Gubernatorial candidates spar in biggest debate of recall election

Sac Bee ^ | 9/24/03 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

The most-anticipated debate of California's recall campaign quickly descended into a squabble of overlapping attacks Wednesday, forcing the moderator to tame personal comments by four of the five leading candidates seeking to replace Gov. Gray Davis.

Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, a Democrat, came under attack for taking millions of dollars in Indian casino money. Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger was criticized for supporting a divisive ballot initiative nine years ago that would have prevented services for the children of illegal immigrants. State Sen. Tom McClintock was told he had the facts backward on the economy, and independent Arianna Huffington was hit for barely paying income taxes.

[ambrose]

It is curious that a majority vote must remove CEO Gray-Davis from office, but it only takes a plurality to replace him. If the majority vote is "Democracy," then what does one call the plurality vote?

Grayout was re-elected in 2002 with a plurality of the votes, and that seemed good enough for the Rats then, didn't it?

[ambrose]

Arnold will certainly go to Tom for advice if we have a Governor Schwarzenegger in two weeks,

Arnold will go to Tom for advice about as often as Pete Wilson did...

[Sir Valentino]

I think there is a *GOOD* chance that once *SCHWARZENEGGER* is in the *GOVERNOR'S MANSION* that he'll pick *McCLINTOCK* as his *LIEUTENANT GOVENOR*.

[Owens08]

If Arnold wins, Cruz remains LtGov...

Also, don't fool yourself, Arnold would pick some squishy like himself.

If he had any desire to reach out to conservatives, he'd have done the politically-wise thing and do it DURING the campaign...

Arnold is no friend to conservatives. Never has been, never will be...

[JustPiper]

I've always liked McClintock and do not understand why all Californians do not see what I do, wish I was there. He was the best in the debate and oh so likable ;)

[My2Cents]

I have nothing against Tom McClintock on the issues. None at all. And he seems to be an upright good guy. He just can't win. And, I don't see in him the qualities that are necessary to be an effective governor. It takes more than being "right" on the issues to govern a state like California. Others will disagree, but this is my observation.

[JustPiper]

I hope he then accepts Arnie's vow to run him as Lt. Gov ;)

[patriciaruth]

Arnold will go to Tom for advice about as often as Pete Wilson did...

I have heard talk coming out of the Arnold camp of their becoming a team. You'll note in the debate that Tom did not attack his fellow Republican, and vice versa.

There's no reason Arnold should not seek out Tom as he knows where a lot of the budget bodies lie.

Did you see the news (buried) that 2 million of the money borrowed for this year's budget deficit was taken from state pension funds???