the opportunity, sooner not later. just one more step on the way to the WH.

getting Babs out would be a double reward, gets her out of office and him out of the state most of the time. not much of a silver lining, but Hey.. we have survived worse..


12 posted on 11/26/2007 9:39:04 AM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline —1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRGeT)
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To: goldstategop

Mr. Azatlan should not have a chance!


13 posted on 11/26/2007 10:30:30 AM PST by CPT Clay (Drill ANWR, Personal Accounts NOW , Vote Hunter in the Primary)
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To: NormsRevenge

I thought Geraldo Rivera was a preening showboat until Mayor Photo-op took office. Rivera is a self-effacing shrinking violet by comparison.


14 posted on 11/26/2007 10:40:03 AM PST by John Jorsett (scam never sleeps)
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To: AuntB

Hey Auntie,

Walter Moore is the answer for LA. I keep a sailboat in Marina del Rey in LA. Walter had a boat 50 feet from mine. He sold it a few months ago. Anyway I have spoken with him. I just walked over and told him I knew who he was & that I agreed with him. He is the real deal, he wants the illegals out and is outspoken about it. If he can get the funding (he is getting close) he will tear Villaraigosa a new one in any debate.

Regards


15 posted on 11/26/2007 12:11:51 PM PST by ARE SOLE (Agents Ramos and Campean are in prison at this very moment.. (A "Concerned Citizen".)
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To: ARE SOLE

Good to hear you know Moore. Terry Anderson has had him on his LA show several times.

You can hear the audio.

http://www.theterryandersonshow.com/PAST-SHOWS/070914.html


16 posted on 11/26/2007 2:38:49 PM PST by AuntB (" It takes more than walking across the border to be an American." Duncan Hunter)
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To: NormsRevenge

Now there’s a real Hobson’s choice! Villa-LaRaza or former Gov. Moonbeam. I think I’ll go vomit.


17 posted on 11/26/2007 2:42:41 PM PST by Bernard Marx
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To: Bernard Marx

it’s not so bad if Moonbeam was rehabilitated .. but he ain’t .. he’s just more recycled ol’ style BS. the dems abound in it.


18 posted on 11/26/2007 3:28:09 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline —1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRGeT)
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To: ARE SOLE
If he can get the funding (he is getting close) he will tear Villaraigosa a new one in any debate.

Yes, but sadly the MEChA crowd and the MSM will paint him as a xenophobic racist and the unions will jam (literally) tens of millions of dollars against him like they did Arnie the RINO.

CA is a lost cause. Get out while you can and we'll set the charges off at the faultline. Beachfront property in Barstow? Not a bad idea, really.
19 posted on 11/27/2007 5:27:54 AM PST by OCCASparky (Steely-Eyed Killer of the Deep)
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