California Recall

Many Democrats Betting on Bustamante

2003-08-23T08:49:00.000-04:00

Pessimistic about Davis' chances of surviving recall and retaining his office, many Democrats are turning to Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante. According to a New York Times article, he "would be a hugely powerful figure to Democrats across the nation going into a presidential election where both sides are battling intensely for the support of Hispanic voters."

Others, however, like Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), are so outraged by the recall election that they refuse to vote for a replacement candidate despite the presence on the ballot of the state's No. 2 Democrat.

Misguided but not wrong

2003-08-20T16:39:00.000-04:00

Wed Aug 20, 04:39:32 PM | Chris Wayne
Granted Davis' record is less than stellar but there is some truth in the right-wing conspiracy. In fact, the CA energy crisis was defintely worsened by the price gauging that went on by the energy companies, the very people meeting with Dick Chaney in private to formulate a so-called "energy policy" ... which we know was really a way for the Bush Administration to pay back all those $250,000 donors.

I do agree, however, that Davis' strategy is off-base. If he makes this race about he and his record he will loose. His only hope is to make it about the recall itself...a travesty of democracy and a horrible precedent to set.

Delusional

2003-08-20T15:14:00.000-04:00

I completely agree, Chris, but instead of doing the "right" or "reasonable" thing, Davis has lost all sense of reality! He is turned a new corner, and has now actually begun to campaign on the basis of ... his record??? That's right -- he's defending his record on energy and the state budget crisis and vowing to fight the Oct. 7 recall election, which he calls a "right-wing power grab." He's even beginning a round of town hall meetings throughout California.

Step Down

2003-08-19T13:48:00.000-04:00

[ Tue Aug 19, 01:48:11 PM | Chris Wayne |
Here's the thing: if Davis really had the best interests of the party and the citizens of California at heart, he would step down and let Bustamonte become Governor. The recall is appalling but now that we've got it, Davis needs to be realistic and just do the right thing!

Schwarzenegger loophole

2003-08-19T11:23:00.000-04:00

Arnold Schwarzenegger has created a new fundraising committee -- one that fills a CA campaign finance law loophole the size of his biceps. The committee, officially dubbed the "Arnold Schwarzenegger's Total Recall Committee, Yes on the Recall" committee, is being used to avoid new campaign contribution limits set out in Proposition 34. According to Fair Political Practices Commission guidelines, there is no limit on the amount of personal funds an individual may spend on his own campaign.

The committee is preparing to unveil Schwarzenegger's first television ad in LA on Wednesday, a 60 second spot (unusually long for the LA media market!) in which he discusses "the direction he hopes to take California". The ad's debut promises to start the wave of political commercials from other candidates.

Arnold is also courting the California Teachers Union, seeking their endorcement. He conducted a 40-45 minute discussion via telephone with a panel of seven CTA board members, his first formal meeting with a major California political interest group.

The Gloves Come Off

2003-08-18T12:24:00.000-04:00

Fights Break Out in Each Party's Ranks

In a television interview yesterday, Cruz Bustamante attacked Gray Davis and his staff (aka, "minions"), accusing them of urging key Democratic backers to withhold support for Bustamante's campaign to vote NO to recall, YES to Bustamante for Governor.

Bustamante's race presents a controversial decision that California Democrats will have to make -- can they support two party members and retain the office, should they oppose recall all together, or should they support only one? My question to you: Will the competition for funding between Davis and Bustamante have a deflating effect on both campaigns, when they need a strong financial foundation in order to contend with wealthy Republican opponents?

On the Republican side, Bill Simon began airing radio ads calling Schwarzenegger "a liberal" and questioning his commitment to the the Proposition 13 property tax initiative. The Schwarzenegger campaign suggests that this is the classic continuation of bad behavior, resembling all to well the attack campaign that Davis waged against Simon in the 2002 campaign for governor.

Immigrant story?

2003-08-14T10:40:00.000-04:00

Arnold has wrapped his candidacy around is own immigrant story (coming from Austria with "empty pockets, but big hopes and dreams", "proof that the American dream is alive and well"). This is a promising strategy for a state with such a large immigrant population (particularly the Asian and Hispanic populations that will likely vote the next governor into office).

So isn't it interesting that when his abilities and experience are doubted by conservative piers, Arnold's strongest case for being a "real Republican" is his past support for Proposition 187, the 1994 ballot initiative that would have ended state benefits to illegal immigrants, had it not been nullified by the courts.

Let's review ... an immigrant from Austria, who's using his immigrant story to woo the large immigrant population, is also using is support for Prop 187 to buoy support from Republicans. Anyone else confused about his strategy?

Meanwhile, Republicans are doing the Democrats' job for them. Instead of drawing opposition from his opposing party, Schwarzenegger is fielding attacks from his fellow Republicans, including Bill Simon and Tom McClintock.

San Francisco Chronicle

2003-08-12T17:39:00.000-04:00

The SFChron story Chuck mentioned.

Referendum?

2003-08-12T17:22:00.000-04:00

Tue Aug 12, 05:22:36 PM | Ben Goddard
Good move Kristi. Everyone needs a spot to talk about this crazy recall. If it wasn't for Daryl Issa's money this would never have got off the ground. Once he built it, however, everyone came...including the Terminator. That terminated the Issa campaign quickly. Now comes the big question: Will this become a referendum on the recall or a race between Arnold and Gray. Davis wins the former and loses the later. Stay tuned.

Ben

Davis Voting Record

2003-08-12T17:10:00.000-04:00

[ Tue Aug 12, 05:10:15 PM | Chuck Melley
Apparently, the prospective Governator is not too keen on participating in the democratic process. He says that he "takes voting seriously," yet has not voted in 5 of the last 11 elections. See news story by Robert Salladay, Carla Marinucci, James Sterngold in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/12/03

At least Arnold is not alone - fellow Republican candidate Bill Simon did not vote in 13 out of the past 20 elections.

Campaign Blogging

2003-08-12T15:19:00.000-04:00

Since this blog is dedicated to the California Recall, we should pay special attention to a candidate who is using blogs as her medium for publicity.

Georgy Russell, a self-proclaimed "computer geek," graduated from UC Berkeley's computer science program, and is now running her campaign for Gray Davis's seat on the web. Though her endorcements include her sixth grade flute teacher, Georgy is making a name for herself inside her techno-community. Through her own campaign blog and website, and guestblogs on others', she is gaining supporters through an often untapped resource.

Go, Georgy, go!

Could California's recall start a national trend?

2003-08-12T11:31:00.000-04:00

I&R Institute President M. Dane Waters thinks it could. In an interview with the LA Times, he revealed, "Before the recall drive in California, I had one call every six months. In the last two months, I've had calls from all over the country asking whether they can recall their elected officials in city halls and state legislatures."

California is, without a doubt, a trendsetter for other states. This has the potential to get out of control. There is some protection from overuse, however, in most states' requirement of a large petition in order to have a recall. But if Issa can do it, why not others?

Speaking of I&R, they have some good background on recall history and process.

RECALL Background

2003-08-11T11:57:00.000-04:00

Citing that California Governor Gray Davis misled his constituents during his last gubernatorial campaign, recall proponents (e.g., Davis Recall , Recall Gray Davis, and Rescue California) are calling for a chance for informed election. Davis is accused of knowingly concealing a multi-billion dollar deficit in the state budget during his recent campaign, and then announcing the debt upon his election.

In an interview on Jay Leno's Tonight Show, Davis called the effort to recall him an insult to those who voted for him last year.

Meanwhile, with 57 days and counting until the October 7th election, would be Gubernatorial candidates are jumping on the bandwagon.

As of Saturday's 5pm filing deadline, election officers confirmed that 89 individuals fulfilled the requirements to appear on the ballot. 104 applications are still being reviewed.

Among the most prominent on this list:
Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Sen. Tom McClintock
Bill Simon
Fmr. Baseball Comissioner Peter Ueberroth
Political columnist Arianna Huffington
Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante