Free Republic

Simon Leads Davis by Three Points, and the President Sends a Message By Leo LacayoMonday, November 04, 2002From the Campaign Trail:Exclusive for CHRONWATCH.COM     As Bill Simon came down the stairs of his Boeing at the private air field in San Jose this past Saturday, I extended my hand to greet the next governor of the state of California.  Minutes before, Mr. Simon had been preceded by a bus full of the saddest people I have ever seen, the press corps that is accompanying him!      Simon turned and walked over to the landing-strip workers who had moved the stairs to his...

Our Sacramento "Dump Davis" freep was a great success, attracing over 100 committed activists, including freepers and their friends! Video highlights include chants, speeches and some great visuals of the Dump Davis dump truck RonDog rented for the occasion! And who can resist seeing the eGray Hooker strut his stuff? I hear no price is too high ... View Here!

<p>Gov. Gray Davis and his allies say we shouldn't believe the long-suppressed accusations of admitted felon Mark Nathanson, who said Davis conspired with him to squeeze campaign money from people seeking permits at the California Coastal Commission.</p> <p>At the time he leveled the allegations, Nathanson was in federal prison on an extortion conviction, looking to cut his sentence by helping prosecutors snag a bigger fish. His charges were rejected by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office, in part because Nathanson, they said, had lied to them in the past.</p>

October 30, 2002, 9:35 a.m. A Q&A by Kathryn Jean Lopez William E. Simon Jr. is the Republican candidate governor in California. Kathryn Jean Lopez: Why do you want to be the next governor of California? Bill Simon: There's only one reason and one reason alone: I am truly concerned about the direction our state is taking, and I know I can help. We face so many problems, including a severe energy crisis, an ailing economy, and failing schools. I know with my experience as a charity leader, federal prosecutor under Giuliani, and family businessman, I can bring real solutions...

October 30, 2002, 9:00 a.m. By Bill Whalen Finally, the "other shoe" dropped in California's governor's race: A federal judge released a pair of letters from attorneys representing a convicted state coastal commissioner alleging that, a decade ago, he and Gray Davis schemed to pull campaign donations from developers in exchange for political favors. The timing couldn't be worse for Davis as it comes at a time when he's trying to leave one final, positive imprint in what otherwise has been one of the nation's most negative campaigns. Of course, it's a needed break for Republican Bill Simon Jr., who's...

We now have video from Monday's freep! Our short clip stars Monica and the usual suspects. Monica is hilarious and just has to be seen to be believed, so check out the clip now! Not much action from the opposition, but I did get a shot of a gigantic group of them moving in. What I found particularly intriguing is that about 1/3 of these people were wearing the Firefighters' event shirts and carrying the special "Firefighters for Davis" sign. So, even though there was a big draw in Clinton, many of the people we have seen are repeats from...

By Duke Helfand, Times Staff Writer Ask Gov. Gray Davis why he deserves a second term and he'll tell you that he kept his word with California voters: public school test scores have risen steadily since he took office. "For the first time in decades, California's schools are showing real improvement," he says. But Republican challenger Bill Simon Jr. believes that Davis' education policies have failed, particularly for students in the state's worst schools. "There has been marginal improvement ... but it's not the type that anyone should be proud of," he says. As the Nov. 5 election approaches, both...

Most still support the governor, but not as enthusiastically as they did in 1998, poll shows. By Matea Gold, Times Staff Writer California's Latino voters, who energetically supported Gray Davis' candidacy in 1998, still favor the Democratic governor but are decidedly less enthusiastic about him this year, according to interviews with voters and experts on Latino politics. At this point in the 1998 governor's race, 72% of Latino voters said they were backing Davis. He ultimately won 71% of the Latino vote, according to Los Angeles Times exit polls of voters. According to a Times poll published Tuesday, however, Davis...

Times poll shows the governor's lead stems from a dislike of Simon, not from incumbent's popularity. Most think state is on wrong track. By Mark Z. Barabak , Times Staff Writer One week before election day, Democrat Gray Davis is clinging to a steady lead over Republican Bill Simon Jr., but widespread discontent with the incumbent has kept him from pulling away in the governor's race, according to a new Los Angeles Times poll. Californians remain underwhelmed by their choices: More than half of likely voters in the poll say their pick is merely the best of a bad lot....

Davis, legislators of both parties lavished windfall on programs. Analysts see years of pain ahead. By Jeffrey L. Rabin, Times Staff Writer During Gray Davis' term as governor, California's state budget has gone from a record surplus to a record deficit. When the state treasury was flush with cash, the governor and lawmakers from both political parties pushed state spending to new heights. In part, that money was spent to expand programs—especially in education—that locked the state into future spending. But when the economy faltered and revenue sank, the governor and the Legislature kept spending at near the levels they...

WHERE'S BUBBA?What if the leader of the Democratic Party came to town, and NOBODY noticed? From the FRONT PAGE of the online edition of today's Los Angeles Times: Tuesday, October 29, 2002 Republican challenger Bill Simon Jr., left, holds a news conference on the beach in Malibu. Davis, right, campaigned in Inglewood to get out the vote.(LAT) That's it: "Davis campaigned in Inglewood to get out the vote..." NO MENTION of BUBBA - ANYWHERE in today's L.A. Times!(At least none that **I* could find!) Talk about a "low profile" event! FReepers are used to being ignored by the mainstream media,...

Rally Against soon-to-be-EX-Governor Gray Davis appearing with disgraced EX-President Bill Clinton Southern California FReep ALERT! TODAY - MONDAY, October 28 - 5 pm Bill Clinton AND Gray Daviswill BOTH be at the Animo Leadership Charter High School(on the "University of West Los Angeles" campus)1155 West Arbor Vitae Street(on the North-east corner of Aviation and Arbor Vitae)Los Angeles, CA90301 THEIR Rally starts at 5:30 pm(Bubba speaks at 6:00 pm)OUR FReep starts at 5:00 pm MASSIVE NUMBERS of FReepers are requested! This may be the LAST PUBLIC APPEARANCE of Gray Davis before Election Day!Sign ideas from NON-California FReepers are WELCOME! fromYahoo1 Maps

The Democrats were lucky we were at this event, because otherwise the poor Firefighters would have fallen asleep from boredom. Picture it: An evening of impossibly dull speeches, all alike. The speaker thanks the firefighters for inviting him, thanks the firefighters for all the hard work they are doing, takes about a minute tooting his own horn, and tells them to be sure to walk precincts and talk to people and get out there to vote! By the time this pattern is repeated five or six times, even the dumbest Firefighter is going to have gotten the idea. Well, we...

<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — When it comes to raising money for Democrats and getting them excited about voting, no one can do it like Bill Clinton.</p> <p>Former President Clinton talks with Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend at a campaign rally.</p>

Southern California FReep ALERT! THIS MONDAY, October 28 Bill Clinton AND Gray Davis will BOTH be at the Animo Leadership Charter High School 1155 West Arbor Vitae StreetLos Angeles, CA 90301 THEIR Rally starts at 5:30 pm OUR FReep starts at 4:30 pm MASSIVE NUMBERS of FReepers are requested! This may be the LAST PUBLIC APPEARANCE of Gray Davis before Election Day! Sign ideas from NON-California FReepers are WELCOME!

<p>A missed story Re "Hundreds join anti-war rally," Oct. 20: The Bee gave great coverage to the anti-war protest, but was silent about FreeRepublic.com's "Dump Davis" rally, which took place on the same day on the south steps of the Capitol.</p>

October 23, 2002, 9:00 a.m. By Bill Whalen SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — Paul McCartney is touring California. So, too, are the Rolling Stones and Sheryl Crow. But what about the Republicans' rock star, George W. Bush? Will the president play here before Election Day? Is touching down in the nation's most populous state a good use of his time, or are there worthier venues for the current "W. Across America" campaign tour? These are tough questions. Unfortunately, California offers no easy answers. Common sense and conventional wisdom dictate that the president of the United States go out of his way —...

ONE IN AN OCCASIONAL SERIES OF CONVERSATIONS WITH CALIFORNIA VOTERS. IN THIS ARTICLE, BAY AREA DEMOC Voters say the governor just doesn't seem Democratic enough. By Mark Z. Barabak, Times Staff Writer OAKLAND -- Ask Mary Ann Boddum about the race for California governor and she goes on at length about Bill Simon Jr.: his inconsistent stands on issues, his questionable business practices, lack of personal integrity and bumbling campaign. "I just don't think he's suited for the job," Boddum said of the GOP gubernatorial nominee. She is scarcely more impressed with the Democratic incumbent, Gray Davis. He kowtows to...

California is found to lag most states in various measures of providing for its youth. By Carla Rivera, Times Staff Writer Despite high levels of wealth, California compares poorly with many other states in providing adequate education, health care and economic security for young children and their families, according to a study by the advocacy group Children Now. The annual California Report Card to be released today by the Oakland-based group found that the state ranked 33rd among states and the District of Columbia in public school expenditures per student, last in student/counselor ratio, had the third-highest rate of juveniles...

Latest infusion will pay for TV ads through election day. Candidate touts business acumen. By Matea Gold, Times Staff Writer Republican Bill Simon Jr. plans to lend his gubernatorial campaign up to $2 million this week to compete with Gov. Gray Davis in a last round of television advertising, the Republican candidate and one of his senior strategists said Tuesday. "Oh, I'll put a little more in," Simon told reporters after a speech to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council at a downtown hotel. "It will be enough to ensure that we're going to be up" on television through election...