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CA-Feinstein or Panetta to run for Gov.?
American Spectator ^ | 7/18/03 | Washington Prowler

Posted on 07/19/2003 5:03:28 AM PDT by 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.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: turds
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But, but --- didn't Terrible Terry say "NO OTHER DEMORAT WILL RUN"?? And isn't Terrible Terry the BOSS of all Demorats - state and national???
1 posted on 07/19/2003 5:03:29 AM PDT by Elkiejg
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To: Elkiejg
Yeah, I'd like to see McAuliffe say no to either Feinstein or Panetta. McAuliffe's promise must have just pertained to some little punk upstart like Bustamante.
2 posted on 07/19/2003 5:27:16 AM PDT by randita
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To: All
Thank you very much!
Thank you very much!
That's the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me.
It isn't every day
good fortune comes me way!
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I simply have to say
Thank you very, very, very much!
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3 posted on 07/19/2003 5:32:23 AM PDT by Support Free Republic (Your support keeps Free Republic going strong!)
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To: Elkiejg
Now Leon would be a good one to come in and give cover for the high dollar Davis, he was so good covering for bjclinton.
4 posted on 07/19/2003 5:35:00 AM PDT by Just mythoughts
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To: Elkiejg
Don't tell Terrible Terry, but Jeb Bush is governor of Florida! I know he said it would be McBride, but but but
5 posted on 07/19/2003 5:49:51 AM PDT by OldFriend ((Dems inhabit a parallel universe))
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To: Elkiejg
But, but --- didn't Terrible Terry say "NO OTHER DEMOCRAT WILL RUN"?? And isn't Terrible Terry the BOSS of all Demorats - state and national???

Do you really think the Democrats are going to lose a seat in the senate for months perhaps a year. And if the Democrats turn on Davis and the courts let him survive, there would be real payback time.

Now picture this scenario:
Diane resigns from the senate after winning the recall. She takes the governors seat. Gray Davis takes the constitutionality of the Recall to the 9th circuit court. Being the most liberal federal court in the land, it takes the case.

Diane appoints her successor in the senate. The Republicans in the Senate refuse to seat Diane's replacement until the courts rule on the Constitutionality of the recall law. For if the court rules it is unconstitutional, Diane is not governor and can't appoint a successor. Gray Davis would be put back in office if the Recall is illegal. But Diane's resignation has been accepted and it sticks.

Thus the Senate goes from 48 Democrats to 47 and Democratic filibusters get a lot harder to do. Now consider that it matters not if davis wins or not, Diane is out of the Senate once she resigns. If Davis wins the suit she can't get her Senate seat back unless Gray Davis appoints her...... fat Chance of Gray doing that. Diane is not that stupid.

No one knows what the 9th circuit court will do... except perhaps Gray Davis, Diane Feinstein and Terry McAulliff.

This is Republican propaganda pure and simple and the only people that will believe it are the politically amateurish recall people in California.

6 posted on 07/19/2003 5:49:56 AM PDT by Common Tator
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To: Just mythoughts
It had been Panetta's intention to run for Governor but he was so tainted by slick willie that it was thought he'd have no chance.
7 posted on 07/19/2003 5:50:54 AM PDT by OldFriend ((Dems inhabit a parallel universe))
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To: Elkiejg
But, but --- didn't Terrible Terry say "NO OTHER DEMORAT WILL RUN"?? And isn't Terrible Terry the BOSS of all Demorats - state and national???

Well, maybe they won't "run". They'll "campaign" or "stump" or any of a dozen other verbs. After B.C., every utterance by a Democrat is mutable. Which makes sense, since their reading of what the law says is equally fluid.

8 posted on 07/19/2003 5:54:48 AM PDT by John Jorsett
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To: Common Tator
Do you really think the Democrats are going to lose a seat in the senate for months perhaps a year.

When the recall happens, the new governor takes office the next day. And if it's Feinstein, she names her replacement in the Senate. FRom the Democrats poit of view, this would be great. Feinstein was getting kind of tired of the job, and this would be a good way to guarantee a younger incumbent to defend the seat into the indefinite future.

And if the Democrats turn on Davis and the courts let him survive, there would be real payback time.

Like what? He's already wounded, his party hates him and he knows it. The legislature has already shifted into high gear, shoving every leftist fantasy bill at him that he's now in no position to veto lest what remains of his tattered base deserts him. If he survives by some miracle, he won't be stronger, he'll be weaker, and a lame duck besides. He's in no position to exact retribution.

9 posted on 07/19/2003 6:01:12 AM PDT by John Jorsett
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To: Common Tator
"...Democratic filibusters get a lot harder to do."

Excuse me but...'Democratic filibusters'...have yet to start in the Senate - ONLY threats to filibuster and Republican cowardice to force the actual filibuster.

10 posted on 07/19/2003 6:16:20 AM PDT by harpu
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To: John Jorsett
You are arguing the supremacy of State law over the rulings of the federal courts.

You need to ask the Homosexuals in Texas how that works.

11 posted on 07/19/2003 6:22:14 AM PDT by Common Tator
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To: randita
Terry McMOUTH orders came from the SPERMINATOR & HIS WITCH. It will be interesting to see if ARKANCIDE occurs in those who violate the orders.

CA may just end up with the TERMINATOR as its Governor.
12 posted on 07/19/2003 6:23:08 AM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: Common Tator
But can Di Fi actually beat Arnold? I don't know. And, would the Dems risk losing both the Gov. and the Senate seat---because if she resigns before the recall, and Davis appoints a successor, what if that successor isn't popular enough to beat the GOP challenger? I say this is fraught with bomblets for the Dems.
13 posted on 07/19/2003 6:25:25 AM PDT by LS
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To: LS
either Feinstein or Panetta would win easily, lets get real.
14 posted on 07/19/2003 6:30:56 AM PDT by oceanview
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To: All
And let's not forget the wild card in the deck -- the possibility that Joe Davis might resign when he finally realizes that he cannot win a recall vote and let Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamonte take over, thus leaving the office in 'crat hands for the next two years.

Right now, that's my best scenario.

15 posted on 07/19/2003 6:35:37 AM PDT by SamKeck
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To: LS
Di Fi is no dummy. God help California is she takes over.Better start hiding your guns now. And your wallet.I think Davis will resign at the last minute let Cruz take over. More nightmares may be coming to the people of California.At least the pot is being stirred. Issa is already running radio ads for governor.
16 posted on 07/19/2003 6:35:59 AM PDT by novacation
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To: novacation
I'm not a Californian, but from what I read, Issa has no shot. Based on what I get from the outside, only Arnold has a chance to beat these people.
17 posted on 07/19/2003 6:44:23 AM PDT by LS
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To: oceanview
Either would beat Armold?
18 posted on 07/19/2003 6:44:49 AM PDT by LS
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To: LS
I think so, 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.
19 posted on 07/19/2003 6:47:30 AM PDT by oceanview
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To: SamKeck; novacation
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. Gray Davis can still resign, making Bustamante Acting Governor. However, in what would be only a 1-question recall ("Who should be the new governor?"), the replacement will STILL be elected and Bustamante will go BACK to being Lt. Gov. the day after the election.

In other words, the nightmare scenario of Davis resigning for Bustamante had it's chance, and the window is closed on that. Possibly the only thing resignation could do is prop Bustamante up in a recall election but I don't see it as having much effect.
20 posted on 07/19/2003 6:48:22 AM PDT by GiveEmDubya
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