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]

A petition for cert would not be timely. It is a jurisdictional issue.

[Pubbie]

There's no Statute of limitations on appealing to SCOTUS?

If it can be appealed, that's the first thing I would do, of course with Mullah Sandra Day O'Conor there's a good chance prop 187 will be shot down for the sake of "Diversity is a compelling State Interest", but what is there to loose???

[B Knotts]

Tom McClintock is the one guy that I believe could actually begin to fix the mess the state is in right now. I left the state a few years back, but I always remember McClintock as a guy I almost always agreed with.

[steveegg]

Thanks for the good news.

[breakem]

still need those YES votes.

[CounterCounterCulture]

OK, Pandora's box has been opened...let's do this thing and do it RIGHT!

[ambrose]

I was under the impression that McClintock, or whoever is governor, could use the line item veto to cut as many social programs as they want, thus bringing the Budget back into line

You are correct. That's how George Deukmejian dealt with the Rat legislature. When the Rats refused to reform Cal-OSHA, he simply did a line-item veto of the entire Cal-OSHA budget! Guy had balls... wish HE would run...

[DoughtyOne]

Once Shelly certifies it, Davis cannot resign and Bustamonte take over, the election has to take place.

[B Knotts]

Well, I think he could revive the Prop 187 challenge, but he would need to order the Attorney General to do so, which could be problematic, as the Attorney General is an idiot. I don't know if the federal courts would consider the delay too long or not.

[Torie]

McClintock is the only guy in the mix who actually knows where the bodies are buried in the budget. He is sort of a local David Stockman type (remember him?). The rest of the gang thinking about running don't have a clue. They also don't have his take no prisoner guts, when it comes to having the honesty to just say in public that the emperor has no clothes.

[cinFLA]

I may have to move my residency to CA (shudder ...) just to voe against GD!

[sd-joe]

>> "Does anybody know if we can vote by absentee ballot in a recall election?"

Yes, according to one news account.

[DoughtyOne]

[breakem]

xlnt analysis. I think you can be on the ballot with 65 signatures.

[DoughtyOne]

Evidently two helpings was just too much for Californians.

[Torie]

Low, I think. I suspect that the Dems will get either Feinstein or Panetta to run. The strategy of just having it be either Davis or a Pubbie is too dangerous for the Dems. It either Feinstein or Panetta run, given the current crop of Pubbies, even if only one runs, they would be the odds on favorites, is my guess. One reason the Dems want to bifurcate the recall from the successor election, is to have two bites at the apple.

[steveegg]

I'm starting to see the benefit of the California system; it forces the party of the bastich being recalled to either go full-guns on saving the bastich (and thus sacrificing any real chance to hang onto the office should "yes" win) or abandon him to try to save the seat with someone drawn from the same ilk.

That having been said, "YES" is the way to go. Wish I could vote, but I'm "just a bit outside".

[kellynla]

That was not my analysis but Tom McClintock's. Now please go to his website and support him for governor. He's sharp as a tack and clean as a hound's tooth! http://www.tommcclintock.com

[B Knotts]

If I'm not mistaken, the appeal of Prop 187 only made it as far as district court, so I think it'd have to go to the 9th Circuit first.