Is Arianna Huffington A Friend of Democrats?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

She helped her ex husband Michael Huffington in his failed camapign against Diane Feinstein.

She started a website during the Monica brouhaha urging Clinton to resign.

She supported Ralph Nader in 2000


She will split the center left vote which would go to Cruz Bustamante in the CA recall.

It seems that Arianna whether she's masquerading as a Gingrich Republican or a latter day Norman Thomas has not done a damn thing for Democrats.

[Adjoran]

1. she's a GREAT friend . . .

. . . of Arianna Huffington, that is!

She's been all over the political spectrum, which tends to make me believe she is more interested in whatever helps her personal ambitions than in principle. I have more respect for diehard right-wingers, because at least they really believe in something and don't go changing their minds for no apparent reason, like she does.

But I'm NOT worried about her "splitting" the progressive vote at all. She probably won't get more than 1-2% when it comes down to it, and I don't think that will come from Bustamonte. More likely Arianna will take votes from Cherry Delight or whoever that porn-starr chick is.

[Clete]

2. I'm gonna give Arianna a pass on this one.

Although I agree Arianna is mostly for Arianna, I do believe she is running against Arnold and not actually for Governor. She has stated that she is against the recall and that it is a political ploy for the GOP to gain California.

[AlGore-08.com]

4. I'm sorry, she's running to run, not to protest the GOP

She has an agreement with Camejo, the Green candidate - - if it looks like she'd win if Camejo dropped out of the race, he has promised to drop out of the race in her favor. (And they've agreed to the opposite, that she will drop out if it looks like Camejo would win without her in the race.)

What is the point of agreeing to that if she's not actually trying to win the race?

If she really was protesting the GOP power grab on principle, she would just be out stumping "Vote no on the recall - - it's a GOP power grab and no matter how you feel about Davis or his politics, we can't let the GOP get away with this." She might even protest the GOP power grab by - - horrors! - - promoting Davis.

She's no different from Arnold or Camejo or Bill Simon in that she knows she can't win a primary or a general election, but she can win if all she has to do is win 15% of 51% of the voters in an election with lower than normal voter turn out, and a decreased number of locations to vote, so that fewer poor people (i.e. Democrats) can physically get to the polls.

[Classical_Liberal]

5. It is a power grab they would lose if a non republican won it

Bisumante a democrat is doing the same. Arrianna will drop if she is going to end up a spoiler for Bisumante as well. I think democrats who don't want to offer a left alternative presuming a no vote are crazier than shit house rats and just as unpragmatic and uncompromizing as the worst of the greenies. If Davis were really against the recall he would be trying to repeal it from the California constitution instead of just tetlling the 20% of Californias who care about his smarmy ass to vote no and intimidating other Democratst like Bisumante into not running so it is a choice between him and and a worse repuke.

[AlGore-08.com]

9. "If Davis were really against the recall ... " Huh?

"If Davis were really against the recall he would be trying to repeal it from the California constitution instead of just tetlling the 20% of Californias who care about his smarmy ass to vote no and intimidating other Democratst like Bisumante into not running so it is a choice between him and and a worse repuke."

Do you understand what the powers of the California Governor are? The Governor can't just change the state Constitution because he doesn't like part of it. He doesn't have that power.

Here's how the California state constitution can be amended, from the California state constitution itself. This is the entire section on amending the state constitution. You may notice that the Governor plays no role in the process:

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/.const/.article_18
CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE 18 AMENDING AND REVISING THE CONSTITUTION

SEC. 1. The Legislature by rollcall vote entered in the journal,
two-thirds of the membership of each house concurring, may propose an
amendment or revision of the Constitution and in the same manner may
amend or withdraw its proposal. Each amendment shall be so prepared
and submitted that it can be voted on separately.

ARTICLE 18 AMENDING AND REVISING THE CONSTITUTION
SEC. 2. The Legislature by rollcall vote entered in the journal,
two-thirds of the membership of each house concurring, may submit at
a general election the question whether to call a convention to
revise the Constitution. If the majority vote yes on that question,
within 6 months the Legislature shall provide for the convention.
Delegates to a constitutional convention shall be voters elected from
districts as nearly equal in population as may be practicable.

CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE 18 AMENDING AND REVISING THE CONSTITUTION
SEC. 3. The electors may amend the Constitution by initiative.

CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE 18 AMENDING AND REVISING THE CONSTITUTION
SEC. 4. A proposed amendment or revision shall be submitted to the
electors and if approved by a majority of votes thereon takes effect
the day after the election unless the measure provides otherwise. If
provisions of 2 or more measures approved at the same election
conflict, those of the measure receiving the highest affirmative vote
shall prevail.

[Classical_Liberal]

11. He could still try. If he is so opposed to it why doesn't he try?

? It is the right thing to do!

[mitchtv]

17. if you wereagainst the recall

you'd be attacking a pug not the governor of our state. the most pro choice , pro gay rights, pro union Gov in Cal history

[Clete]

6. If Democrats don't turn out in droves to vote against

the recall, it will be a bad day for all Americans. If Davis doesn't win the recall, then this country is going to hell. California has a domino effect on all the other states. What happens here first whether good or bad eventually happens to the rest of the country.

[Classical_Liberal]

7. If Arianna wins

that is a domino affect I wouldn't mind repeating. It would be a shrub nightmare. She is more liberal than Davis. I'll bet the bailouts for Enron stop.

[Classical_Liberal]

3. Arianna will drop if she will be a spoiler for Bisumante

Bisumante should do the same if he ends up her spoiler. People have been known to change their polical beliefs. I prefer hers over Bisumante who is a Lieberman type. Her views are more like a California liberal Democrat then Bisumantes or Davis. It amazes me that people who understand that the left should dump Blair are even remotely enthusiastic about protecting Davis or Bisumante. Davis and Bisumante are the same type of Bush asskissers Tony Blair is.

[AlGore-08.com]

8. Did she say she'd drop out for Bustamante? I'd like a link, please

And again - - this is not about politics. If Blair is given a vote of no confidence, that's politics.

This is about the fact that there are no grounds for a recall election against Davis. The California constitution does not say "The Governor may be recalled if he is a centrist Democrat". He has performed no malfeasance in office. He's actually done a lot to reduce the budget deficit.

If you're okay with Davis getting recalled for no reason other than a the Republicans think they can get control of the state if the pool of votes is small enough, get ready for every Democrat that you approve of to get yanked the exact same way. And don't think that the Greens or Indepedents or Reform Partiers or Libertarians will be safe, either. If they don't roll over and play dead to the GOP, a recall election will be bought and paid for by some wealthy, egotistical Republican who thinks he/she knows better than the stupid, unwashed, heathen voters.

If Arianna Huffington is so much like the mainstream Democrats, let her run in the next Democratic Gubanatorial primary. Or let her run in the next Governor's race as an independent.

She's running because she's NOT the mainstream, because she CANNOT get elected in a normal, statewide election.

[Classical_Liberal]

10. There don't have to be grounds for a recall or it wouldn't be happening

That is politics too. No I don't have a link, but i have confidence in her judgement. She advocated strategic voting in the Nader race. Pragmatism is part of her track record. It would be good politics if she would say that, and challenge Bisumante to do the same.

[AlGore-08.com]

12. I suggest you call her campaign and find out if she really will

Drop out in favor of Bustamante before assuming that she will.

The last poll had Bustamante in a statistical tie with Schwartzenegger and her third, I believe.

Why hasn't she dropped?

[Classical_Liberal]

13. She doesn't have to until election day

There is plenty of time for things to turn around. I am hoping they will. If she isn't in the race by election day she can't be a spoiler no matter when she quits. If she opposed Nader acting as a spoiler she would no doubt not want to be a spoiler herself. Why don't you call her since you are more concerned about it than me.

[dfong63]

14. a more important question: is davis a friend of democrats?

face it, Arianna is not the one who caused this crisis or brought it to the boiling point. Davis did that, thru his bumbling, arrogance, and his self-serving "all or nothing" strategy.

if Davis were really a friend of the democrats, he'd have resigned a long time ago. even now, he's hurting Cruz Bustamante, who represents the dems' best chance of retaining control of the governorship. Cruz has shown his loyalty by campaigning from the difficult position of "NO on the recall, but YES on Cruz". why isn't Davis brave enough to take the same position???

[bpilgrim]

15. what has she done lately?

been kicking neo-con ass daily ;->

peace

[realFedUp]

16. What day is it?

I think it's her Green day....

To be serious, I think Arianna is a good voice for
changes that need to be made in this country, but
I'm a Democrat and think business in the Congress
gets done by two parties, not three and it's a good
idea to work within the party affiliation.

[JI7]

18. arianna voted for al gore

and she isn't a democrat so she isn't going to be with us most of the time. i like her. i like how she goes after bush.

[mitchtv]

19. she is a spoiler she must go

meantime she can apologize to Californians for her part in Micheals vile campaign against Dianne. sorry that "dems" use this thread as an opportunity to trash our best hopes to keep California Blue