Why Davis deserves to be recalled

San Diego Union Tribune ^ | June 20, 2003 | Joseph Perkins

[Jimbaugh]

Why Davis deserves to be recalled http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/op-ed/perkins/20030620-9999_mz1e20perkin.html Joseph Perkins SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE June 20, 2003

Gray Davis is a dead man walking. The most unpopular governor in California history very well could become the first occupant of the state's highest office to be recalled by the voters. Davis suggests that the recall campaign – which he previously dismissed as quixotic – is nothing more than a nefarious attempt by Republicans to overturn the result of California's last gubernatorial election. " It's being organized and financed by a bunch of rich losers," Davis told The Orange County Register. "Nothing but a bunch of losers running around talking to one another. His Grayness is particularly ticked off at Rep. Darrell Issa, the Vista Republican, the multimillionaire car-alarm magnate, the prospective gubernatorial candidate, who has ponied up more than $800,000 to gather signatures for the recall petition. " He just wants to run for governor on the cheap," Davis sneered, in recent remarks to a San Francisco radio station. But the Davis recall would not be headed to the California ballot – either this fall or next spring – were it supported exclusively by the state's Republican minority. No matter how many hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars Issa spent on signature gathering. Indeed, recall drives have been waged against California governors on 31 previous occasions. All failed. In fact, not even one proposed recall made it all the way to the state ballot. Davis faces the ignominy of actually facing a recall election, of becoming only the second governor in U.S. history to actually be recalled, because of his unfavorable standing among California residents across the board. That was borne by a recent poll released by the Public Policy Institute of California, a San Francisco think tank. It found that the Democrat's approval rating has fallen to a historic low of 21 percent. It also found that most of the Golden State's likely voters can hardly wait to kick Davis to the curb, including not only an overwhelming majority of Republicans, but also half of independent voters and a third of the governor's fellow Democrats. So why has his Grayness fallen into such broad and deep disfavor with the California electorate? Because he has grossly mismanaged the Golden State's affairs. Indeed, in the space of roughly a year and a half, Davis turned a record $12 billion state budget surplus into a record $34.8 billion deficit. He insists that it was not his fault, that the state economy simply went bust. But the fact is, under Davis' watch, the state government increased its spending a whopping 36 percent – far in excess of inflation, far outpacing growth in California's population. Had the governor resisted the urge to spend, to buy off special interests like California's powerful teachers union, the state would not now be facing the mother of all budget crises. California would not be borrowing billions of dollars on Wall Street to pay its bills, downgrading its bond rating to one the nation's lowest. And the state's taxpayers would not be facing the prospect of surrendering even more of their paychecks to Sacramento to close the budget gap that Davis and the spendthrift legislature created. Davis' mismanagement of the state's budget is matched only by his mishandling of the state's recent electricity crisis. He did not cause the crisis, as he so often reminds. But his failure to lead when the crisis first reared itself cost California businesses and residents tens of billions of dollars in higher electricity prices. Indeed, Davis got an early warning of looming trouble in the electricity market in the form of sharply rising wholesale power costs, as the Sacramento Bee's Dan Walters recounted this past spring. " California utility executives begged Davis and state utility regulators to allow them to raise rates and sign long-term supply contracts," according to Walters, but they "delayed for six critical months, until the utilities had their financial backs to the wall." Had Davis been a real leader, had he gotten the state's utility regulators to act sooner rather than later, California taxpayers wouldn't have gotten stuck with more than $40 billion worth of highly unfavorable long-term contracts with energy generators. And California residents wouldn't be facing higher electricity prices than consumers in almost every other state. Opponents of the Davis recall, including not only the governor's hardcore Democratic loyalists, but also a few Republican pragmatists, say his ouster will plunge the state into political chaos. But the state already is in chaos, not the least because Davis lacks the leadership prowess to navigate California out of the fiscal abyss into which he steered it. A new governor, lacking the albatross Gray Davis has draped around his neck, could hardly do any worse. And there's a good chance that his successor would do a considerably better job as California's chief executive. Perkins can be reached via e-mail at joseph.perkins@uniontrib.com.

[NormsRevenge]

There is an FR thread on the Issa "case" as well.

Issa was charged in San Jose car theft (let the sliming begin!)

[cake_crumb]

Ah...thanks.

[cake_crumb]

Funny, innit, that this never came to light during Issa's runs for congress? The MO is definitely Davis'...but I don't see how it'll work, because the recall isn't about Issa as far as voters are concerned. This is about getting rid of the mad (I don't just say that...I really believe Davis is mental) thief out of office. But Davis thinks this is just a politcal game.

[SpaceBar]

The fact remains that the bulk of California's problems both social and fiscal are due in large part to Californians. Since you choose to live in a smog shrouded, crime ridden, liberal infested example of how cities rot from the inside, then you should live with the consequenses of that choice. Los Angeles, California is not the only place to live, and I'll assume you aren't handcuffed to a radiator. As for your "analogy" regarding Clinton, the answer is a resounding "yes", we (collectively) deserved every agonizing moment of that painful lesson. And regarding your speculation regarding Hillary, it is just that - speculation. Just like the faulty speculation that Gore was to assume the White House in 2000.

[trebb]

Davis deserves it, but it's stupid political strategy.

Not doing the right thing because it's inconvenient makes one just like the Dims - contemptful of doing right and prone to self-servitude, which is a disgraceful breaking of the trust of those that elected you.

[SpaceBar]

Much better Brad's Gramma. Americans elected a guy who sold nuclear secrets to the Red Chinese, they deserve every nuked city they get. Stupid Americans, they are all adulterers and neoSocialists, right? I wish those hippies would just have an earthquake and have it fall into the ocean." its so clear now.

I would also suggest a keyboard spittle guard for your more hyperbolic moments.

[cinFLA]

By 2006, the voters will hate them so much that our chances of gaining both the governorship and the state legislature will be high.

By 2006 Davis would have figured out how to buy back the state employees and unions. And the legislature redistricting has 'fixed' the incumbents for life.

[cake_crumb]

Forget it. I see from the other thread that it DID come out during one campaign.

[NormsRevenge]

It shows ya how desperate the demRats and Davi$ are.. :-)

[janetgreen]

California deserves every stinking moment Gray Davis is in office

There are still some of us conservatives here in CA, but we're being outnumbered. Many of us worked our butts off trying to unseat Davis, but he had the hispanic vote, and that put him over the top.

[HassanBenSobar]

Let me ask you something: assuming all goes as planned by people in favor of a recall, and a republican takes over in the place of Grayout--heck, let's go one step further and say a REAL conservative and not some RINO--why do you believe he alone could magically solve the state's budget crisis, with the legislature dominated by leftists? And why do you believe that suddenly everyone would blame the *legislature*, and not the new guv if efforts to fix the crisis don't go smoothly?

Look, I live in state and signed the recall petition, but I'm concerned that there's plenty of potential this could backfire--even if we (miraculously) get who we want as the new guv. Maybe I'm a pessimist, but it sure seems likely with a lib-dominated legislature the solution will *never* consist entirely of cutting the budget. (And by the way, the RINOs in the legislature have been just as spineless at pushing cuts as the dems--inexcusable!).

Finally--let's be honest. Grayout is incompetent, but he was not 100% responsible for the power crisis. He certainly screwed the pooch in his handling of it, but the root causes were in place before he got into office, and like it or not, many power companies arbitraged the flawed dereg environment at great cost to the state.

Anyway, I'd like to see the recall succeed if for no other reason that the additional disgrace it would bring to Grayout. Beyond that it's anyone's guess whether this will help or harm California--and conservatives.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

Since you choose to live in a smog shrouded, crime ridden, liberal infested example of how cities rot from the inside, then you should live with the consequenses of that choice. Los Angeles, California is not the only place to live,

I was waaaaaay wrong about your bitterness concerning CA. In fact, you are in fact in need of professional counseling to get over your trauma growing up here.

and I'll assume you aren't handcuffed to a radiator

For once, one of your comical "assumptions" is correct. I chose to live in LA. The smog comes and goes, I am no victim of this crime you are ranting about, and because I use logic rather than emotion as you have come to conclusions about California's fate, what liberals I do run into don't bother me.

In fact, at work I have carefully let my politics come to light, only to find out half the office listens to talk radio and is a closet conservative themselves. We all greatly fear voicing our beliefs because of stereotypes about California, but as we did we realized we were the majority.

Course I don't have to tell you anything about stereotyping, SpaceBar.

[SpaceBar]

"I am no victim of this crime you are ranting about..."

No, you only think you aren't a victim. Every paycheck you earn or insurance premium you pay is evidence to the contrary. Somebody pays the financial burden of crime, and the trail leads from Sacramento right to your wallet.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

No, you only think you aren't a victim

No, I am proud to say "I am not a victim" everyday. Words to live by.

After all my points, that was the best you got?

[mabelkitty]

saw this creepy bit of fascism on DUmpster Diving.
*These are paid petitioners bought by rethuglican Issa's four million plus dollars (his money) campaign for governor.
******

Watch for Petition Collectors
• As you go about your daily routines (driving to and from work, shopping, going to the movies, the doctor, etc.), keep your eyes open for recall petitioners at all times.
• The most important thing you can do is provide us feedback about where and when signature gathering efforts are occurring, call us at (213) 382-4111.

Engage the Petition Collectors - If you see recall petitioners, here's what to do:
• Engage them in conversation; the longer they talk to you, the less time they have to collect signatures, they have a limited period of time to collect over 1 million signatures.
• Ask what petitions they are carrying.
• It is important to determine if they are only carrying the recall petitions or if they also have the anti-recall petition and others.
• If they tell you they have the "Save Our Teachers" or "Evaluate the Recall Process" petition, ask them to show it to you.
• Note: There is no "Save Our Teachers" petition. This is our anti-recall petition. The signature collector is "double dipping." They are trying to get people to sign both the recall and the anti-recall petitions so they can make more money.
• Remember, the longer you engage them, the fewer signatures they can collect.
• Do not attempt to provoke or get into a physical confrontation with signature gatherers. We do not want you to be arrested.
Take Action
• Complain to the store manager. Tell the manager you are a customer and you are offended by being harassed as you enter their store. Tell the manager you will take your business elsewhere.
• Do not falsely sign a petition. This is against the law.
• If you like to "mix it up," it is OK to debate or argue with the signature gatherer.
• Counter them with the anti-recall petition; it is OK to stand in front of their table or approach potential signers before they do, or otherwise inhibit their activity.
• Distribute the "Who's Behind the Recall" leaflet.
• Approach potential signers and ask them if they know who is behind the recall: remind them that it is a bunch of right-wing conservative Republicans, like Darrell Issa and Bill Simon, who can't win an election fairly; they are trying to overturn a legal and fairly conducted election.

REPORT RECALL ACTIVITY TO OUR HOTLINE - ASAP!

(213) 382-4111

StopTheRecall@aol.com
http://stoptherecall.com/helping.html

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

let's go one step further and say a REAL conservative and not some RINO--why do you believe he alone could magically solve the state's budget crisis,

Because, luckily for us, the state budget crisis is entirely manufactured. No matter how many times Davis repeats the matra, we DON'T have a revenue problem. We should count our blessing. Don't let me tell you, read what State Senator McClintock saying about the situation. The Governor sets the agenda, even more so that the President. Look what Bush did, instead of talking about tax increases to "fix" the national deficit, we were all talking about spending cuts. The Democratic response became which things to cut, or how they were going to cut differently. Sure they are a slight minority nationally, but once the conversation has changed, they don't DARE bring up their real platform. The state is different, you need 2/3rd to get a budget through, and the GOP can dig in til they send the Gov a budget that simply doesn't call for spending INCREASES.

Maybe I'm a pessimist, but it sure seems likely with a lib-dominated legislature the solution will *never* consist entirely of cutting the budget.

I understand that you are a pessimist, I used to be one too, its easy to fall into that trap. Particuarly with all the arrogant ranters on here who make you feel dumb when you sound confident and supportive. What tips the balance of power is being informed. Remember how much Feinstein was being thrown in our face? How about the "it'll NEVER get enough signatures" line? I mean, notice how these guys switch the talking points, but never the message; THE RECALL IS BAD. They remind me of Democrates.

(And by the way, the RINOs in the legislature have been just as spineless at pushing cuts as the dems--inexcusable!).

On this point, I couldn't possibly disagree more (and I hate Parsky and the CA establishment). The 16 Republicans in the Senate have indured every kind of strong arm, bribing, manhandling tactic in Sacramento. They have stuck to their principles, they will not go along with a budget that calls for new tax increase. In fact, these Republicans have been saving you from getting new taxes for about the past 3 budgets. Brulte and McClintock have earned and deserve our respect for not caving. More importantly, their actions rather than just their words in the face of so much pressure should provide you with confort in realizing the distinction between CA run by the GOP, and the Donkey.

[mabelkitty]

Here is the information on who registered the stoptherecall domain name:

Registrant:
Eric Bauman

Registered through: Go Daddy Software (http://www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: STOPTHERECALL.COM

Domain servers in listed order:
NS1.PHPWEBHOSTING.COM
NS2.PHPWEBHOSTING.COM


Do they have California contracts?

[SpaceBar]

"what liberals I do run into don't bother me"

Then perhaps that's where your problem lies: cognitive dissonance. Those liberals who "don't bother you" are the very architects of the mess California is in. Without them, Gray Davis would be managing a PEP-Boys in Laguna Beach.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Enough!

[mabelkitty]

The Dems need California in 2004. Without it, they are sunk.