GOP Campaign Leader Faults Candidate (Simon)

NY Times ^ | 10/18/02 | Adam Nagourney

[DoveTurnedHawk]

The Republican House leader in charge of his party's Congressional campaign committee said today that the Republican candidate for California governor, Bill Simon Jr., was running the single-worst campaign in the country this year.

The lawmaker, Representative Thomas M. Davis III, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, offered his unusually stark assessment of Mr. Simon's campaign against Gov. Gray Davis, the Democrat, with undisguised frustration in a speech at the National Press Club.

He suggested that Mr. Simon's difficulties would erase any hope that Republicans had of picking up Congressional seats in California. He also noted that not long ago his party had high hopes of unseating the unpopular Mr. Davis in this overwhelmingly Democratic state.

"California," Representative Davis said with a sigh, when he was asked how the governor's race there might affect Republican Congressional candidates. "I just will say, I don't think there's a single worst-run race in the country than the governor's race in California on the part of the Republicans."

As his Democratic counterpart, Representative Nita M. Lowey, looked on with evident astonishment, Mr. Davis (not to be confused with the Democratic governor of the same name) recalled just how beatable Mr. Davis (not to be confused with the Republican congressman of the same name) had once seemed.

"I mean, this was a belt-high, medium fastball, and we just seem to have booted it," Representative Davis said. "Turnout will be very low for both parties."

When it was Ms. Lowey's turn to speak, she seemed uncertain of what to way. "California — I'm not — you heard it," she said with a shrug. "I'm not going to comment on that governor's race."

Mr. Simon's senior campaign consultant, Ed Rollins, tonight sharply criticized Representative Davis, saying his candidate remained in a strong position to win the race.

[snip]

[DoveTurnedHawk]

Wow. Not that I disagree (Simon hasn't exactly run a very, umm, inspired campaign), but whatever happened to the 11th Commandment? I thought attacking Republican candidates was for us peons to do, not our elected Republican officials?

[Brad’s Gramma]

If someone could post a phone number for this bozo, we could all call him and remind him of that commandment, couldn't we?????

[WOSG]

ah New York Times ... and have they said anything positive EVER about Bill Simon, the better man for CA Governor???

[TheEaglehasLanded]

What about Mike Taylor, in a lean Republican state and the guy gets handed $600,000 by the party that money should go a long way in Montana the guy up and quits the race because of a 20 year old TV ad that suggests he might be gay and quits, what a moron. How did he ever win the primary

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[NormsRevenge]

Where is this Tommy Davis da T'rd from anyway? He's the National Republican Congressional Committee leader. Geeesh! What a douchebag! He must golf with Rove.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

I hear you. I think there HAS to have been more to Taylor bowing out than we know right now. Maybe those accusations of student loan fraud were true?

[TheEaglehasLanded]

and the idiots at the Montana Republican Party are still calling him their candidate. YUCK

[NormsRevenge]

High Desert Davi$ FReePer ALERT

Governor Gray Davis and UFW Rally

Palm Springs, CA on SUNDAY Oct. 20th @ Noon

Everyone able to attend is encouraged to arrive at 12 pm. The UFW Rally Starts at 1 pm.

Bring signs, banners, whatever! Be creative. FOR SALE signs are HOT!!!

Make GraYouT Davi$ Feel the Heat!!!

Location: Coachella Valley High School

83-800 Airport Blvd

Coachella [Thermal], CA


DUMP DAVI$ - FIRE Davi$

FRICASSEE DAVI$ the Debate Chicken!!!




GO SIMON

***

Tom McClintock for CA State Controller
***

Dick Ackerman for CA Attorney General

[DoveTurnedHawk]

True, but we can't blame it all on the NYT this time. There'd be no story if Davis had obeyed the 11th Commandment.

[Saundra Duffy]

With friends like this who needs enemies. Get in line to stab Bill Simon in the back. You'd expect it from democraps but this from a Republican leader. It's really unforgivable. Bill Simon can still win if all the Republicans will get out the vote. Yahoo! See you at the DUMP DAVIS rally this Saturday. GO, SIMON!! For victory & freedom!!!

[dts32041]

Remember the GOP is not called the stupid party for nothing.

The worse run race is in Illinois with jim Ryan running against his brother George Ryan.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

Here you go:

Tom Davis for Congress

9001 Braddock Rd. Suite 226

Springfield, VA 22151

Phone: 703-250-0096

E-mail: info@tomdavis.org

[Saundra Duffy]

What on earth was he thinking?! Don't they care that we volunteers are working our butts off here in California? Maybe the moderates don't want Simon to win. He's a conservative. This is beyond explanation. Doesn't make sense. Well, it's not gonna slow me down. GO, SIMON!! For victory & freedom!!!

[PianoMan]

This reminds me of how the Lazio campaign was treated in its final days. I have to say, Lazio deserved some heavy criticism though.

[bybybill]

WHY, WHY, WHY, HOW DID DAVIS HELP HIS PARTY WITH THAT STUPID STATEMENT

[ContentiousObjector]

While Simon is doing awful, I would say the worst campaign of the year title goes to the Libertarian to turned himself blue by drinking electrolysis fluid or the Libertarian who has been spiting at police officers, other canidates and radio hosts

[ambrose]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/770636/posts

George F. Will: Political earthquake in California? GOP underdog could win governorship
The Union Leader (N. H.) ^ | Thursday, Oct. 17, 2002 | George F. Will


Posted on 10/17/2002 0:10 AM Pacific by heleny
Edited on 10/17/2002 2:10 AM Pacific by Admin Moderator. [history]


LAST SATURDAY morning, after another pratfall in a star-crossed, accident-prone and banana-peel-strewn campaign, a nevertheless ebullient Bill Simon, Republican candidate for governor in a state (California) that has not voted for a Republican Presidential or senatorial candidate since 1988 or for a Republican gubernatorial candidate since 1994, said: “We’re close.” Noting the incredulity of his interlocutor, he added: “I swear.”

---

[Holden Magroin]

Bill Simon doesn't know his ass from his elbow. It doesn't matter if he gets elected, because the Rats are going to have a veto-proof majority in the legislature.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

First of all...I'm SICK of you naysayers and negative people!

HOW DARE YOU !

We in California are trying desperately to elect Bill Simon and we get this cr@p from you people trying to destroy our only hope to defeat the democrat and you people say thing that only the WORST RATS would say!

SH!T OR GET OFF THE POT! Either HELP OUT with money and time to elect Simon or STFU!!!

You're either ON our side or on THEIRS!

So STOP IT OR HELP US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saundra is trying to help out are YOU?!?!

[Rockitz]

No surprise to me. I totally agree except the fault does not lie with Bill Simon. He is inexperienced in politics and those who were supposed to lead him through the land mines of the campaign trail have allowed him to take so many hits it's amazing he still has a chance. His handlers should be shot. I fail to see how they could possibly have been run any worse of a campaign.

Simon was always on the defensive. His positions flip-flopped and were not well established before public release. He went after small electoral segments (Log Cabins) at the expense of much larger ones (Conservative Christians). He tried to use a sillver bullet (the infamous Davis campaign contribution picture) and it blew up in his face. He did not stick to the issues and how poorly Davis has performed.

Pathetic is the operative word. It's so bad, it's like the handlers were on Davis' payroll. Hopefully they are blacklisted as traitors and never work in GOP politics again.

[paul51]

Whether the comments are fair or not, they could always be debated after the election. For this dumb putz to be talking like this prior to the election makes him look even worse than Simon. What a fool.

[Russell Scott]

The good news for Simon is people will be getting their electric bills at the beginning of November. Simon still has a great chance to win IF people show up and vote.

[Lancey Howard]

bump for later

[Maelstrom]

It's ok to shoot down a fellow republican if he's actually conservative.

I think Simon was sabotaged by the GOP in the first place...which makes Ed Rollins comment Democrat in nature.
(Intentionally create the problem, then blame someone you don't like for the problem.)

[Maelstrom]

Moderate Republicans in CA are on their side.

They just wanted a different socialist in power. Never wanted a conservative.

[Maelstrom]

Simon does not represent an ever-increasing government supporter.

This makes him a "bad Republican" in moderate terms, especially since CA is so close to achieving a Democratic Fascist Utopia.

I no longer hold a much respect for CA "moderate" Republicans. They expect their own moderate candidates to garner conservative support simply for that letter "R" in their party affiliation while backstabbing and sabotaging conservative candidates.

They deserve all the blackouts and financial distress Davis inflicts upon them.

[drjimmy]

The only way those Libertarians could get anyone to pay the slightest attention to them is by turning blue and spitting at people. Since they had no chance of winning anyway, the top spot on the worst-run campaign chart still goes to Simon.

[Theodore R.]

In defense of the liberal Virginian Davis, sometimes Republicans can run the worst possible race in what could have been a competitive contest. Evidently this is true of Simon. While conservatives will all vote for Simon, hardly anyone really expects him to win. Tom Davis just couldn't hold back his outrage over the Simon campaign.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

Don'tcha suppose sending help would work better, send money they have plenty, send pr people to volunteer, send lawyers, hell the dems do it!

[Theodore R.]

"what a moron"

That could be the title of countless failed Republican candidates. Yes, this Taylor campaign in MT outrages me too. I blame Racicot for letting the MT Republicans down. If he would not run, he should have found a decent candidate to put up. After all, what has he yet accomplished as Republican national chairman? He couldn't even field a candidate in his home state!!!

[Saundra Duffy]

Thanks for the number; I'm up early and calling before work. Thanks! For victory & freedom!!!

[Dave S]

The worse run race is in Illinois with jim Ryan running against his brother George Ryan.

Its not his brother. I dont think they are related at all. Was stupid though to run anyone with that name for the governorship. Duh!

[Dave S]

What on earth was he thinking?!

He is obviously covering his ass. As head of the Republican congressional campaign organization, he had strong hopes of making gains in California this year. Simon through continued screwups has put in danger the entire Republican ballot. Wonder what whacky propositions will pass because of Simon's ineptness as a candidate.

[Dave S]

This reminds me of how the Lazio campaign was treated in its final days. I have to say, Lazio deserved some heavy criticism though

And you dont think Simon deserves some heavy criticism? Hell the governorship was his for the taking. All he had to be was someone other than Grayout Davis. But he found a way to blow it.

[B. A. Conservative]

"They just wanted a different socialist in power. Never wanted a conservative."

BS! The last Republican elected governor in California was a staunch conservative. If Republicans want to win elections, they must run as conservatives. When they run as weak socialists, the plunders vote for the real socialists and the conservatives being plundered stay home.

Here is how to turn out the vote for Republicans: Contract with Congress

[Dave S]

His handlers should be shot. I fail to see how they could possibly have been run any worse of a campaign. Simon was always on the defensive. His positions flip-flopped and were not well established before public release. He went after small electoral segments (Log Cabins) at the expense of much larger ones (Conservative Christians). He tried to use a sillver bullet (the infamous Davis campaign contribution picture) and it blew up in his face. He did not stick to the issues and how poorly Davis has performed.

What makes you think that Simon followed any of his advisors advice? Based on his public performance, Im convinced that he's perfectly capable of making those mistakes on his own.

[Aunt Polgara]

The good news for Simon is people will be getting their electric bills at the beginning of November.

Ummm...Russell, where are you from? Here in CA, most people heat their homes with natural gas, not electricity. Our huge electric bills come in the summertime. In fact the early November utility bills are some of the smallest of the year because October is generally a very mild month...here in LA, the highs are between 70-80 for much of October.

[Dave S]

Never wanted a conservative.

Only way a conservative could win is California these days is if only white males had sufferage. When are Republicans going to wise up and do more to get the Hispanic vote. If you dont, you will end up with less influence than the Libertarians.

[OldFriend]

Sounds like what the republicans did to Schundler here in NJ......they had their own reasons for wanting McSleazy in office so they didn't support their own.

CA will pay much as NJ is paying for such abandonment of principle and honor.

[Commie Basher]

The last Republican elected governor in California was a staunch conservative.

No, I think Pete Wilson was a heartfelt moderate who ruled to the right for political reasons. An oddity, in that it's usually heartfelt conservatives who rule to the middle for political reasons.

[Munson]

Reapportionment killed making congressional gains in California. It is going to take a strong voter registration program to weaken the rats hold on many districts.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

The last Republican elected governor in California was a staunch conservative.

Wilson, a staunch conservative? No offense, but no way, man.

[skeeter]

Maybe the moderates don't want Simon to win. He's a conservative.

I think you've got it.

[dts32041]

OOPs did I forget my sarcasm off sign again?

[heleny]

Maybe Thomas Davis III feels some kinship with gray Davis or is tired of all the DUMP DAVIS signs and FIRE DAVIS comments?

I went out for half an hour with a Bill Simon for Governor sign today to cheer over a thousand participants in a 5K run/walk at a university in San Diego.

Everybody saw my sign since I was cheering and there were no other bystanders. I got scores of positive responses, a few confused people reading the sign as if they didn't know about the upcoming election, and only two negative responses from people who seemed to be joking. One man said he already voted for Simon.

Even at a university, things look good for Mr. Simon. Go Simon!

[Zack Nguyen]

Congressman Davis is just being honest. I realize this is frustrating to Kalifornia FReepers, but it is nice just once to hear a politician give an unvarnished opinion on something instead of the usual spin.

[Saundra Duffy]

I got up early to call his Wash DC office and made the secretary take down a message to give to her boss. You can imagine what I said! WE'RE VOLUNTEERS OUT HERE FOR BILL SIMON AND TELL YOUR BOSS TO SHUT UP ALREADY!!! Stuff like that. Grrrrrrrr. For victory & freedom!!!

[Saundra Duffy]

unvarnished opinion

But it wasn't at all necessary and it isn't necessarily true and he made the opposition a pile of happy campers. I DON'T APPRECIATE IT ONE BIT. If you were working as hard as I am - VOLUNTEERING - you'd be PO'd too. Grrrrrrrr. DUMP DAVIS! GO, SIMON!! See all concerned CA freepers at the DUMP DAVIS rally tomorrow Sat 10/19 1-3 State Capitol south steps in Sacramento. For victory & freedom!!!