Bush Declines to Share Stage with Simon at Hispanic Event

The Washington Times ^ | August 23, 2002 | Ralph Z. Hallow

[rightwing2]

President Bush will appear at two private fund-raising events for California gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon today, but he will not share the stage with the aspiring politician when he addresses Hispanic community leaders in Santa Ana, just south of Los Angeles.

[Poohbah]

Golding was mayor of this country's sixth largest city which is mostly politically conservative.... Shouldn't that have counted for something?

Maybe it should have...but it didn't. She simply could not get any name recognition, even after being very visible in connection with the 1996 GOP Convention.

[Saundra Duffy]

If some of you would wake up and look around, the incumbent is still VERY vulnerable

Very true and THANKS FOR SAYING IT!! Go, Simon!!!

[ElkGroveDan]

Pete Wilson is the reason Republicans are in such trouble in California. People were taught that Republicans are unlikeable, cranky and self-centered. That is the message that liberal Republicans have to offer.

Why anyone would want Riordan -- a guy MORE LIBERAL than Davis as the republican nominee is completely beyond me.

[marajade]

So if Riordan is more liberal than Davis and Simon can't beat him what is the answer?

[NormsRevenge]

I appreciate the withholding of the cane :-) ... LOL (Thanks Coop LOL)

Coop and I are just a couple of the many SimonIzed 1s .. We would walk on hot coals for the guy, I don;t know why ;-) Or Do I.. So Desperate are We to Throw Davi$ out that we get real punchy .. And .. LOL .. Even Flame "Our Own" .

Simon has presented a lot of supporters with a lot of "issues" spun by a press only to eager to pile on. I don;t know if guerilla tactics will work at this point, I prefer the 'StraightUp" approach .. StraightUp GraYouT's nose with a DioXin spritzer and a good MTBE enema. A Face to Face debate or 2 and attack ads on Davi$' record wouldn't hurt either.

[Coop]

Coop and I are just a couple of the many SimonIzed 1s .. We would walk on hot coals for the guy, I don;t know why ;-)

To be honest, Norm, I'm not the cheerleader some here make me out to be. I just can't stand to see all the garbage floating around. Simon does have problems, some of his own doing. But I just want to stop the untruths and negative innuendo, and try to tone down the pessimism. He's done some good things, too, and Davis' re-elect numbers still stink. I'm not looking for a perfect race by Simon. An ugly win is still a win!

I feel much more like a hockey goalie than a cheerleader. And that should make you happy, given how I look in a skirt! ;-)

[rightwing2]

Absolutely. Former State Senator Dick Mountejoy and current President of the California Republican Assembly would be an excellent prospect to lead the GOP in a bid for some statewide office.

[RichInOC]

Gee, you're right. Why should the Republicans waste time running against Gray Davis? Why even bother to have elections? Let's just acclaim him as Governor-for-Life and get it over with. I'm pretty sure he'd like that, anyway.

I don't know what's more irritating: The Washington Times leaning on Garry South as a source (I always look to Gray Davis's campaign consultants when I want to hear the truth about Bill Simon, don't you?) or well-meaning Freepers who read this article, complete with Garry's spin, and assume they now know all they need to know to declare the Simon campaign DOA and/or attack the Bush White House for wimping out on California (interesting accusation to level against a president who even as I post is visiting the state to support a candidate he's supposedly written off). Here's a radical thought, people: can we have the campaign and the election first, anyway, just in case this story's wrong? Please? Can we do that? Huh?

[Saundra Duffy]

Wed. night, the NorCal-Capitol Area Freepers Chapter had a great meeting. The Simon campaign issued a challenge which this Chapter accepted. Here's the deal:

You know how if it hadn't been for FreeRepublic.com, Al Gore would be President today? Well, after Nov. 5th., we want people to say, "If it hadn't been for FreeRepublic.com, Gray Davis would be Governor today."

Here's the challenge: State-wide chapter competition to see which chapter can register the most voters (with technical assistance from Calif Republican Assembly). The most important thing we Calif freepers can do right now is get conservatives registered to vote. Getting Bill Simon elected is crucial to our very survival! All other activities pale by comparison.

Let's say Simon wins by 3,000 votes and FR was responsible for getting 3,000 folks registered to vote. Yahoo! It would be worth all the effort.

Lager and I have contacts with the Simon campaign. We'll get a grand prize for the winning chapter that will knock your socks off.

NorCal-Capitol Area Freepers will be the coordinator. I'll be a consultant. Any comments, suggestions?

For victory & freedom!!!
Saundra Duffy
Head of Fresno Chapter

Jim Robinson has given his blessing. Now . . . let's roll. More to follow!!!!!!!!!

[Saundra Duffy]

I love you, man!!!

[marajade]

The Republicans have to run somebody... Is Simon the best the Republican party could have done? Obviously not. I just despise those freepers who refuse to even consider a moderate candidate if that candidate has the best chance of winning...

[Saundra Duffy]

Bush is not abandoning Simon. For God's sake, Bush is raising hard CASH for our guy. It ain't over 'til it's over. Simon is going to surprise you. I promise. For victory & freedom!!!

[jern]

I couldn't have said it better myself.

[section9]

As was pointed out by another poster earlier, Simon is at a five to one disadvantage in money. Davis can afford to run an air campaign of terrific intensity. You guys CANNOT beat him that way.

You can do the following.

1. Straighten out the candidate and his central team. Hopefully, some of the deadwood was let go in the recent purge, including the Parsky moles who were feeding information to Gerald. Parsky obviously doesn't want to lose his position as The First Man In California and the gatekeeper to any hopes Bush may have of taking the state. Parsky wants to be owed by the White House in 2005. He doesn't want Simon to take over the organization, such as it is. That's the source of the schism.

It is essential for Simon to get out there now and stay on message wherever he goes. Talk his issues. Talk the President's issues. Talk about Davis' blundering on Energy, Education, and the Budget (especially the deficit!). He must be brutally disciplined in this regard.

2. Ground campaign. Simon can't win on the air, so he must go at Davis on the ground. Simon's people actually have the advantage, because Democratic enthusiasm for the Grayout is, well, how can I put this politely, tepid. This is where Simon has to start going from county office to county office, day in and day out, marshaling the volunteers to fight for the future of the state. Use kids. Use Hispanic kids especially. Use black kids if you can find conservative ones. Use Schwarzenegger to rope them in. Do what ever you have to do to get enough people to go door to door, plant the damn yard signs, and man enough phone banks.

3. Take 2 million dollars of the pittance that you have and set up a statewide "knock and drag" operation for election day modeled on Democratic Party operations in New Jersey. Tell NO ONE that you are doing this. Rent buses and vans for election day. If the Press continues as I suspect it will, Davis will think that he's home free and he will concentrate on the air war. You literally "knock and drag" Republicans IN THE URBAN AREAS and get them out to vote. Concentrate knock and drag in urban areas because of shorter distances. The assumption here is that the Inland Empire, Antelope Valley, rural and desert areas and parts of San Diego and Orange counties are safe for Simon. Those Republicans only need phone calls. They'll go if called several times. In LA County, Ventura County, San Diego proper, Marin County, and the Bay Area, you get every living, breathing Republican in a van and get them to the polls.

I don't care if we have to raise the Dead. Get them to the polls. I don't care if we have to wheel Bob Hope out to vote, get it done!

The object of this particular exercise is to REDUCE DAVIS' MARGIN IN THE BLUE ZONE!

If this ONE THING is done, Simon can win. It's what almost won the 2000 election for Al Gore. They were that effing close here in Florida, and our people here still haven't forgiven Jeb for screwing up a sure thing.

Let me tell you a story about Broward County. Shortly after the inaugural, I attended a dinner meeting of local Republicans. One of the attendees gave a speech in which he showed us the numbers of Republicans who actually voted.

Republicans in Broward turned out at several percentage points below average. There were nine thousand missing Republican votes IN BROWARD COUNTY ALONE. If they turn out, no Recount Hell.

Jeb didn't have a knock and drag operation, and it showed.

Spend the two million. Do it quietly. But do it. You'll win.

4. Offer to debate Davis early and often. Send a Republican version of Chicken Man to Davis events to goad Davis and tweak his pride and vanity. Get the press on this. They may be Democrats, but they love a dogfight, especially when they get to pretend that they're being high-minded. 5. Remember the words of the Chairman: "The enemy attacks, we retreat. The enemy halts, we harass. The enemy retreats, we pursue." Fundamental tenets of guerrilla warfare should be followed here. The enemy has the advantage and occupies the high ground.

Go around him.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Saundra Duffy]

Simon hasn't lost yet, for Goodness' sake. Give the guy a chance. Grrrrrrrrrr. Go, Simon!!!

[Coop]

[sigh] Saundra, I've spent the entire thread making that argument. Why would you now think I believe the opposite?

[snefling]

The Demos are able to get the average shmoe to believe that it's the other party who is dirty. And worse yet, to have people in that other party agree.

Hmmm, something called principles I believe. It's obvious to all that Riordan should've have been nominated, but then the central valley rednecks decided to show up at the polling booths. Should've let the OC/SD contingent take care of business.

[marajade]

There is no way Simon can beat Davis in CA. Even Bush in 2000 lost by 12 pts and by pumping in millions and millions of dollars... Simon at this point is much more damaged than Bush...

[crystalk]

1. BUSH IS NOT ABANDONING THE SIMON CAMPAIGN. Not hardly! Simon is spending the whole day with Bush, who will do three fund-raisers for Simon expected to net some $3 million.

2. If Bush had appeared right with Simon at the Hispanic thing, the Republicans would/might have had to pay for Bush's appearance, but if they appear separately the government pays for Bush travel.

Simon will do respectably in the fall, probably at least as well as Riordan would have done, with California as presently constituted it is difficult to see how ANY Republican could win a statewide race.

If there were VERY good news in the Mideast on an anti-Saddam war for example, the Hispanic vote might flip from a 60/40 anti-GOP to a 60/40 PRO-Republican and this is the only hope for Simon to actually win.

I actually think that WILL happen with the Cal. Hispanic vote but it looks like more for 2004 or 2006-8, this year is too soon...

[gaspar]

Giuliani and Simon are friends from way back. Look, Rudy sticks by his people. The fact that his man didn't win in Virginia is not as important as the fact that he showed when the President didn't. He pushes for Republicans -- winners and losers. That's the sort of thing that does make a difference to the rank and file. Take it to the bank, he will be the Republican nominee for President in 2008.