Simon slips

Mercury News ^ | 8/18/02

[NormsRevenge]

DEFEATING an incumbent governor is akin to climbing Mt. Whitney, doable but difficult. Bill Simon isn't gaining altitude; he spent the past two weeks marching down into Death Valley.

Simon's route to the governor's office is longer and steeper than it was when he startled the political world in March by snatching the Republican nomination away from the consensus favorite, former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan.

[A CA Guy]

What needs to be learned is to vote in the lesser of two evils until we get a winning candidate that has all the right views.
Until a good special politician comes along that can draw the vote for conservatism in a liberal state, we are left with voting for lesser evils.

Again, I don't like it, but it is what it is.

[A CA Guy]

LS, what I was telling everybody was Simon WHO?

He had no name or reputation.

As far as this civil suit, it was from what I understand, it was political in inspiration.

Everybody in California wanted to make the choice of picking the candidate with the mosty like minded views. Great in theory, usually a loss in politics.

I hope I am proven wrong.

[NEWwoman]

bump

[A CA Guy]

Yeah, you are quite right. Sad, but true~!

[evolved_rage]

Maybe it will be a short term for Davis. If Davis wins, he might run for Pres in '04 and make it far enough to resign as governor. I think it will depend on how much of his $40-$50 million he spends vs Simon, and how much he saves...Sure would be a fun pole-cat-fight to watch between the little-runt and Hildebeats.

[Doctor Stochastic]

We see this type of thing happening in both parties. There will be a weak incumbent and the other party will nominate the only candidate who can't win (or at leas one of the few). The GOP did this with Dole in 1996 and the Dems may do it with Gore in 2004 (unless the economy turns around.)

[evolved_rage]

Good point, but I bet Davis thinks he has GOT to run for Pres in '04 before Kalifornia explodes under a mountain of debt and social largesse--and we know he can't solve the fiscal problems. We just may have a short term governor--if he wins...

[A CA Guy]

Davis has no personality.

At most, he could hope for a VP nod with a strong candidate.

Worst Gov. CA ever had though.

[ladyinred]

This is just so disheartening. The party leaders in California are so disorganized, and he is just too nice to fight back against the evil Davis machine and all of his millions.
Isn't it amazing how Davis is the one with all of the money, but the RATS are for the little guy! How gullible are the citizens out there?

I am so disappointed in this campaign! We so need to get rid of Davis, he is bankrupting this state!

[dpwiener]

You are exactly correct. Simon is a weak candidate. I've heard him on talk radio here in the S.F. Bay Area and he comes across as a lightweight.

I heard Simon on a talk show (KFI radio in Los Angeles) earlier this evening, and that was exactly my impression. He was Mr. Dull, somewhat evasive in answering questions, and provided absolutely no reason for anyone to vote for him, other than that he wasn't Gray Davis. Of course, that's sufficient for a substantial minority of the electorate. But he already has their votes, and that's not a big enough slice of the voters to beat Davis.

As I've said before, this is the year a potted plant should have been able to beat Davis, even with all the millions in Davis' warchest. Instead the Republicans chose an unvetted amateur who looks like he's intent on failing the potted plant test.

[evolved_rage]

Agree, agree, agree. Davis is like a virulent Mr. Rogers with an abortion vacuum. But the pisher runs the 4th or 5th largest economy in the world. Somehow he got elected, and he seems to be winning again. And maybe he'll be a sacrificial democrat in the '04 scenario the good Doctor suggested--which again shortens his governorship (unless he pulls a lieberman...argh!)

I see a moving van in my future.

[A CA Guy]

No way, Davis came in on a good economy ride when the other Gov. had to retire.
If this were any untainted politician against Davis, Davis would be history.

[Commie Basher]

he might run for Pres in '04 and make it far enough to resign as governor.

Huh? Why would Davis resign as Guv unless he actually wins on a national ticket? Lloyd Bentson ran for both VP and Senator. And nobody expected Dole to resign from the Senate just because he was running for pres -- his decision shocked people.

[NEWwoman]

Davis is like a virulent Mr. Rogers with an abortion vacuum.

Good description. He just needs the sweater.

[skeeter]

Simon hasn't yet lost his chance to persuade voters he has something of substance to offer, but first he has to get his campaign headed uphill again.

Consider the source. The Mercury hates Simon & will go to the same lengths as the LA Times to see Davis is re-elected.

With disgusting pieces like this they think they can appear to remain impartial & still keep the smear machine rolling. Filthy rag.