Effort to recall governor qualifies for California ballot: Gray Davis Will Face Recall Election

Associated Press ^ | 07-23-03

[Brian S]

Gov. Gray Davis became the nation's first governor in 82 years to face a recall election, as California's secretary of state announced Wednesday that a Republican-led campaign once discounted as improbable had qualified for the ballot.

Davis, a career Democratic politician who was elected in a landslide in 1998 before his popularity plunged amid California's energy crisis and budget deficit, must face the electorate in 60 to 80 days, according to state law.

[Torie]

At this point, there is no jurisdiction for any court to hear this case.

[breakem]

I like him, but how do you get enough publicity out in 60+ days. I think the repubs need to select one candidate and I don''t think it will be him. Not yet at the top of the party list. Well we'll see.

[Pubbie]

I hope it's up to the Governor whether to appeal, because the only way for Republicans to win in California is to run on an Anti-Illega; Imigrante platform...

[breakem]

Wish I could vote, but I'm "just a bit outside".

Hell, this is California, be here on election day and the democrats will hand you a ballot.

[CyberAnt]

And .. if ole Cruz decides to mess around with the laws - he's going to be NEXT ..!!

[Torie]

She will if the Dems decide that she is necessary to stop the right wing Jihad.

[Pubbie]

At least it eventually could go to the SCOTUS where it has at least a 50-50 chance of success depending on Mullah Sandra

[B Knotts]

Why is that? From what I (vaguely) recall, the district court judge threw out the provisions of 187 that had any teeth, and the newly elected Gov. Davis and the Atty. Gen. declined to appeal it any further, reaching an "agreement" with the plaintiffs. Is it that the agreement is legally binding on the state? Or is it a matter of the case being stale?

[steveegg]

Hell, this is California, be here on election day and the democrats will hand you a ballot.

I couldn't stoop that low. Besides, that's the way it works in Wisconsin.

[Paleo Conservative]

Gov. Gray Davis became the nation's first governor in 82 years to face a recall election, as California's secretary of state announced Wednesday that a Republican-led campaign once discounted as improbable had qualified for the ballot.

What a reversal of fortune. Just after the 2000 presidential election, some "pundits" were speculating that Gray Davis would be a strong candidate to challenge President Bush in 2004. Things really went down hill for Davis afer he won reelection with a majority of the vote while receiving 1.7 million fewer votes than he received in 1998.

Compare that to President Bush. In 1994, George W. Bush won a somewhat close race against an incumbent governor who had lots of sympathetic national media coverage. In 1998 he beat Bill Clinton's old buddy from the 1972 McGovern campaign (they both worked on the McGovern campaign in Texas) with an overwhelming margin of 68% to 31% of the vote. This was in spite of the Clintons and Gore trying to get their national list of donors to contribute to Mauro's campaign to prevent a blow out victory by W. It was W's big blowout victory in 1998 that made him a contender for the Republican nomination in 2000. In 2000 W won the one of the closest presidential elections in US history. Now in 2003 he is in position to do at the national level in 2004 what he did at the state level in 1998.

[ladyinred]

The problem is that the Lt. Gov says he will not call for the ballot to have other candidates, and if Davis is recalled, he will be the governor! It appears this may be legal. Good Grief!

[sd-joe]

SEC. 15. (a) An election to determine whether to recall an officer and, if appropriate, to elect a successor shall be called by the Governor and held not less than 60 days nor more than 80 days from the date of certification of sufficient signatures.

The above is the relevant paragraph in the Constitution. There is another paragraph that says if it is the Gov that is being recalled the Lt Gov performs the recall duties. However, there is NOTHING that says anybody can "appoint" a replacement. An election is necessary by law.

[breakem]

Don't the dems vote in WI and then bus to Illinois to vote again?

[Torie]

One must appeal in a certain time period, or the appellate courts lose jurisdiction to hear the case, and the trial court decision becomes the final and binding ruling as to the case at hand, and bars any filing of a new case involving the same parties on the same controversy (the doctrine of res judicata).

[presidentsfriend]

We need a pro life conservative as Cal Gov,not Arnold,sorry.I like the Republican congressman(the Christian Dude that funded the recall)or even Bill Simon.As long as the person is pro life its fine by me.

[Torie]

The jihad bit was sarcastic. It was an attempt to reflect the mindset of the Dem strategists. Cheers.

[steveegg]

Don't the dems vote in WI and then bus to Illinois to vote again?

Bingo.

[CyberAnt]

I heard Simon, Issa and McClintock were going to meet and discuss which one should run. Don't know if it's true - but I sure hope it is. The last thing we need is a splintering of the party.