Two California Democrats urge Feinstein to run for governor

Mercury News ^ | July 29, 2003 | AP

[FairOpinion]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Two California Democrats in Congress urged Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Tuesday to run to replace Gov. Gray Davis in the recall election, shattering united Democratic support for the embattled governor.

Reps. Cal Dooley and Loretta Sanchez said Democrats must have an alternative to Davis on the Oct. 7 ballot and pronounced Feinstein the state's most popular politician.

[FairOpinion]

Any bets on whether DiFi will run?

I think she will -- the Democrats will want to hedge their bets, not put everything on Davis.

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

Yeah.

Run.

And Lose...

[Political Junkie Too]

No way.

I've been saying for weeks that she'd be stupid to give up a Senate seat for life over a two-year term as governor of a failed state.

Even in the minority, she has more power than the CA governor, and she's in a better position to help her husband who is a major businessman in Asian interests.

Why give that up?

-PJ

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Oh boy, the Rats are starting to realize Davis is in very deep POOP!!!!

calgov2002:

calgov2002: for old calgov2002 articles. 

calgov2002: for new calgov2002 articles. 

Other Bump Lists at: Free Republic Bump List Register

[Dan from Michigan]

Please RESIGN, RUN, and LOSE!!! :)

[NormsRevenge]

Oh, what a web we weave, when at first we try to deceive... or something like that ;-)

Too late for DiFi now, imo.

There is now no graceful way for her to give her seat to Davi$ without a major brouhaha and major loss of face for all involved.

Not even the Clintons can save the demRats from what awaits them October 7 and next November.

They earned the a$$whupping they are about to receive.

[kellynla]

Does DiFi have to resign in order to run in the recall?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

That would allow us to have two Senators running in 2004 to vote for!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Don't know!

[autoresponder]

DiFi is 70 years old now.

If she runs and loses her future is bleak as it will be tremendously embarrassing.

I believe she can run while still retaining her US Senate seat if she loses, as (D-CT) Sen. Joe Lieberman did in CT.

In fact Lieberman actually ran for reelection as a CT US Senator at the same time in 2000 that he ran and lost the Vice Presidency running with algore.

I am not sure when her term is up and her next election is. California politics is not exactly something I keep up with completely.

Regardless, I see her as a weak candidate with that 40 million dollar and still growing debt crisis.

She has been popular in California with democrats in her US Senate runs, but her advancing age plus her tax and spend traditional lib/dem template does not sound like a real winner facing that big debt.

California voters want a relatively young and vigorous Governor with a Conservative agenda to turn the state around.

That is not Diane Feinstein and it sure ain't Gray Davis. If she runs it is against her better judgement and only from extreme pressure from the democrat machine and the Clintonistas.

Over 90 candidates have signed up to run as it only requires 65 signatures and the price of a shabby used car to qualify.

Many Republicans have signed on; lib/dem Jerry Brown has expressed interest in again being governor; the Greenies will put up their usual Socialist frootloops jerk, the field will be "diversified" one candidate may easily win with just 15% of the total vote.

If Ah-Nodht does run, he can run a low profile for a bit then come in like the Terminator and blow everyone away at the last minute.

He has a built-in ultimate recognition factor and wild popularity that crosses all party lines, races, and genders, if any.

The Clintons will attempt some damage control and throw in some West Palm Beach idiot voter chads to try to create another 2000 debacle but this will be too wild for them to get their way.

Muholland and McAuliffe will rant and twist and fix but they will not be helpless.

Prima Donna shall have no power.

This is Vegas longshot to bet.

I'm thinkin' that George W. will play a hot hand in the final pot.

[Those_Crazy_Liberals]

"I've been saying for weeks that she'd be stupid to give up a Senate seat for life over a two-year term as governor of a failed state."

What she might do is act as a stand in. Win the election, quit the senate, take office as Gov and appoint herself back to the Senate. She resigns from the Gov's office and the Lt Gov takes over. The new Gov then nominates a new LT (advice & consented to by the California Senate) and there you go. The slate is cleaned out, Davis is gone, Difi is back shilling for the chinese in DC and the libs still hold power.

[Political Junkie Too]

That is the stuff that makes revolutions. The people would never stand for it given how focused and excited they are, and it would kill the Democrat party.

-PJ

[Wilhelm Tell]

I have been thinking about this for months and getting really depressed. I'm afraid that things might have to get much worse in California before they can get better. I hope I'm wrong but...

Suppose California gets a good, conservative governor (not just some RINO) for the next two years. What could this governor accomplish? With so many leftists in State office, I don't think a conservative governor would be able to accomplish very much. There would be gridlock and there might be a backlash and people would finally vote some of the most radical leftists out. On the other hand, the majority of voters might accept the media spin that the state's problems are caused by a conservative governor who is too "ideological" and "partisan." A conservative governor would inherit many problems, and these problems would only get worse if the left is able to block any action on them.

Feinstein as governor sounds like a nightmare. On the other hand, at least that would get her out of the Senate. Feinstein enjoys some popularity -- she can champion pet leftist causes from the relative safety of her Senate seat. However, being governor of a big state like California would really put one on the hot seat! Feinstein and Davis are cut from the same leftist cloth -- Feinstein is likely to have the same horrible leftist policies as Davis, however, Davis is a bungler and I think Feinstein is more intelligent (and more dangerous). On the other hand, Feinstein would eventually fail as governor because her leftist policies would only continue the problems California is experiencing -- even if she is more competent than Davis and gets 100% support from her party, the habit of tax, spend and regulate will fail.

The question is, is California ready for a major backlash against the leftists in general, or are people just reacting against Davis because he is incompetent and unlikable? It is true that Davis makes an easy (and worthy) target, however, if things don't go deeper than that we have a problem. Davis did not create California's problems -- he is just a manifestation of the craziness that has dominated the state government for years. If California could get a conservative governor and then vote out at least the worst leftist crazies, that would be a monumental victory with national implications. If the backlash is mostly against Davis without a backlash against the extreme left in general, then any victory is likely to be hollow. Is now the time? If not now, when? These are most important questions that we ignore at our peril.

[Those_Crazy_Liberals]

"That is the stuff that makes revolutions. The people would never stand for it given how focused and excited they are, and it would kill the Democrat party."

I thought about it from that perspective and decided its a risk they would consider taking, especially if its a real low turnout election. Hell, look what Torricelli pulled in NJ with Lattenburgh this past election. They were almost encouraged to steal that election to 'save' the state from a republican.

[Those_Crazy_Liberals]

"Feinstein as governor sounds like a nightmare. On the other hand, at least that would get her out of the Senate."

If she wins, she gets to appoint her replacement. You think she's going to pick someone any less socialist?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Good thoughts , the ballot box may tell us!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

See post #11 , guess it might be possible!

[Political Junkie Too]

The question is, is California ready for a major backlash against the leftists in general, or are people just reacting against Davis because he is incompetent and unlikable? ... Is now the time? If not now, when?

I've heard the phrase The Perfect Storm tossed around a few times. A lot of factors are coming together:

• The "leadership" of Gray Davis until now.
• Davis lied to the people about the true depth of the problem. He hid it until after he was re-elected.
• Davis only got to be Governor because of depressed election turnouts resulting from voter apathy from being worn down over the years by relentless negative campaigns.
• As goes California, so goes the nation.
• Disgust at the national Democrats' shenanigans with elections in New Jersey, Hawaii, Minnisota and South Dakota.
• Anger at local Democrats after being heard plotting more harm to California in order to solidify political power.
• Voter enlightenment to the biases of formerly trusted news media.
• The feeling of empowerment from qualifying the recall.
• More anger at politicians from being "dissed" by them for exercising their legal constitutional rights.
• The comparison between "Bush Republicans" and "Clinton Democrats" is finally sinking in with the people as they compare Bush's actions with Clinton's record and the media's portrayals, and with how the national parties are supporting or undermining current events.

November 2002 was a foreshock of things to come.

-PJ

[Consort]

Suppose California gets a good, conservative governor (not just some RINO) for the next two years. What could this governor accomplish? With so many leftists in State office, I don't think a conservative governor would be able to accomplish very much....

For all the reasons you stated, a RINO would probably get more done, but any Republican elected to be Governor will be turned into a scapegoat by the Dem-controlled legislature. They need someone to blame their failures on and the more Conservative, the more better for the Dems. Then they will run against a "failed" Conservative Governor and elect another Liberal to replace him to "straighten out the GOP mess".