Dems: Effort to Oust Davis Hard to Ignore

SAN FRANCISCO - The Democratic presidential candidates are finding the fast-moving effort to oust California Gov. Gray Davis a politically charged issue that's hard to ignore — and one that surprisingly could reap benefits for them in the delegate-rich state.

At first glance, the drive to recall the unpopular Democratic governor seems like a controversy to avoid. Davis is getting most of the blame for a staggering $35 billion budget deficit, and his approval ratings have plummeted to an all-time low of 25 percent.

Standing up for the Democrat would seem to be politically toxic for any White House hopeful.

"None of them wants to get pulled into it at all," said longtime California Democratic strategist Garry South, who is working for presidential candidate Joe Lieberman.

But consider the political possibilities for the White House aspirants. Opponents portray the Republican-led recall as yet another swipe at democracy, a rogue effort to reverse what the voters decided in November 2002 when they elected Davis to a second term.

Democrats liken the recall to the GOP-driven impeachment of President Clinton in 1998 and the disputed 2000 presidential election in which the Supreme Court ended the Florida recount and George Bush became president.

Political analysts argue that the Democratic candidates who speak out strongly about the unfairness of the recall, while keeping their distance from Davis, could score points with Democratic voters. Currently there are nine Democratic hopefuls.

"It's not because of Gray — it's because it's a destabilizing, expensive way to go," said Skye Gallegos, a California strategist, Western regional director for Al Gore in 2000 and political director for John Edwards' presidential campaign. "Democrats will oppose the recall because it's not a good way of practicing democracy."

The timing also could work to the advantage of the Democrat who opposes the recall, while perhaps saving Davis' job.

Recall supporters are trying to collect about 900,000 valid signatures by early September, which would put a vote on the ballot in either a special election in November or in the primary next March — the same day as the state's presidential primary. The recall campaign has submitted more than 375,000 signatures so far, the secretary of state reported Tuesday.

Democratic strategists say the recall initiative has the power to enrage and mobilize Democratic voters, and they may be casting their ballots in the presidential primary and deciding Davis' fate at the same time.

"What you have is a conservative cabal literally trying to orchestrate a coup d'etat," said Chris Lehane, an adviser to presidential candidate John Kerry. "Candidates coming here can clearly say this is something bad for democracy, bad for California and bad for the country."

Said Bill Carrick, a California-based adviser to candidate Dick Gephardt : "It's good for the governor if it's on the March ballot because we're going to get an energized Democratic turnout."

In the past few weeks, during campaign stops in California, the presidential candidates have criticized the recall, with arguments likely to grow louder if the recall seems inevitable.

"You know, I kind of went through one of these deals when the Republicans were bound and determined to, in effect, recall President Clinton. Impeach him," said Gephardt, the Missouri congressman. "I think they carried it too far and eventually got into real difficulty with the American people."

Kerry, the Massachusetts senator, called the effort "power politics" among Republicans in an interview with The Associated Press. Howard Dean, in a speech before the Bar Association of San Francisco last week, called it "a mistake" and said President Bush should bear the blame for California's budget crisis.

On Wednesday, Lieberman acknowledged that people are unhappy with Davis, but the Connecticut senator said, "if you start to create a circumstance where elected officials ... when they become unpopular, can be taken out of office, it's not the way the system should work."

Mindy Tucker, who is running Bush's re-election efforts in California, said Democrats have provided the GOP with an opportunity to challenge them as a party. Tucker said that no matter what the outcome of the recall effort, the sentiment behind it gives them a strong message to use next year.

"The Democrats have failed this state, and it's time for a change," she said. "That's a message that will help Republicans running against Davis in the recall, running for state Assembly, and it will certainly help the president's re-election."

No Republican presidential candidate has won the state since George H.W. Bush in 1988. His son, who travels to the state Friday on a fund-raising trip, is looking to change that.

BS!

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calgov2002: for new calgov2002 articles.

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"Democrats liken the recall to the GOP-driven impeachment of President Clinton in 1998"

One problemo for the Demoncrats. Clinton (much as I hate it) was popular with a large segment of the population, Davis is popular only with his mother (maybe).

"Opponents portray the Republican-led recall as yet another swipe at democracy"

This is rich. An election is a "swipe at democracy". Letting the people decide is a "swipe at democracy". It is a brave new world where words are said to mean the opposite of what they used to mean.

"Howard Dean ... said President Bush should bear the blame for California's budget crisis."

Oh OK. The government of the state is not responsible. That all powerful dummy (per the Demoncrats) in the White House is to blame. Sure. Is there a bigger idiot than Howard Dean?

Wow Beth Fouhy, nice softball questions.

Anybody pick up on the obvious topic all the 9 Dwarves' handlers failed to address?

Why don't they defend Gray Davis' fiscal competence as the CA Gov?

Its like the moose in the room no Democrate will address, and with shills like Beth Fouhy in San Francisco, they won't have to. God Bless Talk Radio, the internet, and FNC.

As utterly amusing as this whole activity is, it would be a very bad precedent indeed for the largest state in a representative democracy to do what is being proposed here.

If we remove the obvious desire on the part of probably all Freepers to see Davis go asap and look at it from the perspective of a truly Free Republic and the ideals of upon which the nation was founded - this is not a good idea. But, I think most of us probably realize this.

A short term victory is not worth the damage of the long-term precedent of removing our elected officials from office based on varying and potentially mercuruial public opnion.

If we remove the obvious desire on the part of probably all Freepers to see Davis go asap and look at it from the perspective of a truly Free Republic and the ideals of upon which the nation was founded - this is not a good idea

That is an illogical statement. A Free Republic is not only allowed, but compelled to act against our representives who abuse the public trust and irresponsibly and downright dishonestly spend the people's money as Davis continues to do.

As utterly amusing as this whole activity is

Understand something, this is not for political sport, not blatent partisanship, and above all not amusing in the least.

A short term victory is not worth the damage of the long-term precedent of removing our elected officials from office based on varying and potentially mercuruial public opnion.

This will be a long term victory, the effects of which will be felt in politicians for years to come. Its the precedent of finding a budget of $67 billion with a $12 billion surplus turned into an over $100 billion budget with a -$38.2 billion deficit because of 38%-42% yearly increases in state spending unacceptable. The fact that in the reelection alone these numbers were covered up and denied by Davis is reason enough for the recall. His propositions to "fix" it being raising taxes to compensate certainly requires us to recall him. Perhaps in Germany the concept of fiscal conservatism has been lost and this seems to be merely a change in the political winds, but here its based on clear, definable decisions he has made as Governor.

It wasn't bad for the country when he tried to screw the nation in Florida working for Gore in 2000. And what most don't know is that this jackass got a $200,000 consulting contract from Gray Davis for crisis commumications during the energy debacle out here. LeHane is a great example of one less criminal in the world now that the sodomy law has been overturned.

I appreciate your points, expecially about turning a budget surplus into a budget deficit. I do not want to get into the merits of what happens when the leader of a state, be it a part of a federal entity or the federal entity itself turns a potentially huge surplus into a deficit.

The precendent of removing elected officials from their office before the period for which they were elected is complete is an absolute abomination ina representative democracy. I understand the fact and they are clear. The problem is that this type of action could be usedunder much different circumstances and in a situation that was less amenable to Freeper sensibilities.

Nevertheless, I appreciate your passion.

The precendent of removing elected officials from their office before the period for which they were elected is complete is an absolute abomination ina representative democracy. I understand the fact and they are clear. The problem is that this type of action could be usedunder much different circumstances and in a situation that was less amenable to Freeper sensibilities.

I appreciate your concerns about this being overused. Beyond the merits of him being recalled (and I wouldn't call it passion for myself, I would call it logical) the other critical factor is how very difficult this is to do. You need 12% of the vote, or 900,000 valid signatures, then you need the majority to vote yes, all knowing full well the concerns of having to repeat this over and over again. Its an extreme means for an extreme case. Quite democratic, in fact we here have a wonderful history (in an allegedly left wing state) of ballot initiatives that confound the political class. In an age where Leftist cut valuable civic projects in order to bad mouth the concept of a "cut" and continue to raise taxes while the other guy has no plan because they are afraid of using the word "cut", we need more democracy not less.

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