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Posted on 09/01/2003 10:44:11 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
To the rest of the world, our recall election might be a circus -- and they just may be right, according to Republican Party officials.
People have fun at a circus -- and California Republicans haven't had this much fun in years. Voters are actually paying attention to the GOP with actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and state Sen. Tom McClintock of Thousand Oaks drawing a combined total of support of nearly 50 percent of voters.
The state GOP has suddenly been flooded with interest from the news media, and even from its own members, as it plans its Sept. 12-14 convention in Los Angeles. "We are going crazy," said Mike Wintemute, communications director for the party. "Compared to prior years, we are getting requests for information not only from the traditional political press, but from the national and international media as well."
It is a situation the state party hasn't seen since the heyday of former President Reagan -- and it's a problem they clearly enjoy.
"We have a ballroom where there's space for 50 cameras and that might not be enough room," Wintemute said. "And our delegates are really getting excited. We are getting calls from people who haven't come in years and want to get involved."
Both Schwarzenegger and McClintock are scheduled to address the delegates over the weekend meeting -- and expected to steal much of the thunder from Democrats, who have scheduled a special executive board meeting to again come out against the recall and to get aboard Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante's campaign just in case.
For Davis, much has been made about his borrowing some campaign tactics and advice from former President Clinton.
Now, a member of the opposition party has given Davis his very own Fleetwood Mac song, just as Clinton used the song "Don't Stop" throughout much of his own campaign.
The Sacramento-based Republican consulting firm, MB Associates, which puts out an occasional light-hearted newsletter called "The Loyal Opposition," lampooned the governor's recent spat with Bustamante and his campaign consultant Richie Ross, neither of whom is a big fan of Davis. The two recently accused Davis forces of undermining Bustamante's campaign by trying to scare off potential donors.
All of which prompted the firm to parody the Fleetwood Mac song "Oh Well," in this form:
"I can't help about the shape I'm in/ I can't govern, I ain't pretty and my neck is thin.
"But don't ask me what I think of Cruz/ I might not give the answer that Richie wants me to."
Hardball politics is nothing new in California, but this might be going a little too far.
California Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres is taking on Taco Bell and its mock poll of customers in which those buying a chicken soft taco are recorded as being against the recall and those purchasing a crunchy beef taco are counted as "votes" for Schwarzenegger.
"Taco Bell should stick to making tacos, not rigging elections," Torres proclaimed in a statement released last week. "Even in Chicago, no one would try to pull off such a rigged election."
Torres knows that beef tacos -- costing 74 cents -- always outsell the chicken tacos, priced at $1.50.
"What's next? A visit by Schwarzenegger to a Taco Bell to claim a victory?" Torres asked.
The emphasis on fund-raising in the recall election is bringing forward more calls for ways to limit the amount of money -- and its influence -- in elections.
All of which seems silly to KABC-AM (790) radio talk show host Doug McIntyre.
McIntyre came up with a unique proposal recently to at least let voters know where a politician's money comes from.
"I don't care how much money they raise or where it comes from," McIntyre told his overnight radio audience. "They just have to wear a NASCAR-type jacket showing who they took it from."
OK, this might be a little bit of plagiarism, but former Councilman Nate Holden has his own version of Schwarzenegger's best-known line, "I'll be back."
The 70-some-year-old Holden, who was forced out of office last year by term limits, says he has been approached about running for elected office again. Holden refuses to give his age, saying only he is "old enough."
Holden, vacationing in Hawaii last week, said a number of local leaders have contacted him about running for the state Assembly after his former aide and current Assembly speaker, Herb Wesson, is forced out by term limits next year.
"They tell me things are a mess up there and they need someone with experience," Holden said. "I told them I would seriously look at it."
Holden is no stranger to Sacramento, where he served in the state Senate for one term. He said he expects to make a decision within the next month.
Staff Writer Harrison Sheppard contributed to this report.
I hope it gives Torres heartburn.
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