CA-Feinstein or Panetta to run for Gov.?

American Spectator ^ | 7/18/03 | Washington Prowler

[Elkiejg]

THE LINE ON FEINSTEIN

With a recall in California of Gov. Gray Davis all but certain, some Democrats who earlier publicly claimed little interest in running to replace him are privately backing off those promises to the embattled governor. According to several Democratic insiders in California, Sen. Dianne Feinstein has privately expressed a willingness to throw her hat into the ring should the political realities inside the state make it obvious that Davis has little chance of retaining his position.

The hedging is probably due in part to the nature of the California recall ballot. In this case voters would be asked if Davis should be recalled or not and then on the same ballot allowed to choose a replacement from a list of candidates. No Democrat will want to appear on the ballot if he thinks Davis has any chance to hold on and in effect win re-election at their expense.

Another Democrat seriously considering a run is former White House Chief of Staff and congressman Leon Panetta. "He could easily step in and raise the money for a campaign within two weeks of announcing," said a state Democratic Party official. "He's been out of politics for more than two years now, but the machine, while it's been in the garage a while, is gassed up and ready to go."

Panetta most likely would not run were Feinstein to enter the race. Feinstein's decision to go ahead most likely rests in the hands of Republicans, about whom there are growing doubts. "Davis's negative material on [recall activist Rep. Darrell] Issa isn't having as powerful an effect as we thought it would," says a state Republican Party staffer. "But at the same time polling numbers are flattening out for [rumored favorite Arnold] Schwarzenegger and Issa both."

If it appears unlikely that either man can win a plurality, look for Feinstein to jump into the fray for a position she has always coveted.

[novacation]

Arnold has said nothing about where he stands on issues.One poster said he is pro abortion, anti 2cd amendment, and has other non conservative stands. Being married to Maria Shriver scares me.Making violent movies is not much of a resume to be governor.We could be going from one joke to the next.But the voters of California have proven time and again that the majority are more concerned with title than talent.The recall will send a powerful message, I'm not expecting there to be much of a turn around in the mess created by the democrats.They will still run the capitol.

[Porterville]

Feinstein won't because it will leave here senate seat voulerable. She would only be queen of CA and not of the Senate of the US. It doesn't fit here ego and fat butt, the obese red-face cow. The fat red cow has been sold and whored out to D.C.

Panneta...please, not even a child in the dark would follow that clown.

[Porterville]

Too early, my spelling really has problems today.

[Common Tator]

I say this is fraught with bomblets for the Dem's.

There is no way Diane or Arnold are going to run. California is the Titanic just after it hit the iceberg. Taking command of a sinking ship, is not the way to a successful future. Surely Diane and Arnold understand what lays in store.

Let us assume the recall does survive the 9th circuit. Who ever replaces Davis, if it is not a Democrat, will be subject to a stonewall, media trashing and a second recall. And if that recall fails another recall 6 months later and if that one fails....

As long as Democrats hold a 4 to 3 margin among California voters, they will attempt recall after recall on every Republican elected. This recall makes California a new ballgame of total gridlock. Once most of the public accepts recalls, it will be the best weapon in the Democratic arsenal. And as long as the Democrats hold the legislature any Republican governor is doomed to failure. The legislature and the media would set up the Republican governor to take the blame for everything.

If you think Gingrich had bad press, you wait until you see what the media does to any NON Democrat that replaces Davis. I would expect him or her to last less than a year before being recalled.

If the recall works, and is found constitutional, the Democrats can shift all blame for the California mess to the replacement. The media will convince the voters that the use the recall to put the Democrats back in control is just normal politics in the twenty-first century.

The bad times in California are not just about over, they are just starting. It is going to get a lot worse. The person who is governor in 2004 will take a lot of the blame for the worsening situation.

Trashing a Republican Governor and putting his recall on the 2004 fall ballot would just about insure a Democratic sweep of California in 2004. It would likely give the Democrats a twenty year lock on California.

One thing to remember as the Democrats use the recall to try to recall any Republican office holder subject to the recall, Republicans can't claim recalls are unfair.

Republicans started this war, they can't complain when the Democrats use it to destroy them.

[Bernard Marx]

the Arnold mystique would wear off. And if given a choice between a celeb and a lefty, the media support will eventually gravitate towards the lefty.

But who's the lefty? We know about Feinstein and Panetta, but how many Republicans know that Ahnold is anti-gun, pro-abortion, pro-gay rights? He bragged about being very "socially liberal" in a recent O'Reilly interview. Worst of all he's married to a Shriver/Kennedy! Who should we hide our guns from?

[SamKeck]

As I have understood from California state law, once those signatures were submitted (which they have been) or something to that effect, the recall is locked in.

I suspect that you're right about that, tho I'm not sure exactly what the cut off point for a resignation to preclude a recall election would be. I'm going to have to check on this, but right now I suspect that that window would close about the time the SecOfState validates the petition counts and sets a date for the vote to take place. If Davis is going to go the resignation route, he's going to have to make up his mind very soon.

[Bernard Marx]

And as long as the Democrats hold the legislature any Republican governor is doomed to failure. The legislature and the media would set up the Republican governor to take the blame for everything.

I could not agree more! With this recall effort the CA Republicans have truly earned their name as the "Stupid Party." The Legislature is gerrymandered beyond belief and the only hope to get relief lay in letting the Rats make such a mess of the state the voters would finally demand reform after seeing who's really responsible for it.

Instead, with this recall, we've handed the Rats the perfect way out. Whichever Rat takes over will trash Joe Davis and put all the blame on him (his political days are over anyhow). Even if the Rat "hero" can't fix the state's problems the media light will shine on him/her like a ray of light from Heaven, pointing out that Davis left such a mess that not even a "real" Democrat can fix it quickly.

If through some miracle a Pubbie wins, the Legislature will tie him/her into knots and the media will transfer blame for the state's mess from Davis to the Pubbie instantly. And the voters will go for it. I am now truly trying to think of a way to get out of this Communist hell-hole.

[LS]

First, did the Dems not hold a 4:3 advantate (or greater) when George Dukmeijian won the governorship (and did quite well)? That was not too long ago. Or Pete Wilson?

So your view that the California public won't allow a Republican to succeed doesn't seem confirmed by recent history (20 years).

Agreed the situation is dire. Where better for a leader to emerge? Sooner or later the public will get utterly sick of obstructionist Democrats, with or without the media, and will insist something be done. They did so with Prop 13.

And so what if the Dems try to recall a POPULAR Republican governor. They can hold all the recalls they want of a GOOD governor, and it will go nowhere. I support the practice of recall---I come from AZ where it has worked effectively, along with initiative and referendum.

And, the most important rule in politics is, don't worry about the future, because you can never tell what will change. Win the election in front of you.

[LS]

I know what Arnold stands for. I also sense that California went off the deep end and can no longer elect reasonable people to high public office, and therefore the BEST they can do is get a somewhat conservative/RINO, if you like, who can WIN.

Issa isn't going to win this, from what I can tell, any more than Simon had a chance. It's good to have the right principles, but you HAVE to be able to win an election.

In the "cult of personality," I think only Arnold can challenge the Dems, and if the conservatives stay home, it's their funeral.

[LS]

Ummmm. don't know. Remember Minnestota and Jesse Ventura. ESPECIALLY in a recall race, where there would be multiple names on the ballot, the "dumb" Dems might vote for Arnie in droves---CERTAINLY over Panetta.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

...the politically amateurish recall people in California.

It appears to me sir, that the politically "professional" in California are a complete failure.

We are supposed to have amateurs in our representative form of government. Amateurs are the ones who founded this nation to start with.

[ErnBatavia]

Issa is already running radio ads for governor.

Given the vast numberical superiority of demonrat registrants, let alone the media, Issa is unelectable.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Another Democrat seriously considering a run is former White House Chief of Staff and congressman Leon Panetta. "He could easily step in and raise the money for a campaign within two weeks of announcing," said a state Democratic Party official. "He's been out of politics for more than two years now, but the machine, while it's been in the garage a while, is gassed up and ready to go."

Panetta is worse than Davis. "Gassed up" for sure, lots of hot air and flatulence.

As far as raising money, he gets $900.00 a day from CSUMB for doing nothing and his wife also gets $500.00 a day. Talk about political welfare...

[Common Tator]

First, did the Dems not hold a 4:3 advantage (or greater) when George Dukmeijian won the governorship (and did quite well)? That was not too long ago. Or Pete Wilson?

That was when Centrist Republicans like Wilson and Dukemigian controlled the Republican party and were its candidates. They could get the nomination. That day is long gone. The last Republicans to win are a far cry from the likes of Issa and his crew. The Republican party is just a shell of its former self.

Do you understand that Conservative Republicans can't win in a Liberal State .... Just as Liberal Democrats can't win in a conservative state. Until you understand that conservatives can't be elected in California you are doomed to lose. I think it will take 20 years for Republicans to learn the folly of not being aligned with a majority of voters.

Gray Davis with his ad campaign in the 2002 primary proved that Democrats can see to it the Republicans never again nominate a George Dukmeijian, Pete Willson or a Riordan. Over half the Democratic base in California will nominate unelectable candidates if the Democrats manipulate them with the right pre-election ads. Why can't you understand that the Democrats will do ad campaigns so no moderate Republican can win a nomination.

The 2000 election in California featured the most hated and inept Democratic candidate for governor in the history of governor's races. The Republicans could not defeat Davis or take any state wide office. It was the biggest Republican defeat in many years. Republicans lost every state wide office in 2002. Your main opponent was DAVIS.

How bad would the Democratic candidate have to be, before the Republicans could win? Worse than Davis? It would appear so. Ever hear of anyone worse than Davis? I haven't either!

What part of the 2002 election escapes your mind? If the Republican's of California can't beat Davis in 2002, what makes you think the same state party can beat a candidate stronger than Davis.

If you are looking for Democrats to put up nominees weaker tan Davis, you will have a long wait. Even the Democrats don't have one.

[chiller]

Seems that Davis is in a class by himself when it comes to angering the voters, incompetence, dishonesty, and inspiring a recall.

I see no recurring recalls, unless the percentage of recall petitions is based on the number of votes cast in even a special election, and I hope that's not the case.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Ever hear of anyone worse than Davis?

Leon Panetta.

[LS]

Gee, you are snotty, and angry.

First, you began by saying that a "conservative" couldn't get elected, then you moved to saying that a "moderate" like riordan can't get elected. I asked you what caused the switch from a mere decade ago---that is awfully fast for any state to shift so markedly.

Second, I have long argued with people that a conservative Republican can no longer get elected in CA, just as one can't get elected in Mass. I don't see what is so novel about that.

That is precisely why I think a Schwartzenegger would have a chance: he can go over and around the media, and he is a liberal Republican. What part of that don't you understand? (Sorry, just a dose of your own tone).

[ambrose]

And as long as the Democrats hold the legislature any Republican governor is doomed to failure.

Didn't hurt Ronald Reagan or George Deukmejian.

[ambrose]

I don't want facts to get in the way of your arguments, but George Deukmejian was about as conservative of a governor as they come. The only time he really veered from the conservative path was on the assault rifle ban after Patrick Purdy did his evil deeds. Deukmejian could have easily won a third term or a US Senate seat, if he wanted it.

[ambrose]

bump