Bustamante's recall drive leaves 2 Dems fuming ('06 candidates) | SF Chron

[Ediacara]

Bustamante's recall drive leaves 2 Demos fuming

Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross Monday, September 8, 2003

Gov. Gray Davis isn't the only Democratic politico biting his lip over Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante's instant front-runner status in the recall sweepstakes.

Two other top Democrats are also steaming on the sidelines as Cruz makes his move.

We're talking about state Attorney General Bill Lockyer and state Treasurer Phil Angelides, both of whom were revving up to run for governor in 2006. In fact, both had raised more than $10 million -- far, far more than Bustamante could ever have come up with.

Then came the recall and Bustamante's decision to run as the lone "fallback" candidate for Democrats.

More at the San Francisco Chronicle

[shanti]

1. right

lockyer and angelides NEVER knew that cruz was planning a run for governor in 2006! this was common knowledge. cruz was the smart one here, imo. he saw his opportunity and TOOK it.

[davidinalameda]

2. I'll give you that one

it was going to be a race between Lockyer and Bustamonte in 2006

I still much rather have Lockyear in the governor's office. Maybe he can go for Lt. Gov instead

[David__77]

5. I was supporting Angelides.

I think he had good chances. I think it may still be operative if we manage to defeat the recall, which I think we have a good chance of doing. There will be a massive mobilization. The nature of our resources requires that we use people power, and conserve much of our ammunition for the final two to three weeks.

[onehandle]

3. This angers them more than a GOP power grab...

Rooting for Gray for their own asses. Whatever.

[w4rma]

4. I think it's good for Democrats to be ambitious, in general, but

I wince when Democrats' priorities seem to put their own ambitions over the team's.

[Sagan]

6. Awww...poor babies...

Who are these two? Have they been railing against the recall? I don't seem to have heard them...

Or are they just mad that the fat Mexican won't stay in the kitchen doing the dirty work?

Not fair, I know.... this just pissed me off. He's popular. He's smart, he's experienced, he's effective.. why SHOULDN'T Bustamante be governor?

[David__77]

7. This is overblown.

I think that there is really a party unity at this moment. We are having a statewide convention at which Bustamante will be endorsed, alongside no on recall. Not everyone will be out there promoting that strategy, but I believe that the large majority of Democrats, including Angelides and Lockyer, will be saying no on recall, yes on Bustamante as the most qualified candidate on part two of the ballot. We are also united on defeating the recall.

I don't care what people's motivations are, so long as we defeat the recall.

[PATRICK]

8. two more for the media trap

There seems no end to the "pros" who continue to scar the face of the party with empty diviseness and backbiting. At least their names are out there. Did they really really have to public and petty?

Democrats are always going to be called to step forward to the press with negative and suicidal remarks. I guess it is standard operating procedure. It works all too often.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

9. My Fellow DUers are falling into the GOP's....

trap! I'm willing to be pragmatic here!!! I am more angry about the GOPower Grab than I am about this anger between the Dem's!!! We should all vote NO to the Recall and YES on Bustamante!!!

Please do not get angry at Bustamante NOW! Let us defeat the Recall first and then we will argue about the 06' Governors race! This is what the Republicans would do and it has greatly assisted them in their victories! We must do the same thing too!


:kick:

[mndemocrat_29]

10. I absolutely agree

We should argue in the primary of 2006. We have our candidate now, we should support him.

[rocktivity]

11. And what stopped either one of them from throwing his hat in the ring?

Bustamante's the best qualified keep the governor's seat Dem, and that's all there is to it! Is the party supposed to just roll over?

rocknation