Gray Davis Fights Back - Democratic Underground

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Fri Aug-22-03 03:01 AM
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Gray Davis Fights Back

I searched the first five pages of GD and didn't see a thread discussing Gray Davis' speech at UCLA. So, since I feel sympathy for Gray and outrage at the attempted coup in California, I'm creating this one by excerpting the more notable portions of his speech. _{My apologies if it is a duplication.}

Here it is:

...Viva California. ... I know California is going through a difficult time, and this is a challenging moment for all of us. I come here to take responsibility and set the record straight...

I inherited the energy deregulation scheme which put all of us at the mercy of the big energy producers.

We got no help from the federal government. ...when I was fighting Enron and the other energy companies, these same companies were sitting down with Vice President Cheney to draft a national energy strategy.

Recent federal investigations have proven that California was victimized by a massive fraud. Energy executives are on their way to jail.

Three years ago, I refused to give in to the pressure to raise rates astronomically. Everyone I talked to said "raise rates, raise rates, raise rates." I would not do it. ...I went to work, bought power, built new plants, encouraged conservation for the good people of this state and encouraged the use of clean energy.

I'm not looking for praise. We made our share of mistakes. ...if any of the Republicans in this recall campaign criticized the way we dealt with the energy crisis, you ask them specifically what they would have done...

...I'm not happy with the budget I signed recently. I said so then, I repeat that today. ...Republican legislators ...wanted to strip away health insurance benefits from 400,000 children of working parents rather than increase taxes on the wealthiest Californians.

...let me put our situation into perspective. The American economy has tanked. Over the last couple years, it has shed 3 million jobs and gone from record surpluses to record deficit; 46 other states are facing similar problems.

...let's be clear. Our increases on my watch went to education and health care, and I make no apology for that.

When I took office, we ranked near the bottom in per-pupil spending, 43rd to be specific. We are now 26, and we're making progress. ...the superintendent of public instruction announced dramatic improvement in student test scores for the fifth year in a row. ...

...those spending increases I mentioned during the early part of my term - health care and education - those increases were supported by Democrats and Republicans in Sacramento. ...Some Republicans accuse me of hiding the deficit. That is preposterous... state finances are a matter of public record. They're available to anyone who wants to see.

This recall is bigger than California. What's happening here is part of an ongoing national effort to steal elections Republicans cannot win.

It started with the impeachment of President Clinton, when the Republicans could not beat him in 1996. It continued in Florida, where they stopped the vote count, depriving thousands of Americans of the right to vote.

This year, they're trying to steal additional congressional seats in Colorado and Texas... Now they're trying to use this recall to seize control of California ...

They spent $3 million to put this recall on the ballot, but you're going to have to spend $65 million of your hard-working tax dollars to conduct that election. ...that money could be better spent educating our children.

...There are many reasons to be against this recall. It's expensive, it's undemocratic, it's a bad precedent, and it almost certainly will breed more recalls. ...

The Republicans behind this recall say they want you to oust me for past mistakes. ...they don't give a rip about past mistakes. This is all about control in the future, ...

...But make no mistake, I am going to fight this recall and the right-wing forces behind it. Take that to the bank. ...

...California has become a national leader again on the environment, and I will never allow California's strong environmental record to be reversed - not by Republicans, not by anyone. ...

...while the Bush administration spends its time peering into our bedrooms, our homes and our libraries, I have been working with Democratic legislators in Sacramento to pass the toughest financial privacy law in America. ...

Proposition 54 is another Republican effort to divide Californians over race. I am going to fight this initiative, ...

Now the budget problems we've been dealing with need a long-term fix. I have signed the budget. But we need a long-term fix. ...

There is much more that needs to be done in California. This election is about your future. I intend to fight for it, and I need your help.

...I may not be the warmest TV personality in politics, but I am warming to this fight. ...

...this right-wing power grab is something we won't get over. ...

...if you give me your help, I'll do everything in my power over the next three-and-a-half years to represent everyone in this great state - Democrats, Republicans and independents - to give our children the future they deserve. ...

..::Link::.

I don't live anywhere near CA, and I will be the first to admit ignorance of the details of Davis' reign. Nonetheless, I give him credit for fighting the good fight against these rabid rightwingers, and even more credit for the self-deprecating line about his reputation for having an aloof demeanor.