 calgov2002: for old calgov2002 articles. calgov2002: for new calgov2002 articles. Other Bump Lists at: Free Republic Bump List Register |
Posted on 07/12/2003 9:26:32 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Duane Moore, chairman of the Kern County Democratic Central Committee, has a possible cure for Gov. Gray Davis' recall headache.
Resign. Quit. Clear out your desk.
But leave the lights on for the new guy, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante.
Quitting now would bring the recall effort to a screeching halt and derail Republicans' plans to hijack the governor's office for Darrell Issa, Arnold Schwarzenegger or somebody else with a more conservative bent.
It would acknowledge what pundits from both parties have been suggesting for months: Davis' political future is about as promising as Dan Lungren's, no matter what the outcome of the recall.
And it would insert a guy who would be far more palatable -- particularly among valley Latinos -- than the man he'd be replacing, let alone some of the likely recall-ballot options.
For now, Moore stresses, gubernatorial abdication is just an idea -- not a formal recommendation by any local Democratic organization. It's not even his personal recommendation, although he's warming to the idea more and more every day.
"We're debating whether we should get behind that (resignation scenario)," Moore said. "There's been discussion about whether our central committee wants to bring it up (for wider discussion). At this point, that hasn't happened. But wouldn't that be funny?"
Moore, ironically, was one of the guys Davis' Stop the Recall team contacted for help in collecting signatures for an anti-recall petition.
If you didn't notice any Stop the Recall volunteers setting up card tables outside Wal-Mart alongside pro-recall solicitors this past month, there's good reason.
The local anti-recall force kept it low-key, working Democratic women's club meetings and an open house for Assemblywoman Nicole Parra.
They turned in about 1,000 signatures, Moore said, and they have pages more to send. They might have gotten more signers, Moore said, but the petitions arrived late in the five-week campaign.
"It doesn't matter," he said. "There's nothing binding behind it. It's just a way to make people aware of what's going on."
That, and create a list of possible volunteers should the recall qualify for the ballot, which seems likely.
Moore, an electrician who's been the local Democratic chairman for a year and a half, says he can't understand why a blue-collar community like Bakersfield would support another referendum on Davis so soon after he defeated a Republican challenger hurling the very same accusations recall advocates are hurling now.
"If people realized how much this recall is going to cost California taxpayers, they'd scream," Moore said. "It doesn't make sense."
It all depends on who you talk to, of course.
Republican campaign strategist Mark Abernathy, who helped coordinate the recall effort in Kern County, says the California recall model works.
"It's a beautiful thing," he said. "Maybe we get somebody who might be a great governor but couldn't get through the party primaries."
Or maybe, much sooner than expected, California gets National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice, who would be the first Republican gubernatorial candidate with a discernable pulse in several years.
Either way, something good happens for Republicans. That's been clear since the leaders of the dump-Davis campaign first stuck a wet finger in the air, Abernathy said.
"From that first day," Abernathy said, "the air was thick with recall."
On Dean's list: It's a given among both Democrats and Republicans that Assemblywoman Parra will be getting another dose of Dean Gardner in 2004.
"I'm pretty certain," Abernathy said, "we'll have a rematch" of their occasionally acrimonious 2002 campaign. "We've had some discussion with Dean Gardner, don't have a definite plan yet."
Milt Younger, a Bakersfield attorney and top Democratic fund-raiser, knows of no impending challenges to Republican Assemblymen Roy Ashburn and Kevin McCarthy, who have what are considered safe seats in the state Legislature.
But he sees the Parra-Gardner rematch coming, too.
"Helping Nicole Parra keep her seat is going to be the thing," he said. "A vote for Dean Gardner is a vote for the right wing. They love that stuff around here, so it'll be interesting."
Do you note that the folks that say just leave Davis in there to let the Dems get the blame don’t LIVE in California....(gee no skin off there nose)
In seem like the national Republicans and party wrote off California a while back.
And now just wants us yahoo out here to sit back and not rock the “national” boat (that why it seems we get sold out on immigration and other issues lately)
It’s also seem to me why we have such a terrible state Republican party ....the national Republican party has put a lot of folks in power in California to do just that ....“don’t rock the boat”
note: the state party did NOT back the recall ..
also note: if the national Republican party had really BACKED Simons instead of pouting because us California locals didn’t accept the national party anointing of RINO Rordin we would not be here
Well folks in my opinion as a native Californian, this is pure, fed up, grassroots California rebellion time and if you don’t live here ...well thank you very much but......well take it from here
Since Davis intends to donate his ego to Harvard Medical School, he will never resign. However, if he did, Lt.-Gov. Bustamante will take over only until the recall election is held. In that instance, the only question decided in that election will be who replaces Davis for the balance of his current term.
The writer of this story is either incompetent or dishonest, not to know that California law provides for this possibility in plain English. Incompetent or dishonest -- sort of defines more than half of the American press, doesn't it?
Congressman Billybob
Latest article, now up FR, "Fear and Loathing in the Supreme Court."
More recalls, not fewer, are required, and nationwide. The filth (of either party, thank you) who lie their way into office have little or no fear of the wrath of the electorate, and it's high time they acquired some...or a lot.
The sad thing is the media continues to say the opposite re: filing vs certification and misleads and lies to the public.
But, We should expect nothing less than that from a sad sackful of losers amd moral reprobates now, should we?
|
calgov2002: for old calgov2002 articles. calgov2002: for new calgov2002 articles. Other Bump Lists at: Free Republic Bump List Register |
The man ran up a $38 BILLION deficit!
Stay out of our business, lot of people are hurting out here because of these Socialists!
Absolutely right!
Dear Mr Moore,
Your state is bleeding at the rate of $1 billion (with a B) a month with Davis in there. The recall, by your party's own admission, is $30 million TOTAL!!
Doesn't it make sense to spend a little to save a lot?
Hopefully the recall will but a clamp on the bills coming out of the Dems in Sacramento. Today Davis, Tomorrow Perata, Lockyer, Kuehl, etc.
Well, that's how California's constitution was set up.
If they can get the signatures, they have the right. It'll make them look petty.
There is no downside to this recall effort.
Well, since the author is looking at the recall election from a racist point of view, I'll go on record as saying that I want Davis' replacement to be someone who is more palatable to the white residents of California.
Most voters will use common sense when contemplating whether or not to recall a governor.
I am a California Voter. I would support any candidate that would cut spending and reduce services mightily...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.