He has a down-home, folksy image, and he carries himself well. Can that survive people knowing he has a house of around 9,000 square feet, or that he can afford a Gulfstream jet?
I gained this insight when I saw his house.
I have a long-standing hobby of being in touch with the local real estate market, and when I typed Simon's name into a search engine and found his address, I couldn't resist checking it out.
It's big. Very big. It looks like you could fit at least three typical homes in it. And it's immaculately maintained, the type of residence you just know has a huge staff making sure it stays that way.
It doesn't make you think of down-home. It makes you think of almost impossible helpings of wealth and power.
I have the impression that this is not an image voters like. They would rather think you have an average suburban place somewhere, instead of your own Gulfstream jet.
I think that's why Simon doesn't want to release his tax returns - and I don't blame him one bit.
Especially since I want him to win.
D
PS If you're curious to see what I mean, yes, I did get a picture; if there's demand, I'll post it when I get home.
On the other hand, as long as they keep bashing him for not releasing his tax returns, it keeps them from attacking him for something else. And I don't think many people are going to get excited about this issue. It's pretty boring.
Unfortunately, Republicans have to run against the press as well as the Democrats. If the press were neutral, conservatives would do a lot better.
Love your website, btw!!
Davis wanted to buy himself a Gulfstream with taxpayer's mony after 9-11, while telling people how safe it was to fly commercial. Maybe Simon can use this in his campaign!
You will have to do better than that if you are trying to impress me. Tell me how many cars his garage will hold, how many hoist are in it and is it full of Snap On Tools and wallpapered with Nascar stuff. :- )
While I admire his success, the majority of people can be led by whatever the media wants them to believe. If the media says, "look how filthy rich he is, how he must not care about the little people, how Davis really cares about raising taxes to help you; you should vote the dem. ticket," many people might actually believe that spin.
George W. Bush's personality, or simply the many issues in the last presidential election, kept attention away from the custom home he was building. His new home probably didn't help him gain any votes in CA. Bill Simon doesn't appear to be quite as good at deflecting attention away from unimportant issues, and Davis is much more vulnerable/desperate than Al Gore was. Davis will do anything to attack Simon.
I have the impression that this is not an image voters like. They would rather think you have an average suburban place somewhere, instead of your own Gulfstream jet.
I think that's why Simon doesn't want to release his tax returns - and I don't blame him one bit.
I think you're right. Since Simon has refused to release it, he should stay true to his word; if he later releases his tax returns, then it will appear he flip-flops on issues, or that he's uncertain or unconfident. We know Davis flip-flops on important issues (like first doing nothing about energy, and then rushing to stem the disaster); there's no reason for Simon to cave into the media provocations to act like Davis.
if there's demand, I'll post it when I get home.
I think you should keep it to yourself. If you meet other Simon supporters in-person at rallies or FReeps, perhaps you can show them, but if you post it here, you save reporters and the Davis camp all the trouble of finding it themselves if they want to portray Simon as out-of-touch.