California Recall Daily Thread (10/5/2003) 2 Days To Go

In just 2 days the people of California will choose a Governor and as a result set a course that will affect the future of the state and our country in profound ways. This thread has been created to keep us all informed of the important developments.

I invite you to post all the major recall stories here or if it has already been posted, then add links to these posts. We welcome discussions of the candidates, the issues, campaign strategy, the polls, etc. Please be civil in your comments.

If you want to be added to a ping list on the recall please freepmail me and make sure you mention that you want to be added to the "recall ping list." I will ping you once daily at the start of the thread and occasionally if there is major breaking news.

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Poll: Support for recall is waning in CA

Jim Puzzanghera and Linda Goldston ^ | Sat, Oct. 04, 2003 | By Jim Puzzanghera and Linda Goldston
Posted on 10/05/2003 5:51 AM PDT by KQQL

The recall remains well ahead in a new statewide poll, but support has weakened over the past four days after a burst of negative news about Arnold Schwarzenegger, the frontrunner to replace Gov. Gray Davis.

Voters saying they favor the recall still lead those opposing it, by 54 percent to 41 percent, according to the Mercury News/NBC 11/Knight Ridder Poll of 1,000 registered voters.

But those saying they definitely would vote in favor of the recall declined from 52 percent Wednesday to 44 percent Saturday, according to the poll. Those who say they either are probably going to vote for the recall or are unsure how to vote, meanwhile, have increased during the same period from 10 percent to 24 percent.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/995456/posts

MCCLINTOCK = BEST HOPE, CHECK & BALANCE for CALIFORNIA FUTURE: CRITICAL CONSIDERATIONS

DIRECT POST | by R. Scott Moxley
Posted on 10/05/2003 1:35 AM PDT by joralink

The Case for Governor Tom McClintock: Why progressives should vote for the most conservative candidate in the race to replace Gray Davis....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/995403/posts

VOTERS STILL BACKING DAVIS BOOT [Recall leading 54-41, Arnold 37, Cruz 29, Tom 15]

NY Post ^ | 10-5-03 | NY Post
Posted on 10/05/2003 1:47 AM PDT by ambrose

October 5, 2003 -- PLEASANTON, Calif. - Arnold

Schwarzenegger is weathering a storm of sexual-misconduct and racism charges that have dogged the finals days of his campaign for governor, according to a poll released last night. Golden State voters leaned toward backing the recall of Gov. Gray Davis, 54 percent to 41 percent, according to a survey by NBC affiliate KNTV.

Schwarzenegger led on the replacement ballot, 37 percent to 29 percent over his closest rival, Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante.

Pollsters took their interviews Wednesday and Thursday, meaning that about half the respondents were exposed to an Los Angeles Times bombshell that chronicled a series of lewd acts by the actor.

Meanwhile, a Los Angeles Times poll shows that the share of Democrats favoring the recall has climbed from 19 percent to 27 percent in several weeks....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/995404/posts

Tough love: Tax cigarettes, alcohol and the rich, by: Cruz Bustamante

SF Chronicle ^ | 10-5-03 | Cruz Bustamante
Posted on 10/05/2003 4:49 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

I have outlined a very specific budget plan that I believe will erase next year's projected $8 billion budget shortfall while at the same time fully funding K-12 education, reduce or eliminate the tripling of the car tax and roll back community college fees to last year's level. Some of the highlights of that plan:

Adds funding for K-12 education.
Rolls back community colleges fees.
Cuts "car tax" increase - exempts first $20,000.
Raises taxes on cigarettes, alcohol.
Reinstates top income tax (same as under Ronald Reagan).
Closes Prop. 13 "skyscraper" loophole (more frequent reassessment, commercial property).
Attacks Medi-Cal fraud.
Limits "S" corporations (earning less than $20 million gross receipts).
Allows taxpayers using abusive schemes to file amended returns.
Cuts $2 billion more from the current budget.
Last year's budget relied too heavily on budget gimmicks and borrowing. My "tough love" approach acts responsibly to close the budget gap and protect the programs we as Californians care about....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/995430/posts

The route is hazardous, so don't switch governors in mid-stream, by: Gray Davis

SF Chronicle ^ | 10-5-03 | Gray Davis
Posted on 10/05/2003 4:52 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

California's governor is the leader of the nation's largest state and the world's sixth largest economy.

If this recall succeeds, a replacement candidate with unknown positions on the issues and well-less than a majority of the vote would take office almost immediately. More than the first 30 days of his term would be consumed by efforts to just get on his feet -- not conducting the business of government....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/995431/posts

Clinton-Davis Scorched Earth Campaign Part 2

http://www.robertscheer.com/1_natcolumn/01_columns/031301.htm ^ | March 13, 2001 | Robert Scheer
Posted on 10/05/2003 4:54 AM PDT by carbon14

By Robert Scheer
Published March 13, 2001 in the Los Angeles Times

Arnold Schwarzenegger for governor!

Well, why not? I hadn't thought of putting in a plug for the actor's political career until Gov. Gray Davis' top political operative, Garry South, conducted one of the meanest political smear jobs in recent memory.

South took the lowest of the low roads when he personally made sure that an article in Premiere magazine got into the hands of a host of reporters as well as potential Republican backers of a possible Schwarzenegger gubernatorial campaign. Not content with attacking Schwarzenegger as a womanizer, as the magazine did, South baited Republicans for even considering supporting a man whose political views might be described as more moderate than theirs.

As South told me, Schwarzenegger "defined himself as a social liberal, pro-choice and pro-gun control, plus he's married to a Kennedy." What a crime. But South sputtered on, adding that Schwarzenegger also is pro-gay rights, pro-immigrant and supported Clinton during the impeachment farce.

Most of this kind of talk is aimed at shocking Republicans, but apparently South got his call list mixed up and mistakenly placed me in the category of right-winger. Anything to destroy an opponent. South claimed Schwarzenegger's suggestion that he might be a gubernatorial candidate made him fair game. Referring to the actor's interview with Times columnist George Skelton, South said, "When Skelton put him in the ring, he [Schwarzenegger] trashed the governor." ....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/995433/posts

Schwarzenegger: Cut spending, taxes, by: Arnold Schwarzenegger

SF Chronicle ^ | 10-5-03 | Arnold Schwartzenegger
Posted on 10/05/2003 4:56 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

Considering the dismal performance of the career politicians in Sacramento -- who have brought us multibillion-dollar deficits, sky-high energy prices and a crippled business climate -- it's easy to conclude that California is no longer a governable state, and that there's no way to change the status quo.

I don't buy that. The problems we face can be solved. Much of what we need is already here: a diverse economy, an innovative spirit and hard-working people, to name just a few of our assets. But what California is lacking is strong leadership.

As governor, I will work to get the state's fiscal house in order. Immediately upon taking office, I will order an independent, top-to-bottom audit of the state budget -- due back to me in 60 days. That way, we can get a clear picture -- uncluttered by politics and special interest influence -- of how we can bring spending under control without neglecting our most important obligations.

This audit will accomplish two important things. First, it will give us independent information to determine our true operating deficit. And second, it will let us identify specific line items that can be reduced.

The problem is overspending, and the deficit must be closed by getting spending under control. Our first order of business is to get California's operating deficit under control. I will ensure that California's government lives within its means -- something working families manage to do every day -- and rein in spending to close the operating deficit....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/995436/posts

A legislator who knows the ropes, by: Tom McClintock

SF Chronicle ^ | 10-5-03 | Tom McClintock
Posted on 10/05/2003 5:08 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

This recall election can be the historic turning point that can restore our state's public works, bring its bureaucracies back under control and roll back the regulations and taxes that are choking our economy. To do so,

we must have a governor who knows every crevice of this government and is willing to challenge the spending lobby that controls it.

The moment I take the oath of office, I'll sign an executive order to rescind the illegal tripling of the car tax. I'll then sign a stipulation to the Superior Court in Pasadena in the case I filed last year to void the $42 billion of outrageously priced electricity contracts that Davis approved. Those contracts were negotiated under a clear legal conflict of interest by Davis' chief negotiator.

Then I will sign a third document, calling a special session of the state Legislature to deal with our workers' compensation insurance crisis. Legislators will have 30 days to enact an Arizona-style workers' compensation law, slashing workers' comp costs by 2/3. If they fail in 30 days, I'll take it to the ballot and let them explain to the people why they refused to act while our job market was collapsing.

All that before lunch.

The rest of the day, I will personally defund every state agency that duplicates local or federal jurisdictions, overlaps other state agencies or performs functions that the private sector could and should do anyway....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/995441/posts

Arnold still leads polls amid allegations

AP | 10/05/03 | ERICA WERNER
Posted on 10/05/2003 5:39 AM PDT by kattracks

MERCED, Calif. (AP) ? Arnold Schwarzenegger was wrapping up his four-day bus tour across California, still leading in the polls but his campaign deeply troubled by claims he groped women and once praised Hitler. The Republican action star faced more sexual harassment allegations in an article published Sunday. He was set to rumble into the state capitol Sacramento for a noon rally....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/995450/posts

Registration figures up for next week's election - Republicans make gains in swing counties

SF Chronicle ^ | October 4, 2003 | Zachary Coile
Posted on 10/05/2003 6:18 AM PDT by veronica

More Californians are registered to vote for the recall election than were registered last November when Gov. Gray Davis won re-election -- but unfortunately for the incumbent Democrat, far fewer of them are Democrats.

The Democratic Party lost nearly a full percentage point in registration -- dropping from 44.6 percent to 43.7 percent of the state's electorate -- as more Californians chose to become "decline-to-state" or independent voters, according to new figures released Friday by the secretary of state's office. That's a loss of 107,000 Democratic voters in less than a year.

The Republican Party saw a small increase in registration -- from 35.2 percent to 35.3 percent -- but in a state the size of California, that translates to more than 40,000 new voters.

The largest increase came in new "decline-to-state" voters, who jumped from 15.2 percent to 16 percent of the electorate. Election officials said it's part of a growing trend of voters choosing not to affiliate with either major party....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/995464/posts

Poll: Schwarzenegger Gaining; Recall Strong as October 7 Election Nears

Business Wire ^ | October 05, 2003 09:00 AM US Eastern
Posted on 10/05/2003 6:25 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

STANFORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 5, 2003--The final of three recent Stanford University-Hoover Institution polls shows GOP candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger has consolidated his support among voters and support is solid for the Oct. 7 recall to replace Governor Gray Davis.
These findings are consistent with the previous online surveys conducted by the Stanford-Hoover group and Knowledge Networks since Sept. 8.

The Stanford-Hoover poll was the first to identify Schwarzenegger as the front-running candidate.....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/995468/posts

Even if ousted, Davis wouldn't go immediately (The Florida Scenario)

San Diego Union-Tribune ^ | October 4th, 2003 | Alex Roth
Posted on 10/05/2003 6:36 AM PDT by Sabertooth

If voters approve the recall Tuesday, don't expect Gov. Gray Davis to be going anywhere Wednesday.

Given the legal time frame for counting votes, and the extraordinary number of absentee ballots, it could take a day or so for the results to be clear and more than a month for those results to be certified.

So even if the recall succeeds, election officials say it's a virtual certainty that Davis would remain in office until mid-November. During this time he could make a variety of judicial appointments. He also has until Oct. 12 to sign roughly 240 bills, only a handful of which are considered controversial.

No California governor has ever been recalled, and the last time voters turned an incumbent out of office was 1966 -- when Ronald Reagan defeated Gov. Pat Brown. Every California governor since then either has had to leave office because of term limits or has decided against seeking re-election.

It is anyone's guess how Davis might handle a transition of power under such humiliating circumstances....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/995476/posts

POLL: GRAY SKIES FOR DAVIS

Monterey Herald ^ | Octoer 5, 2003 | Dan Laidman
Posted on 10/05/2003 8:06 AM PDT by John Jorsett

New voters and those who usually sit out elections are creating a decisive edge for the ouster of Gov. Gray Davis and the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger, according to a Knight Ridder/NBC News poll released Saturday night.

The poll found 54 percent of Californians support the recall, with 41 percent opposed and 5 percent undecided. That is a margin slightly closer than that of three other recent polls, all of which were conducted before potentially damaging allegations about Schwarzenegger's past behavior became a campaign issue.

While the recall effort may have suffered somewhat from that, Schwarzenegger still leads significantly. The poll shows the Republican with 37 percent support, compared to 29 percent for his nearest rival in the field of replacement candidates, Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante.

The poll, which included interviews with 1,000 registered voters between Wednesday and Saturday, found much greater support for the recall and Schwarzenegger among Californians who are newly registered or who have not voted much in the past....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/995511/posts

How Marin views recall election.

Marin Independent Journal ^ | October 05, 2003 | Richard Halstead
Posted on 10/05/2003 8:21 AM PDT by John Jorsett

Marin residents provided a smorgasbord of political views about the recall of Gov. Gray Davis this week.

An informal sampling of opinion across the county found people who blamed Davis for the state's problems, people who accused Republicans of engineering a power grab, people who opposed front-runner Arnold Schwarz-enegger in light of his lack political experience - and people who support his candidacy because he has no political experience.

And then there were some people who were just plain confused.

For instance, Christopher Pegeron, 21, of San Rafael, said he intends to vote against the recall. "I think it's time for a change," said Pegeron, who said he intends to vote for Schwarzenegger.

When asked to explain his thinking, Pegeron added, "The recall is to recall Davis into office as governor - right? Voting against it would mean I would put somebody else into the office."

Roberto Rivas, a clerk at a San Rafael grocery, said he intended to vote against the recall.

"For me, Gray Davis has been doing a good job," Rivas said. But Rivas said he won't vote for Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante to replace Davis, in case the recall succeeds. "He's too much like Davis," Rivas said....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/995519/posts

Will plan 'B' be a bust? [Grayout Claimed Only Single Digit % Lead for Recall On October 1st]

Ventura County Star ^ | 10-1-03 | Ventura County Star
Posted on 10/05/2003 2:05 AM PDT by ambrose

[snip]

Although it is too soon to jump to conclusions in a campaign as fluid and unpredictable as this one has been, the most recent polling shows the recall winning narrowly and Republican Schwarzenegger at the top of the pack among the replacement candidates.

Davis' pollsters have taken to asking a new question in their surveys: How would you vote on the recall if Bustamante were not on the ballot?

The result, said Ben Tulchin of the polling firm Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates, is that the recall question "becomes dead-even .... Support drops below 50 percent."

With Bustamante in, however, Davis' polls show support for the recall with a single-digit percentage point lead. The gap is closing, but time is running out....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/995406/posts

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