It’s final; there is going to be a recall vote for Governor Gray Davis. Wow, California politics sure are interesting… I mean to observe from afar; I sure as hell wouldn’t want to live there. Anyway, I think it’s weird to try and recall Davis just after reelecting him, so I’m going to offer some tips to help him stay in office.
TOP TEN WAYS GRAY DAVIS CAN AVOID GETTING RECALLED
10. Mention day of vote only once and hope people forget recall.
9. Wear glasses. Voters wouldn’t recall a man with glasses.
8. Sincerely promise to be a really good governor from now on.
7. Use dark sorcery to make multiple images of himself. “You can recall one of us, but will you recall the right one? Muh ha ha ha!”
6. Make commemorative license plates saying, “California: Worst Governor Ever”. Those would be just silly if they recalled Gray Davis.
5. Trick Arnold Schwarzenegger to crawl through a hydraulic press.
4. Put vicious monkeys at all polling places to attack anyone who votes for a recall. “Yes, attack, my pretties, attack! Muh ha ha ha!”
3. Having already sold his soul to the devil to win reelection, he could try and blackmail Jesus.
2. Have annoying Hollywood liberals all come together to a conference show their support for Davis. Then, lock the building and burn it down as sacrifice to voters.
And the number one way Gray Davis can avoid getting recalled…
Run away.
That Bastard Gray David (Governor Low Beam) has already done #3. I’m sure of it!
I have to live in this cursed state. Gray Davis is lucky that he is not carried from his office naked and drug through the streets on his way to being shoved in a lion cage at the zoo.
I’m considered on the reasonable side or the recall debate. The others want to do far worse to him.
Davis didn’t have to sell his soul to get reelected — the Republicans did that job just fine. They tried to force Bill Simon, a loonie ultra-conservative candidate, on the voters. If they had supported Dick Riordan instead, we would have had a great governor.
But, Riordan considers himself to be a “non-partisan” Republican and doesn’t support the entire party platform. Republicans just can’t tolerate that. It is either their way or you’re out. That’s the wrong position to take in California.
The recall is going to backfire. California is going to end up with a Democrat “savior” in office. It will probably be Dianne Feinstein or Nancy Pelosi. Or, Davis could simply step aside and hand the office over to his Lt. Governor, Cruz Bustamonte.
The Democrats are publicly saying that there won’t be a Democratic alternative on the recall ballot. They are only doing this so the Republicans will focus all of their attention on Davis. Then, at the last minute, Davis will resign and give them the ulimate f**k you.
The voters don’t like Davis, but Darrell Issa, Bill Simon, and Arnold are ridiculous alternatives. What are their campaign slogans?
Darrell Issa “At least I’m not Gray Davis.”
Bill Simon “Even a loser is better than Davis.”
Arnold Swartzenegger “Vote for me or I’ll Terminate You.”
I don’t know about California, but if he does #2 the rest of America’ll vote for him for President!
All this hubbub over the leader of a foreign nation… Oh, wait. They’re still attached aren’t they.
Nevermind.
I’ve been reading “The Essential Dr. Strange” and number 7 just about made me laugh out loud.
I live in California, and that bastard lied about many things to be re-elected. Then when he was elected, he comes out and says that the debt is twice as big as he told us, and starts raising taxes left and right….
Is someone from FLORIDA allowed to make fun of any other state’s electoral process?
Even some of my Dimocrat friends signed the recall petition because they felt betrayed by that former state controller who suddenly forgot everything about sound fiscal management the day he started thinking about reelection. Only method #2 has any chance of rebuilding Gray’s popularity, and he’ll never do it because half of his supporters would be inside.
I’m expecting Davis to do what Fritz mentions, and resign at the last possible moment, foisting the governorship on Bustamante and giving the finger to the Republicans as he speeds out the door, so as not to have the doorknob hit him in the ass on the way out. Of course, his decision will (as usual) be based on the polls, as it always has. The man has the personality of a parking lot curb, and that’s probably insulting quite a few parking lots…
Speaking as a California Democrat, it appears like the Republicans are openly salivating over the recall, and most disaffected Democrats are slowly waking up to the realization that they either need to 1) convince Davis to resign or 2) convince a strong CA Democrat to step up and steal the recall election from the Republican sharks in the water.
My wife? She votes Green. 😉 I’m starting to wonder if I should too…
roq
An appeal for compassion…
Frank, you know that I love you. I think you are the funniest political writer on the planet. But please… LOOSE THE NETFLIX AD!!!…
New Gray Davis Tax Plan to Save California!
In an effort to save California’s failing economy, Governor Gray Davis has enacted special legislation that will create several new state taxes: New Residents Tax Imposes a $10,000 one-time tax on all new California residents. The tax must be paid…
New Gray Davis Tax Plan to Save California!
In an effort to save California’s failing economy, Governor Gray Davis has enacted special legislation that will create several new state taxes: New Residents Tax Imposes a $10,000 one-time tax on all new California residents. The tax must be paid…
Just to clear up a few things on the Recall.
If Davis resigns then the vote for recall is still held. See this link to Political State Report. So that won’t make Bustamante Governor.
Bustamante announced that a list of candidates will be on the ballot (which there was some question on). Anyone interested in running has 59 days before the October 7 election date to declare if they are running. The full story is in the LA Times (may require registration).
California politics is kinda like the opposite of National politics. The right wing of the California Republican party has a very strong say on who gets nominated for state wide offices (like how the left wing of the Democratic party is trying to select a presidential candidate) and that person is almost always unelectable (see Simon, Bill). For a Republican to win a state wide office he needs to be a moderate, like Pete Wilson was. Jut the way it works in California.
The California Constitution calls for the lieutenant governor to assume the governorship in the event of a vacancy. If Davis resigns before the recall, Bustamante will become (acting) Governor.
The fact that a recall election is in the works doesn’t mean that California would be without a governor until after the recall election.
How would this effect the recall? Would people still show up at the polls if Davis is already out of office?
Also, if Davis resigns, it will open the election to strong Democrats like Feinstein. Darrell Issa wouldn’t have a chance. He is a virtual unknown in most of the state — except for his big spending on the recall and opportunistic candidacy.
Fritz wrote:
The California Constitution calls for the lieutenant governor to assume the governorship in the event of a vacancy. If Davis resigns before the recall, Bustamante will become (acting) Governor.
California Elections Code section 11302 reads:
If a vacancy occurs in an office after a recall petition is filed against the vacating officer, the recall election shall nevertheless proceed. The vacancy shall be filled as provided by law, but any person appointed to fill the vacancy shall hold office only until a successor is selected in accordance with Article 4 (commencing with Section 11360) or Article 5 (commencing with Section 11380), and the successor qualifies for that office. (emphasis mine)
This vote for recall includes electing the successor, so Bustamante will stop being (acting) Governor when the election is certified and return to his post of Lt Governor. If Davis resigns I can guarantee you that Issa and any other republican will make sure their supporters vote, thus electing them as the successor if the effort passes. Also, because no love is lost between Davis and Bustamante I don’t see Davis handing over the post to Bustamante on a silver platter but anythings possible
lplimac, you’ve focused on what you consider to be a critical point and missed mine entirely. I never stated that Bustamante would retain the office. That is an assumption that you’ve made — similar to Republicans assuming that anyone would vote for Issa (4% in a recent poll).
Obviously, Davis wouldn’t resign to do Bustamante any favors. However, this strategy would result in as many as three unelectable Republicans, various third-party candidates, and one strong Democrat on the ballot — and less than two months to campaign. The odds are stacked so high against the Republicans I can’t even imagine why they’d attempt this. That is why I refused to sign the recall petition. I wanted to know who the alternatives would be. Arnold? Issa? Simon? No thanks!
It is possible that Bustamante could choose to run in the recall. It is more likely that someone with more clout and popularity would be drafted. There are many popular Democrats. Feinstein is the likely choice because she isn’t tainted by being part of Davis’ administration. She’d win by a landslide.
And, even if a Republican does manage to win, he’d only have two years to make a marked improvement or risk losing to the next Democrat to run against him. Without a strong Republican in the running, it would have been wise to wait until the next election and present a viable candidate. As for the Democrats facing this situation, someone like Feinstein would just bail out and in a couple of years return to Washington a hero for stepping in to prevent a GOP takeover.
I predict that in about 14 days Davis will resign and a single Democrat will be placed on the ballot at the last possible moment. The Republicans have focused all of their attention on vilifying Davis personally. Suddenly, he won’t be an issue. What then?
If you look at what happens if Davis resigns then the person with the highest vote count in the recall election will be the governor, even if they only have 4% of the total vote. Yes it’ could be a no-win position-and the end of their political career if they fail-but never underestimate the size of a persons ego.
Reportedly the republican plan is, like the democrats, to wait till the last minute to select a candidate (this is what CNN reported, so take it with a grain of salt). So it could come down to all sides announcing at 11:59 PM on the last possible day their candidate… what fun!
I seriously doubt Feinstein would leave the Senate, where she is respected and a strong voice for the people of California. Whoever wins would have a mess to fix with, again, only political disaster if they fail and she has proven to be a very shrewd lady (and good Senator I might add) and not someone to fall into that trap.
Like you, I declined to support the recall when asked, as I’m a believer that you should have a chance to finish the job you started. I did vote for Davis in the last election, as at the time he was doing a pretty good job overall and Simon was not a truly viable candidate. Now, 1.4 million other Californians think Davis screwed up big time, and want a change. Are they right? Only time will tell.
As for me I’ll see what happens and will decide when the time comes how I’ll vote. It will most likely be for which ever side explains the issues and solutions best, and throws the least amount of mud to get their point across.
Wouldn’t it be funny if he wins again?
What’s New Around the Blogosphere?
Uday and Qusay – The Lighter Side by Suckful sheds light on the “kindler, gentler side” of the decidedly dead duo. a small victory has started a thread of comments based on a grizzly premise with to hell and back…
Davis is hiding behind a problem he made, he says the recall will make california more in debt! I don’t…No Vince…becuase I live in california! :(.
I’m glad I came back to peek at the comments here.
I was truly misinformed as to the conseqences of Davis resigning (i.e. the recall election still goes down, but the first question [“should Gray Davis remain as governor”] would be fait accompli, and the second question [“who will replace him”] would then be the most important question.
So Davis’ only hope of keeping his neck off the block is to defeat the recall. Good friggin luck, dude.
I don’t claim to be highly informed on this issue (I have a day job after all 😉 but I take exception with the assertions by detractors of the state’s current administration that the state’s situation sits solely at the feet of Gray Davis. Those that claim he lied about the budget shortfall during the election are conjecturing and just crying because Bill Simon was an impossible opponent to Davis (ridiculous to believe, but true). The problem is that California is mired in a stupefying recession that saps everyone’s will to be happy, and Davis’ opponents honestly believing that getting rid of him will solve anything must be drinking some really intense Kool-Aid.
California is suffering equally at the hands of both major parties (i.e. state legislature), and everything seems more deadlocked and more partisan than ever. Reminds me of Capitol Hill, in fact… Hmmmm…
roq
Follow up:
An interesting graphic in the San Jose Mercury regarding the recall signatures painted an interesting picture: the counties with the most signatures were painted darker than the ones with less signatures. It was telling to see that every county south of Monterey (i.e. the area commonly referred to as “Southern California”) were the blackest of all (full disclosure: admittedly, Sacramento county and Santa Clara county were both pretty dark too).
The thing I’m getting at is: Perhaps it’s time for a 51st state? And I’m not talking about Puerto Rico or Washington, D.C. either…
roq
I just couldnt help but say a little something here, I am a registered voter who currently lives in the “Southern California” area and I am one of the many Republicans trying to oust Davis and put someone else in. Anyways the situation for Republicans in California is this. Getting rid of Davis is but one step in changing the current crisis, many of us believe that a blind deaf and dumb retard could run this state better than Davis and if it takes having that then, though its not the greatest outcome, so be it. I am looking at the candidates and so far my vote goes to Swartzenegger, he seems to be the best Republican out there, anyways as Roq said that there should probably be a 51st state, I totally agree with him. California is way too big and ranges it way too many different areas to be ran by one city. Splitting the state in two has been something that I have heard people talking about doing considering the variety of both (more conservative) rural areas and (usually more liberal) urban areas. Though North and South is a good idea, Los Angeles is also devided itself, and there actually has been a plan that didnt make it to devide L.A. between North (San Frenando: which would include Hollywood and Simi Valley) and South the greater portion Los Angeles this split would be the same situation as in the whole state, there is just too much of a variety of people for one state to govern. If it were a Republican getting recalled Id be that the signatures from the north would be darker. Anyways thats all I have to say.
Thanks to author for this blog, it was realy excite. Read my blog to.