Is it just me or are national Democrats holding back in CA governor race?

[yurbud]

I saw Clinton and Gore doing commercials for Prop 87, but not a similar pitch for Angelides.

LA's new superstar Latino mayor, Antonio Villarigosa, actually left the country and went to China for a couple of weeks, making the issue of campaigning against Arnold moot.

Why do they seem to be throwing in the towel when Arnold is clearly the prototype for the GOP's post-religious right candidates?

After winning Congress, getting rid of him should have been one of the top priorities for Democrats since if he wins, he will surely be a player on a national stage and probably even run for president despite that pesky clause in the constitution.

What could be the reason for not turning loose the big dogs on him?

Or are they doing it and the mainstream press is locking down the coverage to make Angelides seem like an also ran?

[Nictuku]

1. Very good question

[WI_DEM]

2. I think it would be great too if Clinton and Gore helped Lamont in CT

[davidinalameda]

3. Angelides was an also-ran the day after the primary

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. I Don't Think Prominent Dems Want The Stink Of An Angelides Loss On Them

eom

[yurbud]

11. If they really feel that way, they deserve the stink of some

steaming turds thrown at them.

If they didn't think he could win, they should have run themselves.

[yurbud]

8. if so, why didn't any bigger names run? Bill Clinton could have run here

and wiped the floor with Arnold.

Or some of our other big mouth celebs with the possible exception of Rob Reiner--you can just picture the attack ads calling him meathead.

[stranger81]

26. But he didn't have to be . . . . .

With a little kick from Gore and the Big Dog, he might have been able to pull this off.

[blm]

4. Kerry did a Sept. rally for Angelides - few local Dem powerbrokerss showed

.to support Angelides. I don't know what the big deal is. Do Arnie and Maria have THAT much clout even with Dems? Is this more establishment Dems showing "bipartisanship" as if its the magic cure-all?

[Phredicles]

6. Hollywood sure is - they loves them some Ahhnold.

And the mystery of why people consider H'wood shallow and superficial deepens...

[yurbud]

7. money--Arnold will do some union & regulation busting to make it easier

to film in CA.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. That's one we're not going to win

Please don't shoot the messenger; my flame retardant suit is at the cleaners.

If I were at the DNC and had to decide where to spend money, I would make Angelides' campaign a low priority.

Arnold started reinventing himself the very night of the special election fiasco and he succeeded.

[yurbud]

10. I won't shoot the messenger, but strategically, it's stupid to blow

off this race or to have put up a candidate that's a sacrificial lamb.

I teach community college, and after Arnold won the recall, his education budget led to a third of the part time faculty at one of my schools being fired.

And when the GOP ran our democratic secretary of state out of office who was on top of the Diebold scam, Arnold got to pick his replacement.

If the Democrats intentionally fuck us over by letting Arnold stay in place, it will only make third parties look that much more attractive.

This seems to be one of those DLC-Chamber of Commerce wink and nod things where the deal is already done and the rest of us just get to go through the motions of democracy.

[Cha]

12. I'm really sorry! I was hoping after

the special election fiasco that California peeps could see arnold for what he is..a two bit loser.

I don't know what the gropenator has promised all these dems who are lining up with their endorsements but he sure as hell better come through with his payoffs.

speilberg, katzenberg..ratbastards.

[yurbud]

13. it's ironic that the director of Schindler's List would back someone

just this side of a fascist.

[bliss_eternal]

17. I agree...

I don't know if I can EVER see Speilberg the same way. What the hell is he smoking?

[yurbud]

19. it's green but it aint weed--cash.

[omega minimo]

16. Is Arnold Democrat Lite?

"If the Democrats intentionally fuck us over by letting Arnold stay in place, it will only make third parties look that much more attractive.

"This seems to be one of those DLC-Chamber of Commerce wink and nod things where the deal is already done and the rest of us just get to go through the motions of democracy."

Arnold is all about appearance and flim flam-- and a Business VS. The People agenda. And he lies.

[yurbud]

29. Arnold will screw us as much as possible but Democrats had good

odds to take him out if they had tried.

It's still possible that Angelides could pull off an upset, but if he got more visible support from the party establishment, or if a higher profile candidate was running in his place, it would be at least an even chance instead of a long shot.

Arnold had the reputation he deserved until his supposed moderate make over. That fig leaf could have been stripped from him if the right person was doing the stripping.

[MzNov]

14. It's not just you.

Angeledes actually could beat the crap out of him if he had the support that has all of a sudden disappeared. Ahhnuld's popularity was in the crapper not all that long ago after his little tricks with the nurses, teaches, etc. He's a thug and a CREEP.

It makes me sick.

:dem:

[Gormy Cuss]

23. What sickens me is the way the CA Dem party has abandoned him

just as they did with Davis, and in the latter case they could have at least orchestrated a campaign for a strong candidate to replace him.

I've had it with the state Dems and tell them every time they call looking for money. I hold them to blame for the Schwarzenegger's re-election. I'll donate to a campaign or to the national party but not the machine in this state. I haven't lived in any other state where the party was so quick to wash its hands of the candidate chosen in a primary or caucus.

[omega minimo]

15. PA says he'll increase taxes on the SuperRich & close Big Business

tax loopholes and work for the middle class and working families.

That's why.

[yurbud]

21. PA?

[omega minimo]

24. Angelides first name is Phil

[yurbud]

25. gracias

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

18. You'll have to run Russell Crowe to beat Ah-nold

Yup, I'm a cynic.

[yurbud]

20. we do have some good lefty celebs

danny glover, harry belafonte, alec baldwin, warren beatty, tim robbins, and on and on.

[EFerrari]

22. Bill Clinton came out here to help Newsom beat Matt.

But he can't come out for the state house?

I don't understand why they're leaving Phil high and dry.

It's a mistake and as usual, we'll pay for it.

[yurbud]

27. I hope this isn't a sign of how they will do things if they retake congress

if they are conducting business as usual, the next conservative assault will come that much sooner.

It also shows extremely poor strategic thinking.

Yes it may help a glory dog like Villarigosa get into the governor's mansion, but letting Arnold have a second four means he can move up to other offices, which will be bad for the whole country.

Arnold's political career could have been a stillborn embarrassment for both him and the GOP if the Democrats had gotten their head out of their asses.

The only way they could redeem this is if they do a national investigation of Diebold and/or the RICO like machinations it took to get Arnold in office in the first place.

[SoCalDem]

28. We have a lack-luster candidate, and Ahhnold's snowing everyone again

he's a actor..playing a role.

the role?

Pete Wilson redux.

[yurbud]

30. I've seen Angelides speak in person and he has the chops. Physically...

he's not impressive, but he could have been competitive with the right spin.

Also, as I've said earlier in the thread, if the party didn't think he was competitive, they could have put up someone else who was. If they didn't think Angelides was competitive, they doomed us to another four years of commander fuckbot.