Davis Responds to Fires as if Recall Never Happened

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

SACRAMENTO — Just weeks after voters effectively fired him, Gov. Gray Davis has thrown himself into the fight to contain Southern California's devastating wildfires and console its victims.

snip
Some longtime critics are praising Davis for setting aside political considerations and for going out of his way to coordinate his response with Republican Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger. Davis and Schwarzenegger have talked by telephone every day this week and administration officials are briefing Schwarzenegger's advisors several times daily on developments, aides for both said.

"It would be very easy for Davis to be bitter and leave this all to subordinates or try to freeze Schwarzenegger out," said Dan Schnur, a Republican political consultant. "It would be the easiest thing in the world for Davis to say, 'It's somebody else's problem now.' But he seems to be putting just as much of himself into this as he would under more normal political circumstances. He's doing the right thing."

snip
"What we're seeing here is what we've always seen from Gray Davis as a public official," said Darry Sragow, a Democratic political consultant. "It has never been his style — and some would suggest this is why he's getting recalled — to get into a jumpsuit and get into a helicopter and help drop water on the fires, as some public officials would do. That doesn't mean he isn't doing his job."

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[theivoryqueen]

1. I hope California

realizes (someday) what they lost. I don't mean to rub in in during a time of crisis, but they really blew it recalling Davis for Arnie.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. They won't. I had my issues with Davis but felt overall he was NOT

a bad governor. He had MORE crises to deal with than any governor in recent times and handled them MUCH more effectively than did Pete Wilson. Even in the WORST of our budget crisis, Davis NEVER had to issue IOU's to cover the state's debt as did Pete Wilson.

[joefree1]

24. San Diego (rethuglican turf) got the worst

In a harbinger of California's future San Diego and it's tax cutting ways got caught unprepared by the firestorm. Look for all of California civil services to be drastically cut by the Gropenator.

"It's not over 'till Arnold gropes the fat lady" —Bill Press, on MSNBC

http://www.recallarnoldwatch.org

[calimary]

25. Hey, THIS Californian agrees with you completely!

The Dem-CA groups had somebody a few days ago who wrote a reminder about "those who said the state would go to hell if Arnold got elected." I myself also wonder if this might be karma.

I hear all those people saying nice things about Davis and, frankly, it just stings, bitterly. This is the SAME GRAY DAVIS they all couldn't stand, just a few weeks ago. HELLO, ASSHOLES!!!! I'll bet Gray Davis can sleep at night. I have my doubts about the rest of those good-for-nothing Pharisees.

Nice that Arnold Schmucksnenegger finally got off his ass and did a little more than a cutesy photo-op with some fire fighters. He probably doesn't realize he's actually going to have to do some work - and, gosh, no more movie sets to strut around where nobody dares to tell you "no"!

This Californian supported Gray Davis, saw the recall for this year's version of election hijacking that it was, and doesn't even like going to Schwarzenegger movies. I know full well how badly people were taken in, but I doubt they'll ever be big enough to realize what they've done to themselves. To ALL of us out here.

I take cold comfort in all those weasels who now do nothing but coo over how noble and great Gray Davis was. He didn't just suck that out of his thumb the day before yesterday, y'know. I don't know what kind of karma awaits us. I just hate the fact that despite my every effort to help stop this, I'm going to get dragged down into it anyway.

[Booberdawg]

2. Excellent display of leadership

Too bad CA has little leadership left to look forward to.

[LibDemAlways]

4. Davis did an excellect job.

Unfortunately I caught a few instances of the whore press calling him a "lame duck" and then devoting a whole lot of time to Arnie's photo op visit to the Moorpark Fire Department - after the danger was over in that area.

[MODemocrat]

19. The press can't sort out Fact from Fiction

This doesn't apply only to Arnie. I noticed on the local news here in Kansas City, they refer to Arnie as the "Star." They think he's making another movie, more than likely.:crazy: :boring: :shrug:

[librechik]

5. unsung hero

the recall was a disgusting miscarriage of justice.

Arnold looks like a lifeless cyborg by comparison.

[bluestateguy]

6. We need to support Governor Davis

Not question him. We have firefighters in the field and to criticize Governor Davis would undermine their morale.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

7. Those firefighters KNOW who is lying

The funds to help them were NOT forthcoming and it was NOT due to Davis.

[Flaming Meaux]

8. I didn't hear any criticism...

...at least as pertains to the handling of the fire emergency. I think the LA Times is giving Davis credit for quite a bit of class.

[AndyTiedye]

10. The Only Criticism...

Was of Ahnold and whoever or whatever voted for him.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

14. Guess you didn't read the article then

Duncan Hunter and several San Diego area Republicans were blaming Davis as early as last Sunday claiming that he deliberately didn't provide services to San Diego.

[TEXASYANKEE]

21. And it's been effective.

My sister-in-law (in San Diego, near Poway) was reciting the standard Republican spin when I talked to her yesterday -- Davis sat on a request to get help until 2 days after the fire started. I was dumbstruck that anyone could think this and, being slow on my feet, didn't challenge her. Ergh!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

23. sens this article to your sister..PRINT IT AND MAIL IT

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-sandiego31oct31,1,2867568.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[dpbrown]

9. Davis is a hero

And California will be much worse off in the hands of the Gropenator.

[bahrbearian]

27. I'd don't know !

The Groper drive's those San Deigo hills every day in His many Hummer's. I'm sure with his super human strengh he could handel the fire's by himself, If only Gray Davis would just let him have control.

[Grassrooter]

11. They sound surprised that he's doing his job.

Sorry to disappoint you f***ers, but he's not a petty Republican.

[newyawker99]

13. Hi Grassrooter!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Grassrooter]

20. Thanks for the welcome, newyawker99!.

n/t

[blueseas]

12. Good for him

A true hero

[piece sine]

15. Davis has been a class act since the recall

I found his response to the hellfires to be touching, sincere and effective. Despite it all, Gray Davis truly loves California. It's easy to "love" when everything is going great, but look what he's been through. May others find inspiration in his conduct this week.

[Frodo]

17. Agreed. And while bad news, this is good for his reputation.

Rudy G. wasnt' nearly as popular in NY until (as a lame duck Mayor) 9-11 came along and he really did respond properly (not perfectly, but in a very respectable way). The city (and NY state) LOVED him. And none of it was deemed "political" because he was already on his way out.

Davis could benefit from the same bump. He's clearly putting himself aside and doing the job in tough times. And he's as lame a duck as they come.

Of course, I'm not happy about the fires, but he gets to show Kal-e-fornia how a Governor should act in an emergency.

[Spazito]

16. I have been enormously impressed with the way Davis has been dealing...

with this crisis. He has been calm, caring and active.

[Spazito]

18. British Columbians (Canada) to help out in California...

this is taken from an article about the Californian fires:

<snip>

British Columbia is answering California's call for aid. In a written offer earlier this week, and on Thursday, California Gov. Gray Davis phoned B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell to say he'd take it.

Campbell said he told Davis that B.C. -- which experienced the worst fire season in 50 years last July and August -- understands what the state is going through. Three people were killed and more than 200 homes were destroyed.

"Friends are there to help in a time of need and that's what we're going to do for California," Campbell told The Canadian Press.

<snip>

"They're the best in the world and this year they proved that. The premier wanted our neighbours to the south to know they're available if they're needed. It appears they might be needed," said Forests Minister Mike de Jong.

Here is the link to the article entitled: Cool, moist air stalls California wildfires

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1067604085021_168///?hub=

[leesa]

22. Davis does the work and Ahnold does the cheescake photo-op

Davis has always been a hard worker, nose to the grindstone, which is why he was accused of the crime of not being charismatic.

[SoCalDem]

26. Yes he has... Sad.. Timing IS everything..

If the court had ruled that the election for the recall had to be postponed to the Nov election, he would NOT have been recalled.. People have seen what a governor "should" do.. But that was not to be, and now we must grit our teeth through 3 years of "Governator Photo-Op"..

When I think of the harm that can be done in 3 years, it sickens me.. The only hope we have is to try to get protective legislation passed , that will cushion the blow..

I see him as a totally one-term guy, but they now have a 3 year window to groom his replacement, and unfortunately, we are outside with our noses pressed to the window..

Bustamante managed to wound himself, and I do not see him ever moving up to governor.. Feinstein, could probably do it, but she's getting up tehre in years and then we would lose her senate seat.. same for Boxer..

Who IS there??

The repubes are good at laying the foundation, and we are not.. We have only 3 years to come up with someone to challenge whoever they throw at us.. I think it might be Dreier..That little weasel makes me sick..It will not be Simon, Riordan's too old,the novelty of Ahhnold will have worn off by then..

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

28. well Bill Lockyer sent me a letter asking me to attend a reception for him

today.

Too bad he fucked himself when he went against his own governor to make himself more pretty to Republicans. He won't be getting nother dime from me. As far as Bustamente is concerned, nobody fucked his campaign up more than HIM and Ritchie Ross a former REPUBLICAN lobbyist. Hey Bill...read Duncan Hunter's comments so you can distinguish PUKE politics from winning. Davis helped raise alot of funds for YOUR ELECTION to the atty gen'l office.