LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR (Bustamante) SEEKS ENDORSEMENT (From Davis)

Mercury News ^ | 9/28/03 | Laura Kurtzman and Dawn C. Chmielewski

[kattracks]

LOS ANGELES - Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante sought the endorsement of Gov. Gray Davis on Saturday and said he hoped the two would soon be campaigning together, a day after the Davis campaign publicly discounted Bustamante's chances of prevailing in the Oct. 7 recall election.

Bustamante made his remarks after being asked if his candidacy was hurting the Democrats' chances of beating the recall. The lieutenant governor dodged the question and said instead that he hoped the governor would publicly support him.

[goldstategop]

Cruz The Snooze thinks getting Gray Davis' endorsement will help him to win in a week's time?? He's loopier - or dumber than I thought. Wow The Siamese Twins Of California Politics go out on their own carny freak show. What a sight! Bwahahahaha!!!

[The Old Hoosier]

LOL!!! This is great!

I predicted from the beginning that Busty would come in third. If Davis disses him publicly again, I might just turn out to be right!

[DoctorZIn]

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[trebb]

Let me get this straight - Bustamante thinks that the endorsement of the puke they are ousting will HELP him? Must be something only a DimocRAT could understand...

[zencat]

Don't over 60% of Californians want to throw Davis out of office? Why in the world would you want an endorsement from somone about to be tossed out for poor performance?

[heleny]

Let me get this straight - Bustamante thinks that the endorsement of the puke they are ousting will HELP him?

Maybe Bustamante's internal poll numbers show Davis is more popular than Bustamante, who sounded condescending in the latest debate. Surely Cruz wants to avert a third-place showing, which may easily happen if Davis's team kicks up some more dirt on Bustamante.

There's been some bad press about Bustamante's college courses and that he's a slum lord. It could be the work of Davis' slime machine, and Bustamante probably wants Davis to stop.

[goldstategop]

The Democrats are turning on each other. You should see the mood over at DU about the recall election. Makes you wonder why we have people like that in America who can never be optimistic about our country.

[Cowboy Bob]

I realize that the office of Lieutenant Governor is separate from that of the Governor, and that no matter the outcome is of the election, Cruz is still Lt. Gov.

BUT, after Davis is recalled, and Arnold wins, I would like to see the people of California call for Cruz to resign his position!

[goldstategop]

Cruz should resign if he loses. I think that would only be fair, don't you?

[speekinout]

Does the CA Lt. Gov. have any official duties? In most states, all they do is wait to see if the Gov. dies or resigns.
Most Govs. give the Lt. some little chore so they don't go totally bats from boredom, but if the two don't get along well, the Lt. might as well be in seclusion.

[edchambers]

You should see the mood over at DU about the recall election.

Speaking of what and where is DU I'd like to check it out it never hurts to know your enemy

[Bonaparte]

The duties and powers of the lietenant governor.

Arnold won't be leaving the state much.

[speekinout]

Thank you. It sounds like most of Bustamante's duties have been granted by Davis. Arnold can change those.

But the scary one is that the Lt. Gov. can act as Gov. if the Gov. is out of state. I agree - Arnold should be within the state for the duration.

[Bonaparte]

No, Arnold cannot change a thing about the powers and duties of the lieutenant governor. Go to the link I just provided and read it carefully. The lietenant governor's powers are clearly laid out in the California State Constitution. Arnold cannot change the state constitution. With the state house controlled by the democrats, a governor Arnold cannot leave the state.

[speekinout]

Look at the link you posted.

The Lieutenant Governor has many responsibilities granted to him under state law and still others provided to him by the Governor.

The later paragraphs make it clear which duties are legally required and which were granted by the gov.

[Bonaparte]

Yes, that's true. But the critical powers are in the state Constitution. In particular, when the Governor leaves the state, the Lt. Governor becomes Acting Governor in his absence. This means the Lt. Governor can now sign bills and do all those things a Governor can do. He's not just a place holder.

[speekinout]

In particular, when the Governor leaves the state, the Lt. Governor becomes Acting Governor in his absence.

This is where I agree with you completely. If Arnold becomes Governor, he should never leave the state.

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

Given how dysfunctional the California Republican Party is it's great to know that the California 'Rat Party seems in far greater disarray.

[Bonaparte]

"...he should never leave the state."

I really don't see how he can. He will be surrounded by hostile democrats in Sacramento, all determined to make his term in office a failure. He will have to work constantly to accomplish anything at all, and the moment his back is turned, the daggers will all come out. I wonder if he realizes how difficult this is going to be.