LA Times Editorial - Why the Recall is Wrong

[realFedUp]

another newspaper saying no to the recall...

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-noendorse28sep28,1,121052.story?coll=la-news-comment-editorials

Why the Recall Is Wrong

September 28, 2003

Californians are faced with the most important election in recent memory: the decision on whether to remove and replace Gov. Gray Davis. The implications of this recall go far beyond whether the abysmally unpopular Davis stays or goes.

Davis is, however, a moderate Democrat who has been in step with what most Californians want in environmental protection and personal freedoms. He has been a counterbalance to the more extreme, sometimes downright goofy wing of the state's Democratic Party, the one that once gave the state the Commission on Self-Esteem. But what Davis will most be remembered for is relentless fund-raising from deep-pockets labor and corporate donors. He was hauling in $1 million per month, even at the height of the energy crisis. Not an endearing legacy.

-snip-

So why not replace him? The Times opposes the recall because it doesn't make sense. There were no reasonable standards in calling for a new election. Davis was elected last year with 47% of the vote; months later, political opponents spent millions to replay the election. Now the state will spend $66 million for a special election, with 135 official candidates, come one, come all. If the recall prevails, the winner, with a minority of the overall vote, would replace a governor who got a large plurality. It's undemocratic.

There is another good reason why we oppose this recall. The alternatives — as much as truth hurts in this nation-sized state that deserves better — are not superior to Davis. In fact, they are potentially worse. Consider:

continued

[stopthegop]

1. the recall may be a bad idea, but it's not 'wrong'

it's being done in accord with the state constitution and state law...this is largely a case of whose ox is getting gored...

[dfong63]

2. it may be legal, but it is "wrong"

it's wrong to have a recall process that can have the "replacement" win with fewer votes than the incumbent.
it's wrong to have an election with only 60 days for the voters to learn about the candidates.
it's wrong to have elections where one candidate has a gigantic financial advantage because of his own wealth and his friends'.
it's wrong for the leading candidate to skip out on all the real debates.
it's wrong to have an election where the debate moderator refers to one of the candidates as "Governor Schwarzenegger".

i could go on. this election may be legal, but it is definitely wrong. and apparently, even the legalities were not strictly observed. (referring to the out-of-state signature gatherers.)

[stopthegop]

4. so....it's wrong because you don't like the established system..

thanks for clarifying...

[realFedUp]

6. It's a bad idea to let 12% of CA registered voters

who may not have even voted in any election decide
that a recall goes forward. I definitely think this
one has to change.

[stopthegop]

7. I agree the system is risky...

but it's the current and legitimate system...that's all I mean

[realFedUp]

8. I don't disagree with you

It's blatantly political though. It's the only
way someone like Arnold, Arianna or Peter C
could run and possibly win with only 25% of the
registered voter's votes.

[Loyal]

10. Look up the word legality, and look up the word morality.

If by saying it's "not wrong", you mean that it is legal to conduct the recall, then you would be correct.

If by saying it's "not wrong", you mean that it is moral to conduct to conduct this recall(seeing as Davis has not committed a crime), then you would be incorrect.

[The Zanti Regent]

3. Another piece of phoniness

So, the LIES ANGELES TIMES urges a "NO" vote...

BFD

This is the same paper that has kissed Arnold's Ass all the way thru this mess!

[Davis_X_Machina]

5. SOP. Kill one candidate in the news...

...and endorse him when it's too late to make a difference.

Happened to Gore not infrequently, IIRC.

[realFedUp]

9. Arnold's past has been buried for the most part

in the 16th paragraph of any lengthy article,
in someone's opinion column or in Doonesbury.
I resent that about the LA Times.