Which Democrat in Ca. can knock Arnold out in 2006?

[Cascadian]

Isn't there anybody with a fire in their belly to take on "Total Recall" Schwarzeneggar? Anybody have any names. That person, needs to be passionate and unafraid to take on the Republicans. No more wishy-washy people either. It's time to take the gloves off and come out swinging.


John

[wtmusic]

1. Babs Boxer would kick his little speedoed ass

but we need her in the senate.

[oxycontinrush]

2. How about Susan Sarandon or Alec Baldwin?

Nothing wrong with fighting fire with fire. They are both more informed on the issues than most GOP members of Congress.

[Dr Fate]

3. A Hollywood star?

???

[Sapphocrat]

9. Seriously?

Would an actual, lifelong-Dem, very smart, very personable, good-looking Hollywood-actor-type person (with an almost-squeaky-clean past) do any good? B-list, even? But somebody who might have even toyed with the idea of getting into politics?

No promises -- but, uh, some of us do know some folks in The Industry, ifyaknowwhatimean.

What would it take? I mean, I have a contact or two in Tinseltown who might, possibly be willing to listen to a proposition (repeat: no promises!!!), but I am a complete outsider when it comes to The Big Political Machine.

Anybody on the inside want to talk? I know you're here, listening!

[0rganism]

11. Is Redford still in California?

He's the only one I can think of right now who would fit the profile.

[Sapphocrat]

14. Oh, he'd be fantastic...

But I think his heart and body both belong to Utah.

Good guess, tho', 0rg. ;)

[FDRrocks]

16. Is Tim Robbins in CA?

His speech a few months ago (A Chill Wind, as I like to call it), was very eloquent. If Arnold can run a campaign and win and govern... Tim certainly could.

[Sapphocrat]

20. Something tells me...

He & The Suze are in NY. But I could be wrong.

I'd give my eyeteeth to work on a campaign for him, but methinks he'd have as much chance as Michael Moore.

Still, I'd do it, given the chance.

[JI7]

19. redford seems the only one i can think of

among actors who could actually discuss the issues and have been involved in politics, though no elected office for years. and robert redford would actually debate and take questions from reporters.

[Sapphocrat]

21. Think B-List, B-List...

After all, where was Reagan (besides squealing to HUAC) before his CA run?

So, think Reagan, but on the Dem side. There are lots of 'em, under the radar... Although now y'all having me fantasizing about a Robbins-Redford / Redford-Robbins run!

[Vulture]

22. Good call on Redford

Though I don't know if he is even in California.

As for Alec Baldwin, Susan Sarandon, or Tim Robbins, they are non-starters. They'll just provoke a wicked negative backlash that would make for a tough race. It has to be someone comfortable and not too strident; only a small minority of people respond to overt adamant ideologues no matter what their political affiliation (c.f. Camejo). That might work for a primary, but you can forget it for the general election, and a lot of the people I mentioned above already are indelibly marked with that image.

[Brian Sweat]

4. Why the fuck would you want to wait until 2006.

Start the recall tomorrow.

[jonoboy]

5. yep..you see how easy it is..

just $2.5M is all it takes to buy the state of California

[papau]

7. ABC suggests Dems will wait until early January before recall starts

New Budget will be public - so the cuts without raising taxes will be known - and court case on sex assault started - and the time will be better. Then again the first 100 days may be honeymoon. Reagan said no new taxes and won in 1970 - and then passed new taxes rather than cut programs too deeply - except for going back on his agreement to fund the replacement smaller population mental health facilities - Reagan really dumped on the mentally ill as Gov - and then in Aug 81 as Pres cutting all Federal funding for the mentally ill.


39 days left for Davis (max) to election is certified. It will be interesting if there is a rush of appointments.

Then there will be the Ca suit against ENRON and Bush's energy regulatory buddies for the $9 billion - will Arnold be pushing this - or let it go to the back burner?

[oxycontinrush]

15. Nov 2004 is best time for new recall

We won't have to fight uphill for turnout. We could tie Dubya to Arnold much more effectively as well.

[True_Blue]

13. Or maybe impeach him

All they need to do is investigate the allegations made against him by the 16 women.

[Sapphocrat]

23. And even if nothing sticks...

It would be more than enough to send him into a Whitewater-/Paulagate tailspin.

Ooo, bad karma, bad karma...

[CoffeePlease1947]

6. Any Criminal Law Attorney N/T

[cyclezealot]

8. California has no shortage of good Democrats

I was proud to vote for Cruz Bustamante. He has great values. However, in a televison image driven market- never did I think think he could fight Hollywood's image marketing techiniques.
The state Cabinet is loaded with good Democrats. Treasuer Phil Angelides is great.. Had Kevin Shelley, the Secretary of State- run and found a way to force issues into the campaign, the freak would never had a chance. But issues were a minor part of this campaign.
Shelley is a real progressive Democrat trying to democratize electoral politics, so he is sort of needed where he is at.
I just hope Democrats do not sit back and let Arni go unchallenged. We need make his life a living hell. Support women's groups and demand justice to those grooped by the Terminator. Arni will be in bed with the privatizers who will steal our water and not return the electric dollars they stole from us. Plus cutting taxes with our eight billion dollar deficit. They haven't the slightest idea what they are doing. Nor any solutions. We need protesters in Sacramento the day the putsch comes rolling into town, in its military vehicle.
I hope we have the fight to mount protests. Lets start thinking of the prospect of a recall and throw Enron in his face.
I have cancelled my local paper and vented my rage at the right wing editor for not carrying the Arni/Enron/Lay/Milken story at the Peninsular Hotel in Beverely Hills... He stated he saw no need to run the story.

[Xithras]

10. Herb Wesson would be a nice pick.

He's the current Speaker of the Assembly, African American, a fairly left moderate, and a well known human rights champion. He's well known as a guy who will stand toe to toe with a Republican without flinching, but he knows what points to compromise on to get the job done without sacrificing his ideals. He's a very good, well rounded candidate who would do well in the Governors chair. Whether he wants it is a different story :-)

The only other prominent Dem's I can think of with a decent chance of winning would be State Senator John Burton (San Francisco) or Assemblywoman Christine Kehoe (San Diego). Burton MAY have a decent chance of winning, but some people believe that he holds an anti-police sentiment that may hurt him a little. Kehoe has two problems: 1) If she vacated her San Diego seat, there's a good chance it could fall to a Republican. 2) Her position as chair of the Gay/Lesbian caucus in the Assembly may not sit well with the "Conservative Christian Democrats" that dominate the California Central Valley.

I'd personally like to see Herb Wesson take a shot at it, and I think he could win it, but I haven't seen any indication that he's interested in the position yet.

[bluestateguy]

12. He won't be governor by then

He will have been recalled.

[Adjoran]

17. DiFi

is the obvious choice, no matter what she says now.

She is a strong and intelligent woman, with a superbly successful track record as Mayor of SanFran. Boxer isn't even in Feinstein's league.

[angka]

18. me.

i will represent the motherfucking democratic wing of the motherfucking democratic party.

but that's what we'll actually have to call it (that is, include the motherfuckings), or else no go.

[Sapphocrat]

24. Obvious choice...

Willie Brown.

And he's got the teeth for it.

[rads]

26. I would pay money

to see Willie mop the floor with Arnold in a debate. I know that Willie's not too popular with some on the left (at least he wasn't when I lived in SF), but he's a fighter and that's what we need right now.

[KayLaw]

25. Tom Hanks

No text