A Deplorable October Surprise (Susan Estrich re: LA Times)

What's this I hear about Davis physically abusing his staff (a la Hillary), the LASlimes has had the story for awhile and is covering it up? (I read that in another post somewhere.) Why aren't they printing THAT little nugget of character?

Closet Wacko vs. Mega-fibber [Gray Davis]
New Times LA (defunct) ^ | 11-27-97 | Jill Stewart

Posted on 10/02/2003 6:23 PM CDT by ambrose

I have this file, labeled "Gray Davis," that for the last few years I've been stuffing with the bizarre tales quietly shared among journalists and insiders about the man who, though viewed as a blandly pleasant talking head by most Californians, is one of the strangest ducks ever elected to statewide office.
Long protected by the news media, the baby-faced Davis has been allowed to move higher and higher in public office despite his history of physical violence, unhinged hysteria, and gross profanity.
Perhaps you are among the millions never told of Lieutenant Governor Davis's widely known penchant for physically attacking his own staff throughout his career, from his days as chief of staff to ex-Gov. Jerry Brown to his long stint as state controller to his current job.
Davis's hurling of phones and ashtrays at quaking government employees and his incidents of personally shoving and shaking horrified workers -- "usually while screaming the f-word with more venom than Nixon," as one former staffer reminds me -- bespeak a man who cannot be trusted with power. Since his attacks on subordinates aren't "domestic violence," I need a lexicon that is more Dilbertesque. I propose "office batterer" for your consideration as you observe Davis in his race for the top job.
The most disturbing thing to me is the ease with which California's power elite, many of whom know how unhinged Davis really is, laugh off the public deception as a jolly bit of fun. "He'll never be governor," one Democratic state senator explained to me last year, justifying his own failure to out Davis.

Also (related):

LA Times Spiked Davis Temper Story in '98 John and Ken 10/02 w/Jill Stewart and other...
John & Ken on air... | Jill Stewart

Thanks SO much for the links! It's astonishing, isn't it, that the LASlimes is willing to cover this up, but prints re-tread material that has already been proved false?

Brit just said this will be covered in "The Grapevine" (in just a few minutes).

To correct copy at LAT:

Clinton raped--not Arnold.

Arnold never praised Hitler--

Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and Terry McAuliffe
inhale and exhale the Big Lie on a daily basis.

Amen ! Amen ! Amen !