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.

[ElkGroveDan]

The inside story which I heard on talk radio coming into work this morning is that Simon has been told by Bush's handlers that he will not be allowed to be seen with Bush at open-door events where the press will be present even at this own fundraisers.

That is perfect evidence that these talking heads they pull out for last minute talk radio interviews are complete ignoramouses who have no clue as to what they are talking about.

I just saw Bush walk down the ramp from his plane and the first person he greeted was Bill Simon. They shook hands and slapped each other on the back. If his appearance with Bill is supposed to be a secret it is the worst kept secret ever.

[Poohbah]

There is a significant difference between Bush accepting campaign donations from Enron and then learning that the company had a cash-flow problem, and Simon accepting campaign donations from Metabolife when everyone and their brother knew that there was significant question about ephedra's safety.

And scorching Davis' tailfeathers over the issue was just ASKING for a check of his donor list.

When throwing stones, one should ensure that one doesn't live in a glass house.

[Cold Heat]

Good grief! That is not what I was getting at.

It was the mistake of attacking Davis from a position of weakness. It was one of many tactical errors.

He cannot afford to make one, much less dozens.

[Saundra Duffy]

I feel sick . . . but it's not going to stop me from working my butt off for Simon. For victory & freedom!!!

[Saundra Duffy]

This is a critical strategic error by the Bushies in my judgment.

The understatement of the century.

[Miss Marple]

See post 81.

[vbmoneyspender]

How do you know that Simon accepted contributions from the company? Are you accepting the AP's word on it. In point of fact, Bush never accepted money from Enron because that is illegal. Instead, Bush accepted money from individuals, like Ken Lay, who worked for Enron. I suspect that the same type of thing is true for Simon with respect to Metabolife. He probably accepted contributions from individuals who work for Metabolife. Plus do you know how much Simon accepted and when he accepted it?

Simply put, don't you think that before conservatives go off half-cocked against other conservatives that they should find out the facts and not rely on the AP? I see alot of that going on on this thread with regard to Simon. I am particularly bothered by peoples willingness to accept the media's characterization of what happened in the jury trial that the Simon firm lost. But then again, I guess the motto for today is "The facts don't matter - it is only what Davis can put in an ad that counts."

[ClancyJ]

Again, Bush is responsible for all things. Could be a scheduling problem but - no - they want to hate Bush. It is a lot more fun.

If Simon needs Bush to do it all for him - fund raisers plus meeting with all groups - maybe Simon is not the right candidate.

[Poohbah]

Fine. I slightly misspoke. He just took money from the CHAIRMAN of Metabolife, who in turn got it from Metabolife.

The principle still applies: you do due diligence on the source of the funds BEFORE cashing the check. Simon's bunch of amateurs didn't.

[vbmoneyspender]

When you have been in fights and team competitions before, did you start criticizing the people on your side while the game was afoot?

Don't you think that if you want your side to win, it would be better to wait until after the election before criticizing Simon for being an amateur?

[Nephi]

Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies

Why the Pessimism on Front-runner Bill Simon?

Posted by Nephi to Carl/NewsMax
On News/Activism Aug 11 9:05 AM #33 of 43

In an effort to reach out to Democrats in the spirit of bi-partisanship and to save his political capital for more pressing globalist needs and to avoid any chance of being tied to California/Enron enery issues, Bush has indicated a willingness to endorse the Democrat incumbent, Gray Davis for Governor of California. </sarcasm off...for now> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Poohbah]

When you have been in fights and team competitions before, did you start criticizing the people on your side while the game was afoot?

Yes. I gave them feedback on their less-than-stellar performance, quite often in the form of "GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR RECTAL CAVITY, DIPWAD!"

Each of Simon's boys have earned this remark many times over.

Don't you think that if you want your side to win, it would be better to wait until after the election before criticizing Simon for being an amateur?

I want my side to win. To achieve that goal, my side must stop acting like a bunch of amateurs. If I wait until after they've lost, then we get four more years of Grayout Doofus. They must improve their performance now instead of after the election, unless Simon's strategy is to repeat the Sore/Loserman charade. Feedback is essential to improving someone's performance. Blowing sunshine up their anal orifices and telling them to keep on doing what they are doing will not improve their performance, it will merely convince them to continue their ineffective operations.

[vbmoneyspender]

How is telling Simon that he should have predicted that his family's firm would lose a multi-million dollar verdict against a convicted felon giving him effective feedback? And how is calling him and his people amateurs doing anything helpful for the campaign? When I read your posts, I get the distinct impression that you have already given up.

[WVNan]

Bush is giving one humdinger of a speech at Stockton. The crowd is going nuts, with standing ovations and cheers. CA loves Bush at this speech anyway.

[carton253]

I was listening to it... and Rush said that Simon was with the President. Oh my word! The reaction! It had me cheering in the car.

[ElkGroveDan]

Bill Simon was the first person to greet President Bush as he got of the plane in Stockton this morning.

[Poohbah]

How is telling Simon that he should have predicted that his family's firm would lose a multi-million dollar verdict against a convicted felon giving him effective feedback?

Because court observers were completely unsurprised about the verdict. ANYONE and EVERYONE saw it coming.

Except, of course, Bill Simon, who was caught completely flat-footed, and his campaign staff, who apparently hadn't even been told anything about the case.

And how is calling him and his people amateurs doing anything helpful for the campaign?

It calls their attention to Campaigning 101 basics like "make sure that the candidate is inoculated on any issues he wants to go fangs-out over."

Simon's people should KNOW what the various big-money donors in the state do, and should politely decline donations from people associated with issues that Simon will be taking the offensive on.

Ephedra has been on the radar scope for years; Davis has constantly done Metabolife's bidding on the subject; Simon's team should have made sure that their candidate was beyond reproach. They didn't.

This stuff isn't rocket science.

When I read your posts, I get the distinct impression that you have already given up.

Generally, this late in the campaign, barring the entire campaign staff getting fired and replaced with people who have a clue, yeah, it's frickin' over. The only thing that will save Simon is Davis being even more stupid and inept--and the two candidates are tied.

[NormsRevenge]

Who's arguing? You call Simon a bozo and I return it to you... and get my post deleted to boot. This forum has become so tender lately, hasn;t it? So? Im tired of all you "We Really Would Like Simon To Win" folks. Debate you, Argue with you, You seem more like a Parskyite, why bother.

[rightwing2]

you live in CA. I trust your judgement a lot better than some cheerleader who lives in Florida

Correction, I lived in California for nearly 30 years until 1999 when I moved to Virginia. I was politically active there and let me tell you Simon is the best CA Republicans could hope for since George "the Duke" Deukmajian ended his Governorship in 1990. Incidentally "the Duke" had a big part in killing Riorden's chances to win the primary. Simon despite being pro-life and he can win in a liberal state, but only with Bush's active support. As for Bush, I like to say that my vote for him is "up for grabs"--that is to say it depends on whether he reforms his moderate ways before Election 2004. His signing of the Democrap Congressional Majority Insurance (Campaign Finance Reform) Bill was a collosal betrayal of conservatives in my opinion and the burden is on his shoulders to regain our trust and deserve our vote come 2004.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Bush is probably like the rest of us...he realizes Kalifornia is beyond help.