Bill Simon Enters CA Race

Fox News | August 9, 2003 | Fox News

[Salvation]

**It's such a disappointment to see conservatives like Simon, Fong, and Lundgren "moderate" their conservative views instead of standing up like Alabama AG Pryor and Reagan.**

Agree with you all the way!

[Scenic Sounds]

Hasta la vista, Senor Simon.

[TheDon]

If Simon was serious about running, he should have been first in line. He gave up his second shot at the prize, and should have followed Issa's lead.

[Diddle E. Squat]

If Simon doesn't garner much support, please don't throw out garbage that it is because people/voters/the GOP are anti-Catholic.

There are many real reasons why Freepers might not support Simon, screaming anti-Catholicism sounds like Jesse Jackson screaming racism every time a Republican blows their nose.

[GreatOne]

See my post at #12.

Hate to give you a "my best friend is black" rebuttal, but I am solidly Catholic and strongly conservative. Simon ran a crap campaign and lost what he should have easily won. He has already been defined in the eyes of CA voters, and will only succeed in drawing away votes from Arnold or McClintock (sp?). The goal is for us to win a freaking major seat in CA, whether a liberal like Arnold or a rock-solid man like McClintock (sp?). Arnold's never going to go anywhere else (presidency or U.S. Senate), and has enough solid pros behind him to do a good job with the economy there.

[beaversmom]

I'd like someone a lot more conservative than Arnold to win in California but Arnold may be good for the Republican party at large. He can make campaign appearances, raise money for the party, bring more people to our side. He's good PR.

[research99]

RE: "Why don't you give him the benefit of the doubt? I don't pretend to know anything about CA or its politics, but, from what I have read, Simon is an honest and decent man.

Simon is a dishonest creep.

Take the time to refer to his public statements to "spin" last year's civil suit, against what his testimony and the case file evidence actually demonstrated -- just another lying rich kid trying to leech off the reputation earned by his father. And now he's letting himself be conned by advisor Sal Russo, who wants another shot at a % of his trust fund.

Simon had his chance to assist the Recall when it needed help the most -- yet he let Issa do the hard work, and now only steps in once the dust has settled.

SIMON = LOSER !!

[GreatOne]

Most of us learn from our mistakes. Why don't you give him the benefit of the doubt? I don't pretend to know anything about CA or its politics, but, from what I have read, Simon is an honest and decent man.

If it were a primary, I might reconsider. But with an open election and others running, all he is going to do is draw away votes from Arnold or McClintock (sp?). As I've said here already, I just want to see a major seat in CA in Republican hands. If Arnold is the best way to do it, at this point, so be it.

[FRgal4u]

Issa will be well remembered by the cali gop - he kept the money flowing into the recall effort but did the right thing realizing his time is not yet for this round...he is a much smarter politician than the loser Simon...Simon is finished as a politician - no one ever lost twice for a high post has any political future left...Issa left his options open for another day, Simon..oh well, as usual, never able to see the handwritings on the wall...someone is borned to be a leader, someone is borned to be a loser...lol

[spokeshave]

Simon is in cahoots with Arnie to suck greyout's attack TV ads in the wrong direction.

[GreatOne]

I'd like someone a lot more conservative than Arnold to win in California but Arnold may be good for the Republican party at large. He can make campaign appearances, raise money for the party, bring more people to our side. He's good PR.

That is exactly my primary reasoning (rationalizing?) on this. If Arnold wins, he'll win huge and be very popular with the voters, and will be able to help out the party at large, maybe (hopefully) even Bush. It's like Jesse Ventura's win here in MN (Arnold's good friend. Arnold showed up at inaguration), but Arnold will not have such thin skin with the media criticism-wise as to be eventually be ineffective in getting anyone else elected.

[vbmoneyspender]

Are you talking about the verdict that the superior court judge threw out? Who should I believe in that instance, the judge or you?

[nickcarraway]

Stop acting like a Democrat, or you are the loser!

[EvilOverlord]

I would vote for Simon- he's the only one with the guts to deal with immigration.

I heard Simon on Brian Wilson's show on KSFO last year. He dodged the immigration question at least a couple of times. That interview didn't leave a good impression on me.

[truth_seeker]

"Simon is the real conservative!!"

November 2002 was opportunity to learn how the entire state feels about being governed by "real conservatives."

As bad as Davis was, and is, Simon couldn't beat him. Simon is a nice, moral, photogenic family man.

He screams like Hillary, when making speeches. It sounds phony and contrived.

Simon is a poor excuse for a politician. Let him stick to managing his father's money.

[summer]

Voters like candidates who are confident in their views and comfortable in their own shirts.

I agree with your entire post. Look what happened in FL, in Nov 2002, when Gov Jeb Bush was re-elected in a landslide. The Dems thought if they sent their mouthpieces down here to loudly gripe about Gov Bush's policies - like One FL (reliminating race as a factor), Service First (cutting excess jobs from the state payrolls) and Election 2000, they would beat Gov Bush no matter who they ran. But that didn't work. Over time, 65% of FL voters have come to agree with Gov Bush on his policies, and he won the election by 14 points (57% to 43%) -- in a state where there are more registered Dem than GOP voters. And, IMO, he had the independents on his side as well. Shifting views to satisfy whatever the way the wind blows is not going to get a candidate elected.

[summer]

Voters like candidates who are confident in their views and comfortable in their own shirts.

I agree with your entire post. Look what happened in FL, in Nov 2002, when Gov Jeb Bush was re-elected in a landslide. The Dems thought if they sent their mouthpieces down here to loudly gripe about Gov Bush's policies - like One FL (reliminating race as a factor), Service First (cutting excess jobs from the state payrolls) and Election 2000, they would beat Gov Bush no matter who they ran. But that didn't work. Over time, 65% of FL voters have come to agree with Gov Bush on his policies, and he won the election by 14 points (57% to 43%) -- in a state where there are more registered Dem than GOP voters. And, IMO, he had the independents on his side as well. Shifting views to satisfy whatever the way the wind blows is not going to get a candidate elected.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

But Arnold is a RINO

So are 50% of registered Republicans in California........if not more.

[summer]

I meant to say: Election 2000 (voting reform by touch screen voting), ...

[Dave S]

Who cares if he's Catholic or God himself? He ran the absolute worst campaign since George McGovern or Michael Dukakis. The only reason he even came close to Davis was that Davis was so resolutely hated by most Californians including the Dems. Other candidates on the upcoming recall ballot, dont have Davis' negatives. But Simon has high negatives of his own.