The Davis Enigma: Success Comes Without Popularity

The Los Angeles Times ^ | 3/19/02 | Robin Fields

[goldstategop]

"After three years in office and an easy primary win, Gov. Gray Davis faces a strange problem: More California voters than ever actively dislike him.

"When asked why, in a Times poll last month, voters most often blamed his handling of the power crisis. Beyond performance-related gripes, many said in follow-up interviews that he seems soulless and ambitious, a tactician who sees all issues through the lens of political advance."

[goldstategop]

The above paragraphs in today's Los Angeles Times front page story say it all. Gray Davis is the first California Governor seeking re-election who is widely loathed if not disliked by people in his own party. Go figure. The L.A Times saw fit not to mention that Davis' Republican opponent, Bill Simon currently leads statewide by 7 points! Reporting that little bit of news would have demoralized the Rat base even more. Its shaping up to be the classic clash of an incumbent gray party apparatchik and career politician against the nice guy new comer and political outsider. Expect Davis to run a mean and dirty campaign both to keep attention away from his missing record and to make up for the fact he will never be loved by the voters. Will it work in November? Davis' political thug Garry South thinks so but the Rats are up against a Republican who is friendly, smiles a lot, and who people respect even though they might disagree with him. Bottom line: Right now Simon would beat the stuffing out of Davis come November and I make this prediction in light of the fact Davis' troubles are just beginning to come to the public's attention. It may not be a Davis year.

[mad puppy]

If the 'Left-Angles' Times is offering up even slightly negative opinions of Davis, you know he is in serious trouble.

Gez, you'd think they'd be more grateful, after all, he kept that friggin paper alive too.

[RoseofTexas]

From you lips to God's ears! Gov. Simon, has a wonderful ring to it doesn't it?! LOL!

[Clemenza]

People keep saying Simon is another Schundler, but remember that Schundler NEVER lead in the polls.

[gaspar]

Davis is the living embodiment of the cold self-serving California Marchiavelli who served as the protagonist of Eugene Burdick's national book award winner, "The Ninth Wave".

[NormsRevenge]

BUUUHHHAAAAHHAAAAAAAHHAAAAA!!!!

If the LA Slime is not on yur side.. Start pakkin' GraYouT!

It couldn't happen to a nicer feller!

[eureka!]

Anecdotally, I today spoke to a die hard 'Rat in CA (Clinton twice, then Gore). He was emphatic that he would "never" vote for Grayout. His only reservation on Simon (not knowing much about him, yet) was he did not "seem" like governor material--soccer mom analysis from a few ads he saw. GoSimonGo...

[MarkM]

Remember, Davis has plenty of campaign bucks. He's going to pull out all the stops. The Democrats will scare all the Grandmas in the state. He will accuse Simon of wanting to cut off the social security checks of California seniors. The Dems will have a phone "push poll" where they ask seniors," Did you know Simon wants to cut Social Security benefits. Do you agree or disagree?"

Never mind that its totally illogical, that Simon wants to do no such thing, that the State does not control Social Security. etc...

The Dems did it to Jeb Bush when he ran for Gov of Florida the first time.

[Southack]

The LA Times ran a Davis hit piece on their Front Page?!

Will wonders ever cease...

[Tuco-bad]

The LA Times ran a Davis hit piece on their Front Page?!

Don't mean nothing!

If we are not out of the recession by September, the Reps are toast - burnt toast.

[let freedom sing]

E. Nigma

"

[TheDon]

Nice. We should start a Grayout Davis countdown.

[Saundra Duffy]

I read where women are also supporting Simon!! Yahoo!!!! Davis is going to try to use the abortion issue to divide people but I don't think it's going to work. Most women vote with THEIR BRAINS AND THEIR HEARTS. For victory & freedom!!!

[eureka!]

Yep. He also just extended the MTBE cleanup order for two years for similar reasons. The only thing standing in the way of his deserved place in the political graveyard is his $20+ million and the Clymers in the lamestream/leftwing presstitution racket. Simon better be ready...

[Poohbah]

If this is "success," I'd hate to see the LA Slime's definition of "failure."

[100%FEDUP]

"...many said in follow-up interviews that he seems soulless and ambitious, a tactician who sees all issues through the lens of political advance."

Isn't this the very definition of ALL puppeticians?

[sphinx]

You nailed it.

[BigTime]

Deeper down in the article:

"We don't have to make Gray Davis into the sweetheart of the rodeo," said Garry South, Davis' campaign manager. "Gray Davis is not going to be judged against himself. He will be judged against his opponent."

Boy, isn't that chilling? Stop and think about that. What this lackey is saying is that Davis' positions and performance are irrelevant, what is important is how evil the other guy is. This is the modern Lib strategy to keep their mismatched special interests groups together and rowing in the same direction: provide a compelling enemy.

This guy flat out states that the election will have nothing to do with Davis, but everything to do with the other guy.

This really is a telling statement of the condition of Lib campaigns. If our guys can stay above the fray and not fit into the neat villainous box that the Libs are creating for them, they can be winners.

And that doesn't mean caving to the typical Lib suggestion to run soft on social issues like abortion. Stay the course, and portray yourself as principled but respectful. Sound like anyone you know with an 80% approval rating?

Judging from this article, this one is going to get very, very ugly.

[Southack]

"If we are not out of the recession by September, the Reps are toast - burnt toast." - Tuco-bad

We're already out of the recession and the Fed is already looking at raising interest rates to slow the pace of the recovery.

Now consider what your theory holds for Democrats...