Greens to drop out in CA recall if A. Huffington runs

[qandnotq]

salon.com

....
Huffington told the gathering that she has also won key Green Party support, with Peter Camejo, the party's recall candidate, agreeing to drop out and back her after she announces. "He told me that now is the time for the Green Party to be part of a winning campaign to change the political structure." Camejo won 5 percent of the vote running against Davis last year, and with some analysts predicting the next governor could be elected with a mere 20 percent of the vote, that's a significant base for Huffington.

[Bandit]

1. I have gained a lot of respect for Arrianna since her epiphany

but if she throws her hat in the ring I will re-think my position and consider her nothing more than an opportunist.

[qandnotq]

4. just to avoid confusion

Arianna won't run if a serious Democrat does. She doesn't want to play the spoiler. Also, her run shouldn't hurt Davis. There are 2 separate questions on the ballot (1) Should Davis be recalled (2) If recalled, who should replace him. She wants to provide a liberal option for (2) in the unfortunate case that (1) goes the wrong way.

So I don't see her as an opportunist since she would bow out in favor of a serious Dem candidate.

[Bandit]

7. The Democrats have been quite emphatic about no Democrat running.

There is already a Democrat in the race and his name is Grey Davis. This is an attempted coup and anyone who embraces it by running or voting for another person is IMHO a Traitor to Democracy. Davis was legally elected by the people and has broken no laws or done nothing to deserve this abuse of the voters. The voters are being disenfranchised by this attempted coup and it pisses me off.

[DUreader]

8. Who should the 'no recall' voters choose as a replacement if...

the recall goes thru?

They have to pick someone and not a repug

[Walt Starr]

2. If I lived in CA, I'd vote for her

I also bet I can convince my Republican brother who will vote yes on the recall to vote for her.

[Bandit]

3. If you did that you would be legitimizing the coup

:shrug: Just my opinion.

[DUreader]

5. But his brother will vote yes anyway, you can vote no and still...

vote for a replacement

[Terwilliger]

6. If the NO voters don't vote for a candidtae...then the Repuke will win

are you willing to accept that?

[BearFlagDemocrat]

9. It's stupid not to hedge your bets.

Arianna is a good choice, IMHO, if a more high-profile Dem doesn't run.

[SEAburb]

10. Arrianna is an ambitious materialistic opportunist

That's why she got into a fake marriage with a millionaire and became a member of the Clinton attacking team. Are those the values of the Green Party.

[Brian Sweat]

11. I hope not

Here's why.

Even though I am not a Green and I have no love of the Greens, nothing would making me happier than to see the Green candidate win if Davis loses the recall vote.

[qandnotq]

12. The important point is not whether Arianna runs.

The point is that the Greens are being pragmatic about the election. Camejo knows that his 5% of the vote might put Arianna over the top. So, he plans to bow out rather than let a knuckle-dragger win. Not to rehash endless flamewars, but that's a huge change in attitude for the Greens. And it has obvious implications for 2004: perhaps the Greens would be willing to work together with Dems in swing states in the spirit of pragmatism.

[Iverson]

14. thank you for noticing

The Greens-can-do-no-right epistemology gets really tiresome quickly.

[Capn Sunshine]

18. WE have LOTS of Greens in the Dean organization

I think they do a lot right.

and now back to the "greens can do no right epistemology"
see below.

[SEAburb]

17. pragmatic??? Isn't the Green Party anti- pragmatism

Is it pragmatic for a political party that labels is self as the party of principle above all else, to step aside for someone who doesn't share their principles or values. It makes the Green Party look unprincipled and hypocritical.

[phrenzy]

13. Arianna Will Have My Vote

Arianna WILL have my vote - Unfortunately, if Riordan runs - I think he will take it - Which may NOT be so unfortunate ... Riordan is no Pete Wilson (or Bill Simon)

[ieoeja]

15. Greens got 5% last time.

Here is the problem with running a "liberal alternative". How many people, preferring someone more liberal than Davis, are going to vote "Yes" on the recall hoping their liberal carries the plurality with conservatives split among several Republican candidates?

Greens are a perfect example of this. Given that they already believe there is no substantial difference between Davis and his Republican opponents, what makes you think the Greens will vote "No" on the recall? They will not.

37% vote "No" to recall and NOT for Huffington.
10% vote "No" to recall and Huffington or a Democrat To Be Named Later.
5% vote "Yes" to recall and Huffington or DTBNL.
20% vote "Yes" to recall and Issa.
28% vote "Yes" to recall and split among various Republicans.

Davis is recalled 53-47 thanks to the 5% who thought they could get a liberal alternative by helping to recall Davis, with Issa winning the plurality among the runoff candidates.


And all of the above ignores one simple fact. This entire event is a slap in the face to Democracy. Participation in this farce should be in one and only one manner: vote "No" on recall.

[qandnotq]

19. suppose you knew for sure the Davis would lose the recall

would you want a left-leaning candidate to run then?

if not, that seems like foolish pride to me, but it may be strong principle to you.

if so, then it really comes down to the probability of Davis surviving the recall even without a liberal candidate. right now, the chances don't look too good. i'd like to see some of Davis's internal polling.

[Room101]

16. Arianna will have my vote If DAVIS is ousted

:)