Assessing Bill Simon

Orange County Register ^ | January 22, 2002 | Editors

[ElkGroveDan]

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon says he wants to be the candidate of ideas. Compared to others in the race, having laid out specific proposals about the California budget, economy, education and infrastructure, he can lay some claim to that title.

[DoughtyOne]

Fringe? Thanks for playing Dan. Don Pardo, what gifts do you have for our parting guest.

[Impeach98]

"to name a few. These are NOT people who endorse moderates. If the conservative leaders of this nation say Bill Simon is a conservative, then he pretty much is that."

Wow! Those were some powerful words, Dan!

[DoughtyOne]

William F. Buckely
Jack Kemp

I think it's interesting that you name a number of former Republican leaders for the state. Aren't you the least bit curious as to how this state came to be what it is today?

Those men supported Mr. Wonderlust Pete Wilson. Conservative voices? Please. Spare us.

[DoughtyOne]

Perhaps you can tell us what Simon's stance on Illegal Immigration is. As a conservative I'm sure he's strong on "LAW" and order right?

[absalom01]

Well, that's a step in the right direction! My worst-case scenario is to have the "conservative" vote split between three more-or-less OK candidates (Simon, Jones, and Jesson), and wind up with Riordan by default. As DoughtyOne notes in #16 above, a choice between Riordan and Davis is not much of a choice at all. I am willing to make incremental progress (look at what the left has done with this strategy over the years!), and think that an excess of purism hurts, rather than helps, conservative candidates. Also, I think that it's important to not just to agonize over "who to vote for". Fine, do that, but it's going to take more than that: donations, pounding the pavement, phone banking, the works. We all have our favorite issues, but the chance to get a pro-life governor in California is too important to pass up. There are many other critical issues as well (immigration, taxation, 2nd amendment, pro-family etc.), and this primary is a real opportunity to effect real change. Hence my concern, and hope.

For myself, now is the time to do what I can for the right candidate -- not just voting, but real support. All things being equal, Jesson would be my guy, but as noted above, the stakes are pretty high if he can't break through the haze and the media "cone of silence".

[Carry_Okie]

See #18.

[DoughtyOne]

Will he persue it?

The Governor of California should be impeached if within the first sixty days of taking office he hasn't called a special meeting of the western state's governors to address the issue of illegal immigration. The Governors of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas should join together to put the federal government on notice. Either it takes care of the border issue, or they would.

They could resort to using the national guard or they could call up their state troopers to enforce the sovereignty of their own borders. They are sworn to do so. Either they are fulfilling their sworn duty or not. If not, adios.

[Carry_Okie]

The Governors of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas should join together to put the federal government on notice. Either it takes care of the border issue, or they would.

I agree in principle, though upon the details I might differ depending upon logistics. Without sovereignty, our votes mean nothing. Certainly I would extend respect of the militia in the sense that property owners have every right to defend their land against encroachment.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks for the comments. To be sure there'd have to be adjustments made along the way. The concept I fronted would certainly have to be fleshed out.

[Gophack]

Jesson would be my guy, but as noted above, the stakes are pretty high if he can't break through the haze and the media "cone of silence".

Jesson is really an idiot. He thinks that we have a $200 billion surplus. Why? Because of PERS. That's right, the retirement that many state employees pay into with their OWN MONEY, he wants to take to balance the budget.

He wears pastel suits and doesn't understand the budget, finances, or the way the state works. While he may be pro-life and pro-gun -- two good things -- you need to also look at electability: would the people of California vote for a fiscal dufus in a pink suit? I don't think so.