West Coast Tremors (CA Gov. Grey Davis Recall Effort Gaining Steam)

National Journal and LA Times ^ | May 6, 2003 | Chuck Todd

[ewing]

Aides to House Rep. Darrell Issa (R-49) who himself aspires to be Governor, plan to file papers as early as today to creating yet another campaign to recall Governor Grey Davis.

Aides said that Issa plans to provide six figure donations as seed monies for the new recall effort called Rescue California.

Sacramento political consultant Dave Gilliard who will manage the new effort and represents Issa as well as half a dozen GOP'ers said: 'This funding is substantial and more than enough to do the job that needs to be done.'

Gilliard said the committee will have sufficient money to hire professional petition circulators who will attempt to gather 700,000 to 800,000 signatures of registered voters.

Such fims generally charge $1-$2.00 per name. Other committees already in operation are expected to gather the balance of the roughly 1.2 million signatures needed to put a recall measure before voters.

[kellynla]

Call the Secretary of State's office in Sacramento.

[DoughtyOne]

I agree.

[NathanR]

Sounds about right.

That is why I may sit this out. I think there are three outcomes, all bad.

1) Davis wins. He gets a swell head, and his enemies are demoralized.

2) Davis loses. Democrat wins. Winner works well with legislature. Even more socialist laws are passed, and winner can be re-elected. Republicans are demoralized.

3) Davis loses. Republican wins. Democrats are energized. New governor can only veto laws, which are overridden by the newly energized legislature. Loses big in next election. Republicans are demoralized.

I say let Davis try to fix his own problems. When he can't, elect more Republicans to the legislature during the next election cycle. Then go from there.

[Destructor]

I'll believe it when I see it happen. The stupidity of most Californians never ceases to amaze me.

[John Jorsett]

All three groups are using the same petition. They aren't in competition with each other. If they could coordinate efforts to do the gathering, it might help, but it's the same petition, so I don't think that it's a hindrance.

Are they all using the original filing? I thought each had filed independently, so they were effectively separate efforts with different timetables due to different filing dates. I could be wrong, but that's what I thought was happening.

[NormsRevenge]

R U a California resident?

[John Jorsett]

If the recall qualifies, the big question is ... does Davis resign? If he does, Bustamante becomes gov and there is no recall ...

I'm not a lawyer, but my assumption is that once certification happens, the election goes forth regardless. Bustamante would step into the gov's shoes and conduct the election that might name his replacement. If that happened, I wonder if Bustamante would ratchet back dow to Lt. Gov, or would he be out. Interesting legal issues here. No doubt the lawyers in the Donkey party are burning the midnight oil thinking about them.

[NathanR]

'Fraid so.

That doesn'n mean that I have good political instincts, just cynicism.

[SierraWasp]

GOOD GRRRRRRRIEF!!!

[.38sw]

One of the groups, I don't remember which one, developed the petition and filed it with the Sec. of State, Kevin Sheley. It took about three tries to get it approved and available for use. It doesn't matter who uses the petition, all you have to do is get a copy and circulate it, and send it in to one of the addresses at any of the groups. It doesn't matter. As long as it is the approved petition, anybody can circulate it and get signatures, and mail it to any of the groups for collection. All they do is send the signed petitions on to the Sec. of State, who distributes them to the counties for signature verification.

I've downloaded the petition from the RecallGrayDavis.com site, and made copies. That is Howard Kaloogian's group. Then there is Ted Costa's group, The People's Advocate. They are using the same petition. It would have been very foolish if each group had created its own petition then tried to have it approved by the SOS. I would think in that case each group would have had to get the required number of signatures, would really would have split the effort. The timetable is the same for each group, because it is the petition that is important. The date that the petition is approved starts the clock.

[NormsRevenge]

I don't think it's a question of either, It's plain survival for many.. many small businesses, many mom and pops.. many elderly..

I won;t beat ya up for your feelings, but when good people do nothing, bad people go to town at their expense.

This site is supposed to energize and excite folks and make them want to get involved. If your attitude prevailed state-wide, we may as well close shop, because the battle is lost.

[John Jorsett]

Good info, thanks. I downloaded the petition from the Costas group and have been circulating it. You don't get a full appreciation of how much Davis is despised until you put a petition in front of them. Some of them look like they want to sign it and spit on Davis' name while they're at it.

[NathanR]

If your attitude prevailed state-wide, we may as well close shop, because the battle is lost.

No it isn't. What we need, is to get good people for the next election cycle, not tilt at windmills. Let Davis stew in his own juices, and then paint the Democrats with them.

[NormsRevenge]

Hiram Johnson's "Windmills" Initiative. LOL

in my oipinion, Davi$ is already overcooked..Stick a damn fork in him already. ;-)

We have a chance to send a message now and save a state, before it sinks and then takes 10 times as much effort to resurrect.

What part of California do you live in?

[NathanR]

What part of California do you live in?

Orange County.

in my oipinion, Davi$ is already overcooked..Stick a damn fork in him already. ;-)

True, if left alone. When your enemy is shooting himself in the foot, let him, don't startle him into shooting you instead. If we were able to survive Gov. Moonbeam, we can survive this idiot.

I would be all for this recall if I could be even 50% sure that Sen. Tom McClintock would win. (He almost won the State Controller's position.) He even has a blueprint on how to fix the state buget.

http://republican.sen.ca.gov/web/mcclintock/article_detail.asp?PID=233

[NathanR]

Since Republicans are already demoralized, I should probably add:

4) Do nothing. Republicans are demoralized.

[Theodore R.]

Yes, speaking of stupidity, a multi-part ballot would confuse those brainy voters on the West Coast. When many of them left the polls, they couldn't even tell you who they voted for. They will yet make the West Palm Beach voters of 2000 look like wizards.

[Theodore R.]

Why do you think Miss Rice would even consider running for governor of CA? And why do you think CA voters would even consider voting for her. I suspect that most CA voters have never heard of her. And unless she has a new innovative program to offer, they won't consider voting for her either.

[ewing]

I like #3- Davis loses, Ahnold wins and begins with all of the advantages as Governor..

[NathanR]

Might work. I like Tom McClintock better, though.