GOVERNOR BUSTAMONTE AND LEARNING TO DO SIMPLE MATH

[Chancellor Palpatine]

California registered voters, by party.

To all the mathematics challenged "true conservatives" gleefully carving up the GOP votes with more candidates, please carefully observe the numerical superiority in the number of registered Democrats - nearly 1.5 million - which is augmented by roughly 150,000 green party members.

Also look at the group of 2.3 million unregistered voters - a group which is not historically wedded to the "true conservative" wing of the CaliforniaGOP - a fact borne out in several elections.

If one considers that Cruz Bustamonte is enthusiastically backed by the state apparatus if the majority of the voters go over the threshhold and ashcan Davis (which I'm now in doubt over, since Simon is entering), and considering that there is no credible prominent Democrat opposition to him, then how does it help to carve up the GOP vote by having Simon and McClintock at the same time as Schwarzenegger?

[Chancellor Palpatine]

You have the answer - they're not in their right minds.

[Torie]

First, Garamandi is supposed to enter as well, so the Dem vote will be split as well. Second, some Dems like my brother will not vote for Bustamonte under any circumstances, and third Arnold will get a fair number of Dem votes. Beyond that, if at the end the polls show it is a two person race (say Bustamonte and Arnold), then there will be huge pressure for McClintock and Simon to drop out, and they probably will.

My Dem brother is also seriously considering voting for McClintock by the way. Granted, I had something to do with that. What this state needs right now is someone who really understands the budget, and is willing to make some very tough calls, and take the heat. McClintock is that man. No one else comes close. I say that not as an ideological matter, but rather as one of simple fact.

In any event, I am not worried about a splintering of the GOP ranks letting in Bustamonte at this time. I think the odds that Bustamonte wins due to that happening is low. He might win anyway (although I doubt that too), but if he does, it will probably not be due to this factor.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Let's face it: the recall effort was started by a group of conservative Republicans (not all conservative Republican were behind the recall from the start, but those at the start were conservative Republicans). They should have known from the start that while they might have a good chance at taking out Gray Davis, once the recall qualified for the ballot, they couldn't control the end result.

Their problem is that they started too early, and it looks like sour grapes and another bite at the apple on the part of that greatest failure of all candidates, Bill Simon (especially now that he is in this pig). After this is done, I'd think that many moons will pass until somebody tries this one again.

[Dog Gone]

If I still lived in California, I'd probably vote for Ah-nold. None of the other GOP candidates is ever going to surpass him in the polls, and Bustamonte is pretty likely to get the vast majority of anti-recall voters.

A Jesse Ventura-type politician might be exactly what California needs. If he fails to turn things around, there's plenty of room for conservatives to distance themselves from him in 2006.

He's certainly a shrewd businessman, has university degrees in business and international economics, and he'd carry more authority, simply because of who he is, in the office than anyone else on the ballot from any party.

I think the people who think Tom McClintock or Bill Simon or Peter Ueberroth will receive the most votes are delusional.

[TontoKowalski]

I've been thinking along the same lines. Garamendi (I think that's the proper spelling) is unknown to me, but I understand he's quite popular among Cali dems. That's going to split their vote to some extent.

The filing deadline is tomorrow. I'd bet money that some dim (I'm thinking Loretta Sanchez) is thinking, "Hmm. I'm a woman, and a Hispanic, and throw in variables and unknowns for the other candidates, plus the fact I'm not in State govt and can't be blamed for the mess, and I might walk away with this thing if I can get, say, 23% of the vote..."

If Dim party "unity" didn't hold together for Davis, I can't imagine they're all going to fall in line for Bustamonte. I look for one more semi-prominant dim to enter the race at the last minute.

[CdMGuy]

Well, it tells me that Bill Simon is a bigger incompetent then I gave him credit for when I voted for him last November. He is either an egomaniac or an idiot, as he cannot possibly win the governorship. He can only mess it up for the Republicans by siphonning off votes. This guy is as big an a-hole as they come. Then along comes Peter Uberoth (sp?) Thanks guys, not!!!!!

[Dog Gone]

Mike Tyson just announced that he's running for California Governor.

He said he needed the free house.

[My2Cents]

After this is done, I'd think that many moons will pass until somebody tries this one again.

I think if a Republican wins, the Democrats will start a recall within the week.

[TheDon]

Many share your point of view. Time will tell if you are right or not.

As the governor has line item veto authority, submits the budget to the legislature for approval, and is in charge of spending the money, a new governor can eliminate the budget in one year.

Arnold is the candidate who will do it, who is most likely to win. Considering how bad things are now, I can't afford to wait!

[Dane]

He's certainly a shrewd businessman, has university degrees in business and international economics, and he'd carry more authority, simply because of who he is, in the office than anyone else on the ballot from any party.

I think the people who think Tom McClintock or Bill Simon or Peter Ueberroth will receive the most votes are delusional

Another thing Arnold is good at is self-promotion(any Hollywood star has to be). He is going to suck up the media spotlight.

And then there is the question of debates. Would that debate be Arnold and Bustamante, or Arnold, Bustamante, Grarimandi, Gary Coleman, etc.etc..

[eureka!]

25% of the registered Rats are in favor of the recall, or so say the pollsters....

[Lancey Howard]

Yesterday a freeper brought up an interesting point. Remember what the scumbags did in New Jersey last year? They knew the Torch was toast and so they put a gun to his head and made him drop out of the race at the last minute (with the blessing of the mob-controlled, utterly corrupt state Supreme Court there). They then foisted up a corpse named Lautenberg (with all the name recognition) and won the election, keeping the New Jersey Senate seat safely in scumbag hands.

Now, what is to prevent the scumbags from doing exactly the same thing in Kalifornia? Why wouldn't the scumbags put a gun to Davis' head and make him resign the day before the recall election, thereby negating the need for a recall election at all, and making Bustamonte the governor by succession? End of Arnold, end of story, the scumbags keep control of the Kalifornia governor's office. Is there some part of the recall law that would prevent such a manuever?

Thank you to anybody who can intelligently address this (strong) possibility.

[TheDon]

Not a bad scenario. If it happens that way, it kills at least two birds with one stone.

[Dog Gone]

Arnold vs. Arianna. We'd need translators.

[daviddennis]

Absolutely agreed on all points.

I'm getting the impression that he's considerably smarter than Ventura and I suspect that will make a lot of difference in practical results.

Much as I like McClintock and his supporters, it's not time for them yet.

My office consensus appears to be overwhelmingly in support of Arnold.

Can you believe a 19% Davis approval rating today? It's dropping by the minute. Pretty soon even his labour union supporters are gonna drop him.

D

[amused]

It's all about principles. And getting to say one is right by not actually having anything they believe in implemented. I have to confess I like McClintock but I like winning more.

The priority is for myself is one, Davis getting his ass kicked out; two, is to take the governorship; three, is to have that replacement be a conservative.

#3 looks like a possible obstacle to not just #2 but #1 as well.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Count on it.

[Stallone]

Not possible - the recall lection is on since the filing date establishes the deadline. Interim resignations will put Bustamante in the role of temporary governor only.

[Stallone]

Arnold is a gift to America.

He is an inspiration, fiscally sharp (Masters in Economics), and larger than life.

His impact on the Republican movement in California will be enormous.

Rush is dead wrong.

Schwarzenegger is the classic immigrant who made it big.

The American Dream come true. Arnold laments its passage in California, because it was the stuff of legends.

A return to this nostalgic past is as conservative as one gets, and I will support him wholeheartedly.

I suggest all Freepers do as well - IF YOU WANT TO LIVE.

[CyberCowboy777]

Davis cannot resign now that the recall is in progress.