Vow: No Democrats On Recall Ballot (McAuliffe)

[Nambe]

LOS ANGELES (AP)

The chairman of the Democratic National Committee vowed Thursday that no Democrat will run to replace Gov. Gray Davis if the recall drive reaches the ballot.

"I want the folks here in California to know that we are not going to have another Democrat on the ballot. I think that is the single biggest message I can give today," Terry McAuliffe told a downtown news conference.

"So if you're a California voter and you want to vote to recall Gray Davis, you are not going to have an option but a bunch of right-wing conservatives on the ballot," McAuliffe said. ---

In a recall, voters would be asked first whether to oust Davis and then to choose a replacement from a list of candidates.

Strategists from both parties believe the unpopular governor's chances of survival would be greater if no Democrats appear on the ballot. ---

[jiacinto]

1. So then will everyone have to vote for Peter Camejo?

I don't want CA to have a Green governor.

[davidinalameda]

3. hell, I'm gonna run!

better than my current job!

:bounce:

[LynneSin]

8. $3500 and 10000 signatures

and you too can be on the recall ballot for California!

[qandnotq]

36. only 65 sigs if you run as a partisan candidate

for some reason, they require 10,000 sigs for independents. makes no sense.

if you want to run as a Democrat, the party can't stop you.

[goobergunch]

5. Why not? (n/t)

[joshcryer]

7. This is the perfect Green opportunity.

Enough said.

[random]

9. Yeah, the perfect opportunity to make sure no one ever votes green again..

You guys are gonna get us another right wing shit bag, and that SUCKS!!

[Aaron]

13. How is that? Vote 'No' for the recall and for Camejo if the recall wins

Isn't the ballot structured that you can vote against the recall, then in case of recall you pick your favorite candidate from among those running? Everyone should vote no to recall Davis - but supposing some don't, it's good to have a progressive candidate on there to vote for. Otherwise the only candidates are the Republican candidates, and none of them will be progressives.

[Jack Rabbit]

27. That is how it works

However, one must vote wither YES or NO on the recall question for his vote for a replacement candidate to count.

[Aaron]

41. Ty Jack Rabbit for the info :) (n/t)

[Classical_Liberal]

19. No McCauliff is by not running a dem.

. That is pointing a gun to the publics head.

[joshcryer]

26. I'm not a Green.

But stop your judgemental bullshit and think for a second. If the recall happens, who do you vote for when your options are narrowed(like they would certainly be in this plutocracy)? The Republican or the Green?

This could prove fatal for the GOP, legitimize the Greens, and send a wake up signal to the Dems. Think.

My party affilation is Democrat.

[Name removed]

60. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Aaron]

10. Better a Green than a Republican, right? (n/t)

[Emboldened Chimp]

14. I thought they were the same?

They work together against Democrats, do they not?

[Aaron]

21. Pick the most progressive candidate running - Green vs. Repub

If that's the situation you go for the Green... or at least that's what *I* would do. Would you rather have a Repub?

[Jack Rabbit]

25. You would rather have a right wing Republican?

I couldn't resist throwing the same question you like to toss at us Greens back at you, Carlos.

Aren't you glad I'm voting in this election and not you?

See also post no. 24.

[jiacinto]

29. I may very well be in the Bay Area soon

If I am I may try to see if I can register to vote in CA.

[Jack Rabbit]

39. How long are you going to be here?

The election, if there is one, may not be until March.

On the other hand, it may be in November.

I'm not sure what the law is on residency and voter registration is here nowadays.

[truthisfreedom]

2. well, it seems like a strategy. i kinda like it.

with all the bashing terry's been getting lately, this actually seems like a good tactic.

[JoFerret]

46. I think I agree

The recall is undemocratic and antiDemocratic - this reveals it for what it is - a republican scam. But then I can't say I know enough about it. However - it is certainly refusing to kowtow to the wing nuts. Let the voters know what a mess they have created.

[goobergunch]

4. Is this the same McAuliffe...

who said "We are going to defeat Jeb Bush" even when it was apparent that he would be re-elected?

---

Goobergunch Political Report
Volume 2, Number 1 (13 October 2002)
Governors
Florida: William H. "Bill" McBride, Jr. (d) v. John Ellis "Jeb" Bush
CALL: LEANS GOP

---

We probably lost two or three House seats because of this wild goose chase. IMHO, McAuliffe isn't a very good strategist.

[1monster]

12. Not as apparent that Bush would win a you might think from the

official election results. Somewhere between the last day of polling and the election about 13% of the pre-election poll results for McBride disappeared... And the lame excuse we are given is just that the Democratic voters stayed home. Yeah, right.

[goobergunch]

15. I was predicting a Bush win in October (n/t)

[Walt Starr]

6. Hmmm, if McAuliffe (R-Mole) says it, it must be the way to go

Fucking traitor.

[BearFlagDemocrat]

11. What an idiot.

With the sheer number of Democrats who are supporting the recall, not putting a Dem on the ballot is basically handing the state over to the Republicans. If someone like Feinstein stepped up and put her name on the ballot, she'd be a shoe-in. As it stands, we'll probably get someone like Riordan unless the Dems put someone forward.

[bigtime]

16. a high risk strategy maybe

but really standing by old Gray.

[robcon]

17. This is the opposite message from Pelosi's.

I think Pelosi's strategy is smarter than McAuliffe's...

Faced with probable recall, Democrats look to unite behind one candidate

"...Though big-name Democrats say they won't be candidates to replace Davis, lawmakers at a meeting last week with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said she expressed concern about the recall, and urged colleagues to consider which Democrat could prevent a Republican from becoming governor.

"(Pelosi) talked about the reality and the seriousness of this (recall), and I think there's support in the delegation for figuring out who is the Democrat who can win, and getting behind that person," said one congressman who attended the meeting.

A spokeswoman for Pelosi – the San Francisco Democrat who publicly predicts Davis will beat the recall – said the congresswoman would not comment on private meetings with her colleagues.

But one Democratic strategist acknowledged that party leaders are talking about a "caretaker" candidate – someone such as Leon Panetta, the former California congressman and White House chief of staff who is a favorite because of his budget experience and cross-party appeal..."

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20030715-1441-cnsdems.html

[Classical_Liberal]

18. I agree with Pelosi on this

Terry only likes Dems that look good in comparison to a conservative nut bag. That is the problem with Grey Davis quite frankly. Terry is punishing the public with a right wing nutbag if they don't want Davis.s If Terry does that he has no right to blame the greens for the result.

[Terwilliger]

61. thats all they can do...hope for a "No" vote

I've said this before.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

20. Ridiculous!

I am not willing to stake California's future on the egos of Gray Davis and Terry McAuliffe.

If the recall goes forward, we should have exactly one Democrat on the ballot: Cruz Bustamante, the current Lt. Governor.

DTH

[mitchtv]

32. turn and run that's the answer

.

[lastliberalintexas]

22. I'm obviously not in CA

but wouldn't you kind of WANT to turn the state over to the repubs? Now, maybe I misunderstood the terms of the recall, but as I have heard anyway, whoever is elected would only get to complete Davis' term, correct?

So why not make a repub try to govern the state for once rather than just bitching and throwing bombs from the sidelines? The repubs have made some big mistakes in connection with the recall, IMHO. They have done the opposite of Shrub and raised voters' expectations soooo high that Californians are bound to be disappointed. I mean, if you listen to the rhetoric from the repubs out there, you would think that your budget deficit will just *swish* disappear once a repub gets into office- no cuts in the budget, no new taxes, no problems mon.

Maybe giving them enough rope with which to hang themselves could work in the Dems' favor. Of course, the main drawback is that you are screwed in the meantime. But just think of the longterm implications for your state. You could have people so pissed at the repubs that it becomes impossible for them to run a good race anytime in the near future!

Why do you think the repubs are trying to re-re-district in Texas? They know that people are going to be livid when they begin to feel the effects of our latest budget- what a joke! Add to that the fact that we have an ever increasing minority population that is becoming more politically active, and we might join you back in the D column shortly.

The repubs truly have no understanding of what it takes to govern (remember Gingrich, the fabulous back bencher who couldn't keep his own party together?). I certainly think this recall would be something the repubs would later regret.

Of course, my conjecture changes if the new Gov would be able to serve a full term. And I do hate to see the repubs win on yet another anti-democratic measure. And yes, it is easy for me to say let them have it since I don't live there.

It isn't that I would say that you shouldn't fight the recall- I just don't think it is all that bad for Dems IF we lose. Just my 2 cents.

[shanti]

30. won't work

they HAVE tried repuke governors in cali, several times, in fact, and they FUCKED THIS STATE UP! no way, jose!

[Walt Starr]

23. I have a better strategy that would result in NO RECALL ELECTION!

Gray Davis resigns and lets the Lt. governor take his place.

Problem solved.

OOPS! I forgot, big egos get bruised over resignations. My bad.

[mitchtv]

31. whata ya gonna do when they recall Cruz?

GIVE UP AGAIN?? it is time to start some recalls of our own . All of these pukes are not in safe districts. They don't stand a chance the way Californians feel about them holding up the budget for politicalgain. It is not time to capitulate it is time to fight, even if it involves getting your tutus dirty.

[elsiesummers]

44. Similar situation:

Should Clinton have resigned and let Gore become prez in 97?

This is another Republican effort to overturn or negate a legitimate election.

It is getting to be a habbit on their parts. Terry MacAuliffe has drawn a line in the sand.

He is not going to let Repbulicans delegitimize another election.

[qandnotq]

35. too late to resign

the petition is already filed. even if Davis resigned now, there would still be a recall election under California law.

[ronnykmarshall]

50. No true

They still have to validate the signatures. Davis could still resign and Cruz would take over. No recall.


The Democrats are hoping that the recall election will be pushed to March when the Presidental primary is. More Democrats will be voting and Davis has a better chance.

[fujiyama]

45. Acording to state laws...

this isn't a viable option. I'm sure it would have been thought of. I know several were tossing it around. I don't have a copy of the law here, but it basically said, that even if the person being recalled resigns, the recall would still go forth.

My own take is that there has to be a back-up of sorts. Considering most (or is it all?) state wide officials are democrats, and the state legislature is heavilly democratic, I would assume that there would be many Californians that don't like Davis, but would like an alternative, non right winger.

The fact is Davis is unpopular, among both republicans and democrats. Most democrats would definetely prefer him to Issa, or Arnold, but there is little actual support for him personally. And in a case like this, where the right is fueled with partisan rage and is working to overthrow an legitimately elected official (usual GOP subversion of the democratic process), there has to be a democratic alternative. Turnout, if the election ends up being in November, will favor the republicans.

Davis himself, won the election by a very paltry margin in a heavilly democratic state against a very incompetant opponent.

[Jack Rabbit]

24. McAuliffe is brilliant

This is the same brilliance that won the Democrats that resounding victory in the off-year elections of 2002.

The problem is that even if one votes NO on the recall, then one may vote for a replacement candidate. It would make sense for one to be a Democrat.

As it is, I will vote NO on the recall question and I will vote for Peter Camejo as a replacement should Davis be recalled. I still think Camejo would make a better governor than Davis. However, a recall is not a normal election and those driving it have failed to show that it is necessary.

[young_at_heart]

28. I wanted to recall Pete Wilson

He certainly had a less than stellar reputation and Davis inherited huge problems thanks to him. People don't seem to remember.

[twilight]

52. I remember

and you are very right!

:dem:

[midnight armadillo]

33. What about Arianna?

Somewhere there was an article about nominating Arianna Huffington for the recall ballot...dunno where I read that.

[iowa_democrat]

38. She would be an interesting choice

You read it here probably

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=16397

Steve

[AntiCoup2K4]

53. Hey, now there's an idea...

Arianna vs Ah-nold : Battle of the "furriners"!!

Or "Terminator IV", as the media would call it.

[depakid]

34. McAuliffe & Davis- peas in a pod

Both of these men are corrupt and have proven to be leaders without foresight or higher ideals. Their claim to fame rests on their fundraising prowess, rather than on their committment to the public interest or their problem solving ability. Both of them need to go but neither one is going to do so willingly.

[Democat]

37. This strategy seems too dangerous to me

As much as I hate to say it, I think that the Democrats need to run someone or we are going to lose the state.

The quotes from Terry are insulting to me as a Democrat to, something about not giving us a choice?

The situations seems very very bad right now.

Who is in charge?

[mitchtv]

47. stand up and fight! never mind this alternative bullshit

start pressureing the pukes to pass a budget, that's the answer . We CAN win, but not by legitimizing another coup attempt

[Democat]

49. The California media is right wing

You can do anything you want, but no matter what, it's going to be reported as Davis being the second coming of Hitler by the media in California.

[onehandle]

40. Smart move...

Unless the Greens fuck it up.

Give California to the Right-Wing and Bush is a shoe-in.

[sandnsea]

42. It's about your vote

Either it meant something or it didn't. If you voted for Davis, stand behind your vote and demand that it not be usurped. If they can recall Davis, no election is ever safe again.

Democrats, always getting squirrely and shooting themselves in the foot. The best way to beat a field of Republicans is to have ONE Democrat. I can't believe you guys can't see that.

[tlb]

43. STUPID STUPID STUPID

Point 1: Where does the national party chairman get off trying to dictate to a state party on a state issue.

Point 2: If there is a strategy more likely to elect Arnold or Riordon I don't need to see it.


After the 2002 debacle an honeslty run party would have dumped the party chairman who's " leadership" led to such a drubbing. That Maculife remains in authority has led me to beleive he is being kept in his office for reasons other then the good of the democrat party. The Clintons pull too many strings at the DNC/DLC.

[sangha]

48. What is truly stupid

is to think that McAuliffe "dictated" anything to the state party. If Terry is saying the state party is not going to run any Democrats, it's not because he forbade them from doing; It's because that's what the state party wants, as demonstrated by the article which states that the party officials in CA think the recall will fail if there are no Dems on the ballot.

It's reasonable to disagree about the wisdom of this, but it's just sheer foolishness to think that anyone has "dictated" anything.

[Fovea]

51. S.T.F.U Terry

This idea is your worst yet!

[mitchtv]

59. every "acceptable "candidate is one more vote for recall

sure some of us will reaffirm our previous vote and other"more progressive" Dems will vote for recall thinking their candidate will win. Results? a split electoate , a divided party , and a republican Gov. It is time to stick together and support the duely elected Gov like him or not.

[delete_bush]

54. Divide and conquer

Why not field a few more repub candidates?

It shouldn't be that difficult to find someone named, oh I don't know, say Bill Simon, to run as a repuke.

[snippy]

55. Davis should fund several hundred candidates.

Davis also should compare his own fiscal performance with that of Bush.

[delete_bush]

56. Why not start with deficits?

chimpy has run the tab up to $400 billion. California, with 10% of the US population, has a $30-35 billion deficit, or less on a percentage basis than shrub.

[snippy]

57. Good idea.

Davis should run some ads using the same stunt that asshole Issa has been using showing stacks of dollar bills representing the federal deficit for each Californian. It puts California's fiscal problems in perspective.

[Democat]

58. That is a great plan

The media isn't going to say anything bad about Bush or good about Davis, so running ads is the only way to get the truth heard.