Simon Loyalists Say E-Mail Dirty Trick Backfired

Los Angeles Times ^ | 7/14/03 | Patt Morrison

[TheAngryClam]

Nope, it wasn't us, they say.

Supporters of Bill Simon for governor — both last year, and now as a candidate in a probable recall election — say it wasn't their loyalists who sent out an e-mail letter signed "Team Simon" volunteers and advising Simon to sit out the election to avoid splitting the party vote and worse.

Joel Strom, the Team Simon chair, says no one from his statewide leadership group wrote such a letter, and whoever did "did not accomplish the goal he/she apparently set out to achieve and, in fact, only helped to sharpen our focus on our work as volunteers."

A letter to the "Team Simon Statewide Leadership" characterized the "PLEASE BILL, DON'T RUN" letter as a "silly prank concocted by a nervous potential opponent who fears our strong statewide organization." The effort "to distract and divide us" in fact "failed miserably," it said, because Team Simon remains "strongly intact" and "highly supportive of Bill's bright political future."

Who might be behind such a dismissive missive? Team Simon's leadership wouldn't speculate, but you know you've got an election on your hands when this sort of thing gets up and running.

[ElkGroveDan]

Simon backtracked on all his conservative beliefs in the general election

Nope. It didn't happen. Bill Simon did not waver one iota on a single one of the conservative beliefs he ran on in the primary.

[xm177e2]

Who might be behind such a dismissive missive?

I'll bet Team Simon sent it to drum up some sympathy for themselves (get their guy's name back in the paper with a dumb stunt).

I mean, Simon's team claimed they had photo evidence of Gray Davis accepting illegal contributions... which turned out to be FALSE. Some would say... A LIE. These goofballs will stoop to pretty much anything.

[xm177e2]

Simon backtracked on all his conservative beliefs in the general election, and it didn't help

When did he do that?

Can you name a specific issue?

[nickcarraway]

Look at his statements before the primary and after the primery. After the primary he downplayed the issues he was conservative on.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

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[Paloma_55]

A couple observations from a Republican Activist...

1) Simon will have the support of the grass roots. He is a solid conservative both fiscally and socially and that is where the grass grows deepest in the Republican Party.

2) Simon will come out extremely strong. He is doing a rope-a-dope right now to build strength down under the surface. He is visiting Republican groups, central committees, and working his volunteer force to build strength, but he is keeping the public level low to keep from having to deal with the blistering assault Davis' union thugs are putting on Issa.

3) When Simon comes out, he will be swinging like you have never seen. He will not be soft-spoken and cordial. He will be blistering on Davis and in representation of his own ability to lead. The phony lawsuit settlement that Davis used to trash him was overturned. He has gotten rid of the "Log Jammin Republicans" who tried to undermine his campaign from the inside. He does not need to play to moderates and liberals any more. He can win with the conservative base.

Just watch.

[TheAngryClam]

Nice of him to think of doing those three things during the general election and save us all this recall trouble.

Simon sucks. Mark my words, anything he does in the recall will be more of the same.

And I'm a Republican activist too.

[TheAngryClam]

Oh, and Simon is doomed if McClintock bows out and endorses Issa.

McClintock has much more credibility among the base than either Simon or Issa. Where he goes, many follow.

[Kuksool]

Tonight, Joe Scarborough had Willie Brown and Bill Simon on his MSNBC program to discuss the recall. Mayor Brown portrayed the recall as sourgrapes by Bill Simon, and blamed CA problems on President Bush. While Willie Brown was ranting and raving, Bill Simon was for the most part quiet. Simon never really challenged any of Brown's spin. Joe Scarborough did a better job of debating Willie Brown than Bill Simon. It appears that Simon did not learn anything from last year's campaign.

[Paloma_55]

I don't understand the venom. Simon took on an $85 million attack from Davis and narrowly lost. This in a state where the Democrats outnumber Republicans.

He did screw up in taking on some of Richard Riordan's staff after the primary... ultimately, some of those liberals ended up working to undermine him in the general election. Most noteably, the one who filled out a Log Jammin Republican survey for him and sent it to the SF Chronicle claiming that Simon would support homosexual marriage.

I am a huge Tom McClintock fan but unfortunately, the Republican party will never support Tom for governor. He is too decisive, conservative, and independent. He is tailor made for the Controllership though and almost won it last time without the party's assistance. He should try again.

BTW: I doubt the Republican party execs will support Simon either, but the grassroots will and he has the money and name recognition to pull off a win in a divided election.

Remember, if the election happens in November, it will be primarily conservatives. The most conservative candidate with money and name recognition wins. That is Simon.

[lewislynn]

Again, I ask: "If Simon can't manage a campaign, how can he manage the state"???

Your mantra sounds more like you're a not so subtle Gray Davis shill.

[research99]

No, but I'll post it again to make my perspective clear:

(1) Simon ran the worst campaign I've ever seen in this state, and is deservedly seen as a loser.

(2) Splitting the Republican vote in the Recall will make the efforts look disorganized and ultimately dilute the chances of a Republican victor. (Consider the 2000 Presidential election; only because Nader took votes from Gore did Bush win!)

(2) The Recall is the product of the efforts of Ted Costa, Darryl Issa, thousands of signature gatherers and over a million petition signers -- compared to -- Bill Simon's candidacy, which is not a grassroots movement, but is an expression of self-interest by a wealthy candidate and his greedy advisor Sal Russo.

I'd really hate to see the Recall be effectively derailed by the ambitions of an "empty suit" like Simon (and the opinions of many other Republicans agree)!

[research99]

Oops. Try it again:

(1) Simon ran the worst campaign I've ever seen in this state, and is deservedly seen as a loser.

(2) The Recall is the product of the efforts of Ted Costa, Darryl Issa, thousands of signature gatherers and over a million petition signers -- compared to -- Bill Simon's candidacy, which is not a grassroots movement, but is an expression of self-interest by a wealthy candidate and his greedy advisor Sal Russo.

(3) Splitting the Republican vote in the Recall will make the Recall efforts look disorganized (verifying Davis' "sour grapes" claim) and ultimately dilute the chances of a Republican victor. (Consider the 2000 Presidential election; only because Nader took votes from Gore did Bush win!)

I'd really hate to see the Recall be effectively derailed by the ambitions of an "empty suit" like Simon (and the opinions of many other Republicans agree)!

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

research99; you need to settle down a little bit. Nickcarraway is right, you are allowing the spin on NYT to shape your perspective.

I also do not want Simon to run because of the perception of sour grapes, not him.

You rather arrogantly throw around slogans for people to answer, but you don't remember your recent history;

During the campaign the Davis Minions had so thoroughly attached Simon's name to Enron that he had to go to court to defend himself from baseless charges of Enron-like corruption. He was cleared, but the perception remained. During the campaign Davis lied about the size of the deficit by about half (around $20 bil to $38.2 after the election) if the truth had been out the candidate you so fervently attack would be the governor right now.

47% to 42%. Davis did not even get a majority of the vote.

source: http://vote2002.ss.ca.gov/Returns/gov/59.htm

[research99]

RE: "During the campaign the Davis Minions had so thoroughly attached Simon's name to Enron that he had to go to court to defend himself from baseless charges of Enron-like corruption"

I don't recall a 3rd Simon court case; The ones that were active last year were the PayPhone-Hindelang case, and the Federal Savings & Loan case -- neither of which had anything to do with Davis supporters' activities, as they were filed well before the Simon candidacy.

Again, it's not just a matter of Davis' spin; If you read the actual case (Los Angeles Superior Court #BC242432 available in the "Records Room" on the 1st Floor of the Stanley Mosk Courthouse at 111 Hill Street in Downtown Los Angeles during working hours; phone 213-974-5181, @830am-4pm) you'll see that Simon's words don't measure up to his actions.

I want Davis dumped, but after doing the research myself, I also know that at the least Simon is a hypocrite -- I invite you to read the case yourself (esp. Volume 6) and see if you agree!

[research99]

RE: "47% to 42%. Davis did not even get a majority of the vote."

Post election polling demonstrated that much of the Simon vote was anti-Davis, not pro-Simon. IMO Simon is a fool to think that he earned that level of support on his own.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

Post election polling demonstrated that much of the Simon vote was anti-Davis, not pro-Simon. IMO Simon is a fool to think that he earned that level of support on his own.

Yeah? So? And... I or Simon made that boast? You are arguing like a Democrate. I never said Simon was the guy I want as Gov. I even said he shouldn't run in the recall. Don't think because I disagree with you that I am automatically the polar opposite.

I already stated my disagreement; its one thing to say that he shouldn't run, its quite another to be as passionately disparaging of the man, characterizing him as a "loser" despite recent history. You cited me some court case, yet all you could say is that you didn't like Simon's story... The Judge did. More importantly, if you think the timing of that critical case "linking" him with Enron had nothing to do with Davis' power within the CA court system-and you expect me to believe that- you might want to think about voting "no" in the Recall election. Davis sounds like your kinda guy.

[research99]

My position is that having Simon in the race will taint the Recall, and give Davis factual support for his "sour grapes" line -- which will increase the chance he will survive the Recall.

There are other qualified potential candidates: Issa, McClintock, and possibly Schwarzenegger...it's a slap in the face to the million-plus petition signers, to put an also-ran like Simon on the ballot.

This is not just my opinion. Consider some of the unsolicited comments others have said of a Simon candidacy:

"I voted for Simon, and signed the recall petition, but I think a rerun by Simon looks like sourgrapes."
2 posted on 06/20/2003 9:56 AM PDT by My2Cents

"The only guy who ran a worse campaing was when Matt Fong ran against Boxer. Wait a minute. I take that back. As boring as he was, Fong ran a better campaign. Simon was well beyond horrible."
22 posted on 06/20/2003 3:13 PM PDT by CdMGuy

"Interestingly, Simon's advisors (BEFORE Parsky, et al. for those of you in denial about Simon's suck) are the same ones who ran Fong. Anyone who calls for Parsky's head should call for Sal Russo's too."
23 posted on 06/20/2003 3:40 PM PDT by TheAngryClam
Source of above: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/932657/posts

"Oh no, the CA Republicans are going to blow it again. With all due respect to the Simon supporters, he lost and that makes him as stale as a bag of month old bagels."
2 posted on 06/22/2003 5:58 PM PDT by JoeFromCA

"Dear Bill Simon, I voted for you in November. You didn't win so PLEASE, for all of Californias' sake, stay out of this! You couldn't beat a corrupt, disliked, worthless governor like Davis so just let us handle it, will ya?"
5 posted on 06/22/2003 6:33 PM PDT by Bullish

"Hey Bill, you fooled us once! - Sure, support the recall. But, California has enough problems, we don't need any more B.S. in an important election. This time, NO B.S. on the ballot!"
7 posted on 06/22/2003 7:04 PM PDT by Golden Gate
Source of above: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/933785/posts

"Bill, we hope you will listen to your former supporters, and ignore those campaign professionals who served you so poorly in the past and not file as a candidate in the upcoming campaign to replace Gray Davis."
1 posted on 06/28/2003 10:47 PM PDT by TheAngryClam

"Mistakes like Bill Simon’s cannot be tolerated this time around. We have GOT to have someone who knows what they’re doing."
31 posted on 06/29/2003 12:04 AM PDT by Owens08

"Bill Simon is the biggest *EMBARRASSMENT* to the Republican Party in California *HISTORY*! He is an *EMPTY SUIT* who *BETRAYED* us all with his *HOPELESS* campaign! MESSAGE TO SIMON: *GO AWAY*!"
58 posted on 06/29/2003 11:21 AM PDT by Sir Valentino
Source of above: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/937489/posts

"Simon lost for a reason. HE SUCKS. He should take a hike."
32 posted on 07/10/2003 5:26 PM PDT by xm177e2

"Simon blew it in 2002. CA rejected him."
34 posted on 07/10/2003 5:59 PM PDT by jagrmeister

"I do NOT want him to run again. And for the sake of the party, I hope he doesn't." "I am so pissed with Bill Simon right now I could spit nails!"
14 posted on 07/10/2003 2:45 PM PDT by Saundra Duffy

"He can get in if he wants, but he won't win. He's the GOP's AlGore (meaning he lost, already)."
6 posted on 07/10/2003 1:40 PM PDT by truth_seeker
Source of above : http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/943856/posts

"Simon should go away and not run for office again.
The real reason he lost is that he is an empty suit with no real beliefs. If he had a clear vision to present to the voters and if he had really taken it to Davis on things like the energy crisis he would have won. No incumbent Governor in the modern history of California has ever been nearly as unpopular as Davis. Running Riordan though would have been even worse. As would running Arnold next time."
9 posted on 12/07/2002 5:50 AM PST by Princeliberty
Source of above: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/802118/posts

I Say: "If Simon can't manage a campaign, how can he manage the state"???

I've compiled this, as a service to those who want to see Davis recalled.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

I appreciate you reposting this ad hominem ranting you've compiled as a "service" for FR to me. I can't say that I'm touched since the comments you quoted have as little to do with what I said as your comments.

Are you, or have you ever participated in beating a Strawman arguement?

[research99]

If you review post #115 on this thread, you'll see it's in direct response to your comments about Simon "having to go to court" in response to baseless charges from the campaign. I don't recall an example of this occurring. All of Simon's cases were filed before he announced his 2002 candidacy. So, where's the ad homenim "strawman" you claim, in post #115?

So I ask you, what specific legal case did Simon file during the campaign, that was in response to "Enron-style" charges?