Recall Sucking Oxygen From California Senate Race (Davis recall helps Boxer)

Roll Call ^ | 6/12/03 | Josh Kurtz

[Rensselaer]

A meeting this weekend of 400 California Republican moderates was supposed to be a showcase for the party’s potential 2004 Senate contenders, culminating in a straw poll to bless a favorite.

Instead, the confab in the hills above Santa Barbara is likely to be dominated by talk of the effort to recall California Gov. Gray Davis (D).

Three potential Senate candidates are still scheduled to address the Brooks Firestone Republican Weekend, an annual event organized by Firestone, a former state Assemblyman and wealthy GOP power broker. But the straw poll has been scotched.

And now, two conservative politicians closely associated with the recall drive — Rep. Darrell Issa (R) and businessman Bill Simon, the GOP’s gubernatorial nominee in 2002 — have been granted speaking slots. While hardly the favorites of party moderates, both are considered likely candidates for governor if a recall election winds up on the ballot.

“We don’t exclude anybody who wants to talk to our people,” said Brandon Gesicki, a California GOP consultant who works with Firestone.

But the urgency of the discussion about the recall highlights a dilemma for Golden State and national Republicans as they seek a strong challenger to two-term Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) next year: The recall could wind up drowning the Senate race out completely.

“The recall’s affecting everything in California politics,” said Dan Schnur, a Sacramento-based GOP strategist who is advising one potential Senate candidate, Rep. George Radanovich (R-Calif.). “There’s no reason the Senate race should be an exception.”

...

“The Senate candidate will not receive any attention while the recall is on — that much is a given,” said one Sacramento-based GOP operative. “It could also affect fundraising.”

That’s not insignificant for a race where the Republican nominee will probably need $20 million to be competitive.

...

[kellynla]

Maybe you best stay home and watch the adults remove the Dimwit Davis. You obviously have not been paying attention. First, whoever beats Davis will have the line item veto. There is absolutely no reason to raise taxes or fees. If you had been paying attention you would know that if the budget is cut ten percent off the top from what it was in 1998 within two years the budget would be balanced. The problem is not revenue. The problem is that the morons in Sacramento have been spending more than the state has been bringing in. The overwhelming majority of people in this state who pay taxes are not concerned about the liberal agenda. There is absolutely no one in this state who wants a place to stay that cannot get one. I know because I have been providing food, shelter and clothing for the destitute for decades. So you can take that homeless BS and stick it where the sun doesn't shine. Every day the Dimwit Davis is in office he is spending THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS more than the state is bringing in. The Dimwit lied before the election about the budget deficit and he lied about not raising taxes and fees. The liberals have run this state into the ground while making it practically impossible for businesses to prosper. Maybe you should run back to the Dimwit Davis' office and tell him to start packing. Because he is toast and it is time for the GOP to again clean up the mess that the Dimwit keg party has left in Sacramento as we have been doing in this country for over fifty years.

[Torie]

That's the move. If Davis thinks he will lose, he will do a Torch. He will do it just for you. You watch, if the circumstances are right. Your only hope is that it is a tight race, and Davis thinks he as a reasonable shot, but comes up a bit short. If it looks like a blowout, it is Governor Bustamonte, and except the tax raises, all kinds of stuff will be passed that Davis vetoed, or said he would veto, and thus it died, that won't be repealed for a long time.

[bonesmccoy]

ARNOLD S. FOR US SENATE!

Attention all voters: Lower Taxes!

[bonesmccoy]

WHAT?

Hell no!

This recall is excellent!

The new GOP Gov. will be capable of garnering much media attention in Sacramento. He will be able to blame the RAT infested Assembly and Senate for much, and he will blame Davis for the rest.

By the time the guy takes office, the economy will turn around and will start to grow. We'll end up with Davis taking the political heat in the next 5 months and then have the new GOP gov. turn the state around in the next 12 months.

If so, the GOP looks sweet going into the US Senate race with DiFi. A new, younger candidate should do well against the older Democrat fossilization that will be the comparison.

I urge the California GOP to consider running a moderate like Arnold for US Senate. That will put Arnold back in Washington where he can serve as a moderate foil to the more conservative congressmen.

You guys also are expecting the RATS to run DiFi for governor. In order for that to occur, DiFi has to file with Bustamante. Do you really believe that DiFi will file and Bustamante will pass by his opportunity to be the first Latino Gov. of California since the 1840's????

I DOUBT IT.

Bustamante es no el stupido. DIFI is dreaming if she thinks she can walk into California and placate Bustamante's team. The liberals need to get real. The liberals need the asians, blacks, and hispanics more than the asian, blacks, and hispanics need the liberals.

[bonesmccoy]

[Pubbie]

"Boxer is only a few points ahead of Pete Wilson."

Good Lord, do you know if Pete Wilson is looking at running?

I hope so, because the only other person that could beat Boxer is Ahhnold, but he looks set to run for Governor.

I would very much like to see Pete Wilson run, especially since the California Democrat party will, in all likelyhood, still be in bad shape due to the recall in 2004.

[Paleo Conservative]

If so, the GOP looks sweet going into the US Senate race with DiFi. A new, younger candidate should do well against the older Democrat fossilization that will be the comparison.

Normally I am fascinated by fossils but not fossil politcians.

[kellynla]

Pete Wilson? The only running Pete Wilson is doing is his mouth. We are running new models in '04 not retreads. Chris Cox is the best conservative candidate in the state to KNOCKOUT BOXER in '04. No has-beens and no actors, we need the real deal to pull CA out of the liberal abyss and Cox has the goods.

[absalom01]

That's the move. If Davis thinks he will lose, he will do a Torch. He will do it just for you.

Oh, no! Torie has seen what everyone else has missed! I need to get all of those petitions back that I've turned in, 'cause I have it from the pure source that we're gonna be stuck for sure with Governor Bustamonte a couple of years early.

How could I have been so foolish? /sarcasm

Come on, Torie, why don't you let yourself have a little good clean political fun once in a while? California may well be a lost cause, but I'm not going out without a political fight. What's the expression? Lead, follow, or get out of the way? Something like that.

[Torie]

Square pegs don't fit into round holes.

[Torie]

If you look up "clean political fun" in the dictionary, you will see my pic next to it.

[bonesmccoy]

Agreed!

I feel that this state is already dead. Nothing is worse than watching my family get held up.

I am literally watching as my family, my friend's family, and my entire town are destroyed by liberal interests who use healthcare, non-profit law, and politicians to control our pocket books.

I'm sick and tired of being "politically correct".

If it's so great to be "politically correct" why doesn't the Democratic Party worry about offending me?

The fact of the matter is that it is utterly and totally humiliating to watch this any longer.

I will not permit this gov. to continue this lie.

I would rather be dead than red.

[bonesmccoy]

I like Cox.

The other guys who might be able to run for US Senate would be Darrell Issa, Ed Royce, Riordan, Simon, or McClintock.

[bonesmccoy]

if Davis resigns, how does Bustamante become gov?
Vote of Assembly? or is it a Constitutional assumption of duty with Cruz getting sworn in immediately?

If so, what happens to the Lt. gov. post? is it subject to a special election?

I'd suggest mcClintock in this circumstance.

[Carry_Okie]

That's the move. If Davis thinks he will lose, he will do a Torch. He will do it just for you.

Pour moi? LOL!

What in the hell does that have to do with cutting out DiFi with Chocolate Mountain?

If it looks like a blowout, it is Governor Bustamonte, and except the tax raises, all kinds of stuff will be passed that Davis vetoed, or said he would veto, and thus it died, that won't be repealed for a long time.

First, it won't be a blowout and you know it. Frankly, my favorite scenario is that a wounded Davis survives a recall (the less that gets done in Sacramentill the better). Simply having staged the election will IMO preclude all sorts of mischief and use up Slave Party money for 2004 like nothing else could (or did you think about that, chessplayer?).

Second, if Davis thinks he owes a bundle to his handlers, he'll allow all that stuff anyway. If he thinks he has a chance by playing moderate, he'll veto the stuff. In either case, if he stays, if a liberill wins a recall, or if the Cruxman grabs the brass ring, the state tanks and the voters will either rebell or it won't matter because the same things would happen but slower.

The only outcome that is different is if a conservative wins the election via a massive grass roots effort and a divided Slave Party vote. It's possible and I'd take it.

[Rodney King]

This article flies in the face of all conventional wisdom on campaigns. Usually, a dud at the top of the ticket is considered to be a bad thing for others of the same party. This article is suggesting that it is somehow good for Boxer if the most high profile person from her party on the ballot is a total loser that most of California dislikes.

That's just crazy. The reality is that it's the Senate seat that the GOP will have a hard time winning. Although I hate RINO's in general, the fact is that by putting Scwarzenegger on the ticket, the GOP is going to take the governor's mansion easy, and the spillover to the Senate race will be positive.

What you are seeing is a bunch of desperate media hacks trying to persuade the GOP to not go through with the recall. Meanwhile, Davis's aides are leaving left and right because they know he is going to lose.

[bonesmccoy]

I have a question for you guys. I read that stuff about Chocolate mountain and noticed a company referred to as JMB Realty. Is that the same JMB Realty that owns big segments of the state of Hawaii?

[absalom01]

I'd suggest mcClintock in this circumstance.

Tom's in the race, 'big time'. Not everyone has figured out yet that this is a great big deal, and has gotten away from the political pros.

Hugh Hewitt called it a "prairie fire" yesterday, and that's exactly what's going on. IF the pubbies can avoid the temptation to pile on (ie, Simon, and McClintock, and Issa, and and and), the grassroots will take this away, and we'll have Governor McClintock for two glorious years.

I'm amazed at people who want to hew to 'political reality' -- they're in denial. Two or three more years of unbroken Dem. rule, and this state will be unlivable. This really is our last chance.

[Carry_Okie]

I looked around and did not find any additional hard links between JMB and Blum. I did find common associations but no more.

[FairOpinion]

"Things start to improve, local budgets are stabilized, businesses see a pickup, the GOP candidate for Boxer's seat wins hands down. California gets back their conservative electorate and returns to fiscal sanity. "
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Now this is a scenario I like! From your keyboard to God's ears, as they say.