Posted on 03/17/2002 2:21:26 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
The White House may have pushed former LA mayor Dick Riordan into running for the GOP nomination for governor of California, but is now putting its full weight behind Bill Simon, the man who beat him, and President Bush will be leading the parade.
In April, a full seven months before the crucial November election, the president will head for California to hit the campaign trail on behalf of the conservative Simon - a sure indication that the White House sees GOP chances of capturing the state as better than good.
According to the Contra Costa Times, the president will headline at least one major fund raiser for Simon next month, who polls show running head to head with incumbent Governor Gray Davis.
"We've had a lot of communication with the White House," Simon campaign strategist Sal Russo told the Times' Sandy Kleffman. "It's a high priority for the White House to make California competitive."
Political observers say the president has a lot to gain from a Simon victory in a state which in recent years has voted heavily Democrat.
"An incumbent Republican governor would be a very powerful asset for them," Michael Schroeder, a former state GOP party chairman told Kleffman.
"If Simon wins, Bush will win California in 2004," Schroeder, now co-chairman of Simon's campaign, told Kleffman
With the president popularity still running an astounding 82 percent, Bush's appearance in the campaign could prove to be a big asset for Simon, who already is showing far more strength than the experts believed he'd have in a statewide race against a tough, experienced campaigner like Davis. According to Russo, the campaign's internal polls now show Simon with 48 percent and Davis with 41 percent.
Democrats hope to topple Simon by attacking his pro-life, pro-Second Amendment position, picturing him as an extremist out of touch with California's voters.
Simon, however, has taken aim at the bread and butter issues as education, taxes and energy - three issue dear to the hearts of the state's voters.
"That's always been the place where Republicans do best, being principled and conservative but compassionate and caring about people," Russo told the Times.
Also on the plus side is Governor Davis record of failure in dealing with the state's energy crisis and his inept handling of the economy with California now facing a $14 billion budget deficit.
With Bush taking an active part in the campaign, and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, now enjoying the status of a national hero, stumping hard for him, Simon could repeat his upset of Riordan by knocking off Davis.
He knows that he short changed California. I am going to ensure he continues his public offering of screwing America and even California.
Really? I didn't know Albania had a constitution.
I think we should hold a DUMP DAVIS RALLY AT THE CAPITOL. Bring plastic trash cans with signs saying, "Lousy Schools" "Higher Taxes" "Energy Swindle" etc., etc.
And don't forget Rush's slogan: "Vote for Simon. He's not insane!"
Did you check out the new poll that has Simon ahead of Davis by 7 points statewide?
No it was Lazio voting on legislation in which he had a financial interest.
The lack of brain function of Davis is reaching the public!
The reason that Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge had to demonstrate the color-coded squares of terror alertness was so politicians like Gov. Gray Davis, who posted National Guard members at state bridges last fall after learning of a threat later proven to be not credible, could understand it.
The gay predators who control the SF GayRonicle were/are in full attack mode against Simon according to Mel Morgan, right now on KSFO!
Davis will use the race card, the abortion card and the so called anti gay card to try and win this election. He will have the maggots who control the fish wraps and tv channels on his side.
This election will be extremely nasty! We need to put on our crash helmets and fasten our shoulder belts for what is coming between now and November!
It may be coming again. Natural gas prices have increased from around $2.00 per mcf to over $3.12 mcf today, in the last month. A hot summer, low hydroelectric contribution from the NW and it will be deja vu all over again. The 800lb gorilla could be sitting right on Davis' head.
That's a GREAT idea! LOL...I can see it now!
Simon BUMP!
Davis deals Simon the race card, the abortion card, and the anti-gay card.)
Davis: HA! Look at that! Sorry, Paad-nah. You lose!
Davis reaches for the pot
Simon: Wait a minute. (reaches for Davis' arm) What's that you've got up your sleeve?
Davis: Oh, that? That's the Energy-crisis card--
Simon: I already played that one-- saaaaaay-- you've been cheating me and the rest of the voters in this game. Let me see those cards. (inspects fine print on cards) Just as I suspected-- "made in Davis Country". You're under arrest, Davis-- there's new Sheriff in town.
Simon tears open his shirt, revealing another shirt with a great big "S."
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You obviously have no idea what's in the Constitution. It may be unethical, if he in fact did that, but it's not unconstitutional. What exactly was his financial interest and what was the vote on?
I assume you're real worked up about Hillary Clinton representing Madison Guaranty Savings and Loan before the Arkansas state banking commission and persuading them not to shut it down while her hubby was Governor, (which eventually cost a few billion extra in taxpayer's money to bail it out). Madison, owned by their friends the MacDougals, had sunk huge amounts of money into the Whitewater development, also owned primarily by the MacDougals, and in which the Clintons had a direct financial interest.
I'll bet you would never vote for Hillary Clinton because of that, eh?
You were probably PO'd about Clinton pardoning Marc Rich after his wife had given huge $ to Clinton's campaigns also. If Clinton ran for say, California Governor, I'll bet you would never vote for him because of that.
Lazio took an oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States .
Lazio was the leading advocate in the House for abolishing provisions of the Glass-Steagall Act of 1932 (which separated commercial banking from investment banking), while owning stock options that would benefit by the nullification.
He did not take an oath to "protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." Only the President takes that oath. But that's completely beside the point anyway. You're not explaining what was unconstitutional about the vote in the first place. There's nothing in the Constitution prohibiting someone from voting on something in which they have a financial interest.
On the other hand, bills like the Glass Steagal Act itself are probably unconstitutional, since the Constitution reserves all powers to the individual states other than those explicitly granted to the federal government. In fact, most of the activities of the federal government are probably unconstitutional.
Since you're a Democrat, I doubt you have the foggiest idea what the Constitution actually says. Democrats tend to think it says whatever they want it to say.
The House has ethic rules which prohibit voting on matters in which one has a financial interest.
Further, if there is such a rule and he did that, why wasn't there an investigation by the House ethics committee?
Who controls committee investigations? answer the Reps.
The Reps didn't want to kill their chances in 2000.
It was bad enough that the Reps felt they had to bar Lazio from making a speech at the Rep Convention, which probably cost Bush 2,000,000 votes and 4 seats in the Senate.
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