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.

[nickcarraway]

What's compassionate about spending a bunch of money on education, that will not helps students become more educated, or spending money in Africa that isn't spent the most effective way to help?

[TheAngryClam]

Do it right.

The right way is "Joe Davis," followed by "Gray Davis."

Grey isn't right, either way.

And, by the way, Kobe is going to jail.

[nickcarraway]

How did the ultraconservative prop 13 pass in California? How did the ultraconservative prop 22 pass in California? None of the so-called moderate candidates you speak of would have gone near those two.

[Smogger]

Well, at least be consistent. First, you appeared to criticize California for not being conservative enough, when what you meant is that you don't support the conservatives. Really California Republican voters are too conservative for you.

Let me be perfectly clear. I want to win a #@$@# election and throw the @#$@$ Democrats out of the governor's mansion (which ever one Davis is staying in.) If a Republican comes along that can do this even friggin Richard friggin Riordan then fine. I CAN'T STAND ANOTHER 5 YEARS OF DEMOCRATIC INEPTITUDE. Now if you live in California you can respectfully disagree. If you don't YOUR DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!

[Smogger]

And, by the way, Kobe is going to jail.

I have a $100 and an online escrow account that says he's not smart guy. Care to place a small wager?

[nickcarraway]

Simon backtracked on all his conservative beliefs in the general election, and it didn't help. Riordan could never have won the general election running to the left of davis. Those people don't vote Republican.

[TheAngryClam]

I'm a broke law student.

$100 is more than a month's worth of ramen for me.

You'll have to accept indentured servitude.

[Smogger]

Then it will have to be a gentleman's wager. ;-)

[nickcarraway]

Now if you live in California you can respectfully disagree. If you don't YOUR DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!

I actually live in the Bay Area if California. It says so on my profile page. It doesn't say where you live.

[Smogger]

I actually live in the Bay Area if California. It says so on my profile page. It doesn't say where you live.

Ontario.

[nickcarraway]

Ontario, California?

[Smogger]

Ontario, California?

No. Canada. Of course California.

[research99]

RE: "Wrong on all accounts. Bill Simon always took credit for screw-ups that other people made. He consistently said that the buck stops with him."

Dan,

Remember the "Log Cabin questionnaire" fiasco last August, and how Sal Russo ended up taking the blame for that?

I would genuinely appreciate it, if you could refrain from posting on the board, if you cannot restrain yourself from making arguments based on demonstrably factually inaccurate statements like the above.

This Recall would not have been necessary, if B.S. actually took that blame, and dropped out of the race when many in the state party asked him to (in favor of another Republican), following the "photogate" fiasco.

[nickcarraway]

Remember the "Log Cabin questionnaire" fiasco last August, and how Sal Russo ended up taking the blame for that?

Kind of like how CIA Director George Tenet is taking the blame now? I assume you are making the same criticisms of President Bush, that you do of Simon?

[research99]

No, the only criticism I have concerns the indefensible logical statements --
that Bill Simon is a 'buck stops here' kinda guy, except when there's a screw-up of course --
that are required to support a proven loser, like the Simon Recall candidacy.

[nickcarraway]

There are no ``buck stops here'' guys in politics anymore. If you find one,let me know, and we can pair him up with a unicorn for a national ticket.

[ElkGroveDan]

Remember the "Log Cabin questionnaire" fiasco last August, and how Sal Russo ended up taking the blame for that?

I would appreciate it if you would do the same. Bill Simon ENDLESSLY took credit for that screw up. Sal was ACCUSED of that by every one in the media but Bill Simon said, hey the buck stops with me and I'm responsible.

GO get the radio clips and the newspaper interviews.

By the way I find that to be amost admirable trait and the sign of a quality leader, especially when it wasn't his fault.

I would appreciate it if you would quit thinking of yourself as the arbitor of recent California history. Of course you can do whatever you want since, what I "appreciate" doesn't has no bearing on what you say or do.

[ElkGroveDan]

Ed Rollins sure sucks so much, Dan. 49 out of 50 states over Mondale.

Well then explain what he did for Simon other than toss the winning media strategy in the garbage can when he came on board.

[research99]

RE: "Remember the "Log Cabin questionnaire" fiasco last August, and how Sal Russo ended up taking the blame for that?

I would appreciate it if you would do the same. Bill Simon ENDLESSLY took credit for that screw up. Sal was ACCUSED of that by every one in the media but Bill Simon said, hey the buck stops with me and I'm responsible." ?

Dan,

Your statement is contradicted by the documentation; per:

"Media Distorts Simon's Stand on Gay Issue

Ignoring California's Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon's top campaign aide Sal Russo's statement that he, and not his boss, sent a completed questionnaire to a gay political group, the State's liberal media is attacking Simon for allegedly caving in to pressure by that terrible conservative "religious right" and changing his position on so-called "gay rights."

Simon told reporters that he neither saw nor signed a controversial survey on gay issues that has become the latest problem for his troubled campaign and blamed his staff for sending it out without his knowledge, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

"A lot of these questionnaires go out," the GOP candidate for governor told the Chronicle. "I don't see them all before they go out. I didn't see this, I didn't review it."

Source: Newsmax 9/5/2002; at:
http://www.newsmax.com/showinside.shtml?a=2002/9/5/153748

Frankly, I don't give a damn about the subject matter, except to show that Bill is a "blamer" and not a "the buck stops here" kinda guy.

Sorry, but your arguments have lost credibility with me.

[ElkGroveDan]

Sorry, but your arguments have lost credibility with me.

Oh my gosh, really? What ever am I to do? I will have to quit FR forever now because I have no credibility with research99....please have mercy, I want to be LOVED by every self-appointed authority on California politics.

You're the only one I know who has ever cited Newsmax as a source. Pull up all the other publications and find the talkshow transcripts. You will see that Simon accepted the blame for that screw-up many, many times. A lot of people took the blame along with, and after Sal. In the long run Simon reasserted over and over again that he would take responsibility for that.

Now please leave me alone while I go somewhere to lament my lost credibility and have a good cry.