California Recall Daily Thread (9/29/2003) 8 Days To Go

In just 8 days the people of California will choose a Governor and as a result set a course that will affect the future of the state and our country in profound ways. This thread has been created to keep us all informed of the important developments.

I invite you to post all the major recall stories here or if it has already been posted, then add links to these posts. We welcome discussions of the candidates, the issues, campaign strategy, the polls, etc. Please be civil in your comments.

If you want to be added to a ping list on the recall please freepmail me and make sure you mention that you want to be added to the "recall ping list." I will ping you once daily at the start of the thread and occasionally if there is major breaking news.

McClintock positive staying in right thing

Ventura Star | Beth Fouhy
Posted on 09/29/2003 8:54 AM PDT by Rabid Republican

Republican not bowing to party pressure

SAN FRANCISCO -- With little more than a week left in California's recall race, Arnold Schwarzenegger is trying to make his victory seem inevitable. But his Republican rival isn't going away.

Conservative state Sen. Tom McClintock has stuck firmly -- and some say, obstinately -- to his pledge to race to the end, even at the risk of splitting the Republican vote and allowing Democrats to stay in power even if Gov. Gray Davis is recalled....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/991516/posts

Inside McClintock’s Head - What Could Have Been

National Review ^ | September 29, 2003 | Arnold Steinberg
Posted on 09/29/2003 9:06 AM PDT by Recourse

September 29, 2003, 10:07 a.m.
By Arnold Steinberg

LOS ANGELES — Republican candidate for California governor Tom McClintock is honorable and principled, intelligent and serious. He can be plainspoken in his eloquence. Now, with the election barely a week away, some may ask plainly: Why is he still running?

McClintock's critics say he is not a team player. But McClintock supporters reply that the Republican team was AWOL last year. That's when McClintock barely lost in the state controller's race to a Democrat who outspent him 5-to-1. Republican kingmakers, according to McClintock partisans, instead funded likely losers....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/991529/posts

Gray's Waterloo?

The Weekly Standard ^ | 09/29/03 | Bill Whalen
Posted on 09/29/2003 9:18 AM PDT by Pokey78

Gray Davis is looking increasingly desperate. The numbers may mean that he's finally finished.
ELECTIONS, like warfare, come down to turning points. And should Governor Gray Davis go down in flames a week from tomorrow, remember last Friday as the pivotal moment in California's recall election. The event was a West Hollywood rally for women voters. His guest of honor was former Texas governor Ann Richards (talk about the B-list), plus a phone call from Hillary Rodham Clinton, who tried to pump up the estrogen by predicting "California is not going to be stampeded by the same right-wingers who gave us the election in Florida and are trying to do things that are really against our interests." ....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/991540/posts

Multiple GOP Internals-McClintock Numbers Have Stalled..

ABC News ^ | September 29, 2003 | Mark Halperin
Posted on 09/29/2003 9:15 AM PDT by rftc

Arnold Schwartznegger appeared to pick up momentum in his drive to unseat Governor Grey Davis with a new polls showing his candidacy on the ascent, as the campaign director for State Senator Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) all but conceded that the fellow Republican was likely to win.

The polls caught the McClintock campaign flat footed and campaign director John Feliz all but conceded that Schwarzenegger may be too far ahead to catch.

In fact, he said that private polls had shown Schwarznegger moving up after the candidates debate Wednesday, with Bustamante falling back and McClintock recieving a slight uptick then stabalizing.

Feliz contends that when the election is done, McClintock will beat Bustamante. 'This whole thing about Tom being the spoiler has created the movement for Arnold. The voters are taking their second choice, Tom is their first choice.'....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/991537/posts

Davis is Lucky (Schwarzenegger, McClintock)

San Jose Mercury News ^ | 9/28/03
Posted on 09/29/2003 9:29 AM PDT by SteveH

DAVIS IS LUCKY; THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT CANDIDATES WORTH A RECOMMENDATION

Gray Davis has succeeded in politics in part by being lucky in who was running against him. It has happened again.

The list of replacement candidates is one more reason to reject the recall.

We cannot recommend any of them.

Some hold views antithetical to ours. The others seem even less capable than a lame-duck Davis of giving California the makeover it needs....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/991551/posts

Guess what's waiting to be signed on Gov. Davis' desk...

KCRA ^ | Seot, 26, 2003
Posted on 09/29/2003 9:21 AM PDT by Lizavetta

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Even though Gov. Gray Davis refuses to play favorites in the NBA Kings-Lakers rivalry, the Sacramento Kings are taking a late stance on the recall. The basketball organization made a sizeable donation to help defeat the effort.

On public record, the Kings' Arco Arena limited partnership -- led by Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof -- donated $100,000 to Davis' anti-recall campaign just two days ago. It is a big-money donation that some, including the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, are calling a blatant attempt to buy Davis' signature.

"Follow the money. Follow the money," said Howard Jarvis spokesman John Coupal...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/991543/posts

Demos Internal Recall Polling by Teachers Association Still Has Davis Down 54-41 (Arnie up + 5%!!)

Sacremento Bee ^ | September 26, 2003 | Dan Weintraub
Posted on 09/29/2003 9:42 AM PDT by rftc

My sources tell me that two Democratic polls over the weekend including one by the California Teachers Association Union show the recall leading 54-40 and 54-41.

That is a lot of ground to make up (with one week to go) even if you subcribe to the wisdom that Davis needs only to shave the 54 down to 49.9, which is true but makes the task somewhat easier than it is.

The race to replace Governor Davis in one of the Democratic polls is dead even between Cruz and Arnold at 30-29 with McClintock at 18.

The CTA poll, I am told has Arnold opening up a five point lead at 31-26, with McClintock at 16.

Still a ton of undecided voters out there....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/991557/posts

California: McClintock Stepped Aside Before, to His Regret

Los Angeles Times ^ | September 29, 2003 | Patrick McGreevy
Posted on 09/29/2003 10:03 AM PDT by John Jorsett

Imagine this scenario: Facing doubts about winning, Tom McClintock drops out of a hotly contested political race to clear the way for a wealthy show business name, who then fumbles the bid, allowing a third candidate to capture the seat.

The 2003 gubernatorial race? Actually, it already happened, in 1986....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/991564/posts

California GOP Emergency Session Board Meeting 1PM Pacific -Watch Thread

C-Span ^ | September 29, 2003 | Brain Lamme
Posted on 09/29/2003 10:06 AM PDT by rftc

They will endorse Arnold, hopefully they will ask McClintock to step down as well....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/991568/posts

The Schizophrenic Times (Recall Poll Inconsistencies)

PoliPundit.com ^ | 9/29/03 | PoliPundit.com
Posted on 09/29/2003 10:24 AM PDT by NYC Republican

Two pieces on the LA Times web site accuse that new Gallup poll, showing the recall at 63 percent, of:

1. Using a high turnout model: "The poll of 787 registered voters used a model for probable voters that assumes a relatively high 50 percent turnout among the state's voting age population."

2. Using a low turnout model: "The CNN-USA Today poll, conducted among 1,007 Californians between Thursday and Saturday, assumed a low turnout of 51% — lower than election officials expect — in determining which were the most likely voters."

Memo to lying liberal media: I realize you're in a state of denial about the recall. But at least try to get your stories straight when you lie to your readers.

UPDATE: Some of my readers say the poll is junk. They're right. All recall polls are junk, since no one can accurately say who will turn out to vote in this strange election. However, as I predicted in my debate review, Arnold performed so well in the big TV debate that he will likely win this election. We just don't know the margin of victory....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/991585/posts

Letter That the California GOP Emergency Session Board Meeting Should Give to Tom McClintock Today

California GOP BOard ^ | September 29, 2003 | executive vote
Posted on 09/29/2003 10:29 AM PDT by rftc

Dear Mr. State Senator,

We applaud your efforts and supporters for your campaign and running a campaign that has garnered considerable amount of California GOP support.

The major media has emptied out all of the dirt they have against other candidates and it is time for you to make a decision. (with internal polling still having the race within margin for error)

Are you be concerned about being the man that puts Governor Cruz Bustamante in office or a possible political future that could have you as a US Sentor from California.

We urge you to consider this in the next week as election day nears....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/991590/posts

May I get some help here?: Why is Arnold against referendum to repeal illegals' drivers licenses?

thereporter.com ^ | Sep. 29, 03 | churchillbuff
Posted on 09/29/2003 10:35 AM PDT by churchillbuff

Arnold is trying to "skate around" this issue. Why can't he take a straightforward stand?

Here is how reporter Thomas Elias puts it:

Replacement candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger tried to skate around the issue ... . He's against licenses for illegals, he said while accusing Davis of pandering to Latino voters. But he won't support a referendum. Does he really want that non-position publicized before his staff gets a chance to rethink it?

Schwarzenegger is plainly trying to placate conservative Republican voters whose votes he needs and may be losing to Republican state Sen. Tom McClintock, while also trying to satisfy Latino voters who favor licensing all immigrants who can pass written and road tests. Time will tell whether his doubletalk will fly....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/991598/posts

But... McClintock Would Easily Beat Bustamante If Schwarzenegger Dropped Out Of Race: 56% to 37%...

USA Today ^ | 9/29/2003 | USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll
Posted on 09/29/2003 10:36 AM PDT by Rutles4Ever

6. If the choice were between Cruz Bustamante, the Democrat and Tom McClintock, the Republican, who would you be more likely to vote for: Cruz Bustamante or Tom McClintock?

Probable Voters: A: McClintock 56% Bustamante 37% ....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/991599/posts

Dennis Prager Supports Arnold Schwarzenegger in the California Recall Election.

California Recall Daily Thread: Up To The Minute News ^ | 9.29.2003 | DoctorZin
Posted on 09/29/2003 11:14 AM PDT by DoctorZIn

Dennis Prager just annouced his support for Arnold Schwarzenegger, in the California Recall Election....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/991623/posts

Huge Blow to McClintock. California GOP to Formally Endorse Arnold Schwarzenegger 2pm PST Today

Posted on 09/29/2003 11:10 AM PDT by Hillary's Lovely Legs

FOX NEWS:

The California GOP will announce today that it will endorse Arnold Schwarzenegger for their candidate for the governor of California.

The official announcement will come at 2pm Pacific time today.

This announcement comes as a big blow to Tom McClintock....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/991621/posts

Just curious,what principles are you voting for? Arnold understands that excessive government intrusion in business is wrong, he believes in private property rights and individual liberties and has said he would like to repeal AB13--the draconian, business-killing smoking ban in The People's Republik of Kookiefornia--he doesn't plan to balance the budget on the backs of smokers. Along with cutting waste from government spending, that's enough for me.

"Hey, Gray! Can ya hear me NOW?" I drive, I smoke and I Vote!

Prelude to a Political Obit: McClintock's Tragic Flaw

NewsMax ^ | 9/29/03 | Geoff Metcalf
Posted on 09/29/2003 12:34 PM PDT by finnman69

I’ve known California State Sen. Tom McClintock since I first moved to California in 1981. I have considered him a friend since 1992 and have spoken at fund raisers for him.

Tom is a for-real Jeffersonian constitutional conservative. I have sat in his offices many times, had him as a guest on my various radio programs, and socialized with him and his wonderful family.

The blessing and curse of Tom McClintock is his rock solid adherence to his principles. Unlike most politicians he does not lie, dissemble, compromise or weasel. However, those very characteristics I admire in him as a man, husband and father remain his tragic flaw as a politician....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/991673/posts

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