There is more at stake in the CA recall than the governorship

[Doomsayer13]

As of now it looks as if Gray Davis will be recalled and some on this forum actually welcome that happening. But one must look at the ramifications of this recall election both in terms of the 2004 presidential elections and how the California governorship is treated from here on out.

- We all know that this recall sets bad pecedence, but what can it mean for CA governors in the future? Since only 10% of the voting populace in the last election is needed for a recall of the governor, then any man with 2 million dollars to throw around can recall the governor. This means that we may end up having recall elections every year, or that our governors be they Republicans or Democrats would be hard pressed to not make unpopular decisions which could be for the betterment of the state becuase of the possibility of being recalled. There are plenty of unpopular but justified things that politicians must do in office, and I cite examples such as the civil rights act which were unpopular yet passed despite of popular opinion. What we have is a tyranny of the minority here, and that is a scary thought.

- This recall election hurts the Democrats chances of ousting bush in 2004. Suppose you have Arnold or any other GOP wins the recall election. What will happen then is that that Governor will be an instant and recognizeable campaigner on behalf of Bush in 2004. Bush was trashed in California in 2000, despite spending lots of time there and Gore spent no time at all campaigning in CA. What will be the case if there is a Republican governor of CA is that the Dems will need to spend time and money to fight off a possible Republican win of CA, which we can't do without.

I think that the answer is clear here, even if you don't like Davis. We must vote No on Recall for the future of California.

[twilight]

1. No on the recall

I am voting for NO on the recall - any further than that I cannot say nor commit to anyone nor anything. Gray Davis does not deserve to be treated like this!

:dem:

[diplomats]

2. I suppose this could happen

"This recall election hurts the Democrats chances of ousting bush in 2004. Suppose you have Arnold or any other GOP wins the recall election. What will happen then is that that Governor will be an instant and recognizeable campaigner on behalf of Bush in 2004. Bush was trashed in California in 2000, despite spending lots of time there and Gore spent no time at all campaigning in CA. What will be the case if there is a Republican governor of CA is that the Dems will need to spend time and money to fight off a possible Republican win of CA, which we can't do without."

But Clinton easily won Calif. in 1992 and 1996 with a Repuke governor, and even if Arnold wins he could be unpopular come 2004. That being said, I oppose the recall 100 percent and if it passes hope like crazy Bustamante wins.

[AP]

3. It's not just that the Republican will campaign for Bush. The

Republican governor of CA will rig the system in favor of Bush. This is what happened in FL. They began in 1998 passing laws, and purging voter lists, and making sure that poll workers stopped cleaning out the chads from punch card ballot machines in Dem-heavy precincts, and desisigning ballots, etc. etc. etc.

From the executive branch, the Governor of CA will game the system in favor of Republicans forcing the Democrats to spend lots and lots of money they don't have running in one of the most expensive media states in the country -- a state Democrats should have in the bag -- and the Republicans may even win the election...

Retaining a Democratic governor in CA is vital to a Democratic victory in 2004. Even if you like the Greens, you have to admit that it just isn't worth the risk of voting for anyone but No on the Recall and Yes for Bustamente.

[JackSwift]

4. The Governor gets to make a lot of appointments

and it appears that Pete Wilson, former racist governor, will be making those appointments. These will be a bunch of closet racist right wingers, including to the bench.

The Secretary of State is the election official, and is a Democrat, Kevin Shelly.

This is a Bush WH experiment to see how much the public will put up with their interfereing with state governments. What is going on in Texas is the same thing. It is eerily similar to the German Nazis in the early 30s before and at the time Hitler first became Chancellor.

If District Judge Fogel, a Clinton appointee, doesn't find that the election process complies with the Voting Rights act, this could go to the 9th circuit, a liberal panel, and then a repeat of Florida 2000 as the US Supreme Court is not in session until the first monday in October, so Rhenquist, the justice who supervises the 9th circuit, could issue a stay on any ruling.

I suspect that Schwarzenegger will run into the famous Davis buzzsaw. It might not save Davis, but AS is highly vulnerable and it would end his political career, which so far is nothing but cliche's.